Question when installing Windows 10 on new SSD

kado897 said:

Check your activation status. It should say you have a digital licence linked to your Microsoft Account. If that is the case, unless you change the Mobo and its digital signature has changed it should activate automatically when you clean install.

FYI, even if you change the motherboard you'll still activate when you sign into your Microsoft account (provided the digital license is assigned to your account). Had that discussion here - Moving Windows 10 to a new build.

sygnus21 said:

FYI, even if you change the motherboard you'll still activate when you sign into your Microsoft account (provided the digital license is assigned to your account). Had that discussion here - Moving Windows 10 to a new build.

Interesting. Thanks for that. So how do MS distinguish between licences? I have four, two Home OEM and two Pro retail.

kado897 said:

Interesting. Thanks for that. So how do MS distinguish between licences? I have four, two Home OEM and two Pro retail.

I've no idea, I just know we had a hard debate on it. And OEM licenses are a different animal and aren't (from my understandings) digitally assigned to your Microsoft account, only retail licenses.

Anyway as I said in that thread....

I've 4 PC's. Two desktops upgraded from different versions of Windows 7 - one Pro, the other Ultimate. Two laptops with OEM licenses - one upgraded from Windows 8 to 10, the other came with Windows 10.

So how does Microsoft distinguish between the two... no idea. That said, I do know the key listed for both my desktops are the upgrade generic key as revealed by AIDA64.

sygnus21 said:

I've no idea, I just know we had a hard debate on it. And OEM licenses are a different animal and aren't (from my understandings) digitally assigned to your Microsoft account, only retail licenses.

Anyway as I said in that thread....


So how does Microsoft distinguish between the two... no idea. That said, I do know the key listed for both my desktops are the upgrade generic key as revealed by AIDA64.

Ah well some mysteries must remain.

NavyLCDR said:

Any time you log into a computer with your Microsoft Account, if that computer is activated it's digital license gets linked to your account....

Yep, saw that when I looked at my laptop. And yes, every device you logged in with your Microsoft account is recorded.

You can also remove those devices no longer relevant. Been there, done that. From your account click on Devices, click the 3 dots (hamburger) for the device you want to remove and choose remove (laptop, PC, or whatever device). Device removed and no longer linked to your account

BTW what the Microsoft account it doesn't show is the actual license number used.