Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"

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  1. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #61

    And I think I have something different . . .

    Bare metal install gave me Windows 10 Home, although I had upgraded to Pro.
    Clicked on Change Key and inserted my Windows 8.1 Pro Key
    Activation Results shown in Snippet:

    Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-activated.png

    I inserted a Product Key but I'm still shown the above.

    I really don't care what it shows; I'm activated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #62

    Wynona said:
    And I think I have something different . . .

    Bare metal install gave me Windows 10 Home, although I had upgraded to Pro.
    Clicked on Change Key and inserted my Windows 8.1 Pro Key
    Activation Results shown in Snippet:

    Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-activated.png

    I inserted a Product Key but I'm still shown the above.

    I really don't care what it shows; I'm activated.
    The latest build 1607 Anniversary Update gives you a Digital License automatically, even with retail keys. 1511, for me anyway, does not do that?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #63

    alphanumeric said:
    The latest build 1607 Anniversary Update gives you a Digital License automatically, even with retail keys. 1511, for me anyway, does not do that?
    1511 is so last week . . .

    Uh oh! StarFerret got to my keyboard again!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 325
    Windows 10 Pro
       #64

    alphanumeric said:
    If you do that while logged in with a Microsoft ID, it will log in with your Microsoft ID, and boot right to your desktop. License should still be linked.
    If you do that while logged in with a local account, it will (as far as I know) log in with your local account, and boot to your desktop. License "likely" won't be linked to your MS account.
    I don't use a local account anymore, haven't for a long time.

    My theory of why they change to Retail is its a new license and tech support switches from the OEM to Microsoft. In the past if you had an OEM install, you called the manufacturer who sold you the PC for tech support. If it was a Retail you called Microsoft. Once you upgrade via the free upgrade the OEM isn't going to help you much. They usually only offer support for the factory installed OS. Once you upgrade that, your on your own. That's my theory on it. I haven't seen anything official as to why it happens. My MSDN keys are all Retail anyway so my installs will all say Retail.
    Thanks for the reply,

    I am now linked to my MS account and still able to boot directly to the Desktop.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #65

    Wynona said:
    1511 is so last week . . .

    Uh oh! StarFerret got to my keyboard again!
    This whole discussion started because (for me) before the Anniversary Update my Windows 10 Education installs all showed as activated with a Product key. On a clean install I had to enter key to activate. If I did a skip key, they wouldn't activate. That's changed now. They switched to Activated with a Digital License and I can do a skip key on a clean install. To me this was new as of the 1607 release. Kari says no its always been like that. What he did bears that out. I don't see that behavior in my clean installs though?. That's not how its working for me?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #66

    alphanumeric said:
    This is screen shots I captured from an earlier attempt. It shows product code after being activated?
    This is valid, with a small "but":
    information   Information
    As soon as Windows 10 version 1511 or later is activated, regardless of the activation method or product key type, it is entitled to digital activation and license.

    Therefore, the product key or other activation methods are not (should not be) needed when re-installing Windows.

    Version 1511 always shows the product key after initial key activation. It is of course already entitled to a digital activation and license but that will only be shown after first reinstall without a key.

    1607 made this a bit easier to understand, showing Digital License instead of Product Key already after the initial first product key activation.


    Wynona said:
    And I think I have something different . . .

    Bare metal install gave me Windows 10 Home, although I had upgraded to Pro.
    Clicked on Change Key and inserted my Windows 8.1 Pro Key
    Activation Results shown in Snippet:

    I inserted a Product Key but I'm still shown the above.

    I really don't care what it shows; I'm activated.
    See my reply above :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #67

    That install has been activated at least twice already, and showed as activated. Same product code used each time. On the next clean install with a skip key, it shows as unactivated?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #68

    alphanumeric said:
    That install has been activated at least twice already, and showed as activated. Same product code used each time. On the next clean install with a skip key, it shows as unactivated?
    I cannot reproduce this. The scenario in second of my videos, that happens for me every time: I have version 1511, fully updated. I boot with install media, wipe the HDD clean removing all partitions and reinstall version 1511. It is always automatically activated.

    I've used a dozen of keys for these tests now, on an HP ProBook 4530 laptop and Hyper-V virtual machines.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #69

    Just started one more clean install of 1511. Wiped the drive clean. Didn't enter a key. Wired connection this time. It's now at the Getting critical updates. When it gets to the desktop I'll set the correct date and time and post some captures I did with my camera.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #70

    Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-1.jpgActivation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-2.jpgActivation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-3.jpgActivation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-4.jpg

    Sorry for the quality, they were taken with my camera. We'd all be old and grey by the time I learned to do a video capture. lol, I'm old and grey now.
      My Computer


 

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