Win10 Pro - Digital Activiation - Not Linked to MS Account

There appear to be other sources for such a battery...

As to details of the key- try
ShowKeyPlus

or if you prefer searching the Tutorial section... you might find
Determine if Windows License Type is OEM, Retail, or Volume


For interest, this addresses transferring a linked Retail license to another PC:
Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10

I don't really think Microsoft cares any more. There have been so many quoted instances of attempts to transfer OEM key across to a new machine, activation failed, and it only took a quick phone call to MS to confirm that the user wasn't using the key on more than one device (even if MS couldn't see the user had their fingers crossed when they swore that oath ) , and MS activated the new installation.

idgat said:

I don't really think Microsoft cares any more. There have been so many quoted instances of attempts to transfer OEM key across to a new machine, activation failed, and it only took a quick phone call to MS to confirm that the user wasn't using the key on more than one device (even if MS couldn't see the user had their fingers crossed when they swore that oath ) , and MS activated the new installation.

It is morw complicated than that. As OP does not have the digital licence tied to MS account, the main issue is if OP can retrieve the installation key. Although one may have been used originally, if op has done upgrades, in which case they may only get a generic key.

If OP is lucky showkeyplus may be able to retrieve key.

OP may find key is bios embedded, and that could be an issue as the installer may reject that key (seems hit or miss). Even phoning MS may not help as they will not let to reuse bios embedded keys as they are aware these are supposed to die with PC.

cereberus said:

OP may find key is bios embedded, and that could be an issue as the installer may reject that key (seems hit or miss). Even phoning MS may not help as they will not let to reuse bios embedded keys as they are aware these are supposed to die with PC.

That's my point - plenty of anecdotal evidence for posts in multiple forums across the internet - if the key (embedded or not) is known, even if the installer rejects it, MS will provide opportunity to activate it.

That too is hit and miss - depends on who you get on the other end of the phone. Have heard of instances where users makes another phone call to another call centre operator ... Voila! Done. They don't all seem work of the same script.

RVC said:

....I purchased this laptop on the used market so I do not know or have its history. I am the administrator on this laptop.
Lastly, if I need to create my own MS Account to be able to transfer the SSD featuring this Win10 Pro I will.
Please let me know.

While you can link a PC's license to an MS account that is not the primary (or even a necessary) method of determining activation. It's an optional extra.

Any PC that has had W10 activated will have a digital license for its edition (Home or Pro) stored on the Microsoft activation servers and linked to the hardware ID of the PC, regardless of any MS account the PC may (or may not) use. This digital license will activate a clean install of the same edition without the need to enter any key. It will also activate an existing install of W10 on any HDD or SSD that you swap into the PC, as long as its edition matches that of the digital license.

The only way to test if this replacement PC has an existing digital license for W10 Pro is to try it with a clean install of Pro, or swapping in a drive with Pro already installed. Only if there's no digital license would having the old PC's license linked to an MS account help, you'd be able to use the Activation Troubleshooter then to transfer it. But that's only an available option if you have already linked the old PC's digital license to an MS account.

Creating your own MS account would be one way to do that. You don't have to sign in on the old PC with your MS account to link the digital license. Signing into an app such as the Store is sufficient, as long as you select the 'Microsoft apps only' link when offered to 'use this account everywhere'. That big friendly 'Next' button switches your account from a local account to an MS account.

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Bree said:

While you can link a PC's license to an MS account that is not the primary (or even a necessary) method of determining activation. It's an optional extra.

Any PC that has had W10 activated will have a digital license for its edition (Home or Pro) stored on the Microsoft activation servers and linked to the hardware ID of the PC, regardless of any MS account the PC may (or may not) use. This digital license will activate a clean install of the same edition without the need to enter any key. It will also activate an existing install of W10 on any HDD or SSD that you swap into the PC, as long as its edition matches that of the digital license.

The only way to test if this replacement PC has an existing digital license for W10 Pro is to try it with a clean install of Pro, or swapping in a drive with Pro already installed. Only if there's no digital license would having the old PC's license linked to an MS account help, you'd be able to use the Activation Troubleshooter then to transfer it. But that's only an available option if you have already linked the old PC's digital license to an MS account.

Creating your own MS account would be one way to do that. You don't have to sign in on the old PC with your MS account to link the digital license. Signing into an app such as the Store is sufficient, as long as you select the 'Microsoft apps only' link when offered to 'use this account everywhere'. That big friendly 'Next' button switches your account from a local account to an MS account.

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Question about how identify the "unused" or "no longer used" digital ID on Microsoft server.

Background: Long story short, in addition to the systems I use on a regular basis, I have a bunch of old systems that I keep around "just in case." As far as I know they are all Retail Pro (TL;DR that I have these licenses.) I also have a very old very old laptop that I should retire. It is this license from this old laptop, not any of the other systems, that I want to use to upgrade a relatively new laptop that right now has only an OEM Home license.

- - - Updated - - -

Just wondering about the previous post. Am I overthinking this issue?