@alphanumeric Is it possible it worked because you used MSDN retail key instead of a regular retail key? I understood your postings just fine. I believe it shouldn't of worked as well. Maybe this might help Kari. Its like using a windows 7 home key to activate a windows 10 pro system and windows pro version was never installed on the computer.
There seems to be some confusion here. There are two ways you can activate windows 10.
1) conventional product key activation ie same as 7/8. In this case, you need to enter a product key to reactivate. There is no digital licence in this case.
If pc came with windows 10 preinstalled, the product key is embedded in bios in exactly same way as windows 8. In this case, you do not need to enter the key.
2) If you upgrade from windows 7/8, you get a digital licence tied to mobo id (and if you buy a windows 10 licence from MS Store). In this case, you do not need a key to reinstall.
In simple terms, if you used a windows 10 key (not from MS store) to activate windows, you need to renter key in a clean install.
If the key is embedded in the bios, you do not need to enter it. Here is the subtle point - it seems to be the same as reinstalling with a digital licence BUT IT IS NOT.
I don't know? As far as I know MSDN keys marked as Retail are the same as any other Retail key? There are MAK keys for education too that for sure won't give you a Digital Entitlement. Same as with Enterprise that doesn't have any Retail keys.
According to the Windows 10 activation link I'm posted earlier, MSDN keys should not get a digital entitlement period.
You have a Volume Licensing agreement for Windows 10 or MSDN subscription. Product key
(Available through the web portal for your program.)
Give me a few minutes, I just spent a perfectly good MSDN retail key to show I am right, video is encoding as we speak. I feel that without absolute proof I cannot make you to understand this.
Will post definitive proof here in few minutes.
100% true.
See this which clearly explains it.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-10-activation
Posted that already. I just di a clean install of Education 1511, with a skip key, It shows Windows is not activated. With the message that activation failed because this device does not have a valid digital entitlement. I did this just to confirm that PC doesn't already have a digital entitlement. I'm going to take a screen shot and then enter a MSDN key I have never used. Then do another screen shot. Then let it update to 1607 etc. I may or may not post the screen shots tonight. All depends on how long it takes.
Sorry but you guys really have profoundly misunderstood this. I know from previous experience that Alphanumeric can not admit I am right in this, therefore I used one of my MSDN retail product keys so that at least those other members and guests alike reading this thread could get correct information.
This very short video is pretty self explanatory:
I used Windows 10 Home 1607 for this demonstration, not wanting to spend a PRO, Education or Enterprise key just to proof a point. I am totally willing to repeat this in live broadcast with your chosen Windows 10 edition as long as we can agree about the terms: If that live broadcast proves I am right, I will get a normal (not MSDN) Windows 10 Pro retail key, if live broadcast proves me being wrong I will give a key to you.
Kari
