Win10 Install with harddisk mirroring on multiple workstations.

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  1. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #11

    Well, may I suggest something? If your applications can run on both Windows 7 and 10, you can make a "master" disk with Windows 7 that will have all the software installed and configured as required. During the clean installation of Windows 7 skip entering the key and after installation is complete, do not activate yet. Install every single software you will need. Then clone that "master" disk into the rest disks. Boot every computer in Windows 7, change the computer name as appropriate, enter your key for that computer and activate. Then use a DVD-ROM to upgrade to Windows 10 to avoid waiting for the download from Get Windows 10 utility. After you upgrade to Windows 10 it will be automatically activated. Yes, you have to upgrade each computer to Windows 10, but you at least don't have to manually install every single application again. A better option would be to install Windows 10 directly and clone that, but then you would not be able to activate without a Windows 10 key...

    Since Windows 7 installation will be fresh, I don't see the reason for a clean install of Windows 10. However, if you insist, you could change the process so you install Windows 7 without key on the "master disk" Then clone that disk to the others. Run Windows 7 in each computer type the key and activate. Upgrade to Windows 10 and activate. The key is stored at Microsoft server for the specific hardware. Then format and clean install Windows 10 to "master" disk without entering a key. Make sure you select the correct version, Home or Pro and that you are disconnected from the internet. Install every single software you will need. If you need to update it, don't, you'll do that later or use an offline update file when possible. When ready, clone the "master" disk to the other disks. Load Windows 10 and connect to the internet to activate. That's it! But it is a lot of work and I don't think is worth the trouble for a clean install. I see no benefit anyway. I would go for the first method.
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  2. Posts : 6
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #12

    @spapakons, thanks for this produktive input. Will think about it.
    Never thought about option #1, but seems like an easy way to go.

    Option #2 is the way i thought about myself, but i'm still not sure if this really works
    (for example: when the installation-id is generated within the setup, and not when you activate the licence it may fail)

    Option #3 may be with
    NavyLCDR said:
    Starting in build 10565, Microsoft allows the user to enter a Windows 7/8/8.1 product key in Windows 10 to trigger that PUSH of the installation ID onto the MS activation servers - which was NOT written into previous builds of Windows 10.
    But looks like we have a overview of most possible ways to go.
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  3. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #13

    Since the hardware in each computer will be identical, I may be wrong, but I think the installation ID should be the same. Doesn't that depends on hardware? Hardware will be identical in your case, so I see no reason the ID would be different. This shouldn't affect activation as long as you use a different Windows key per computer.
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  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #14

    spapakons said:
    Since the hardware in each computer will be identical, I may be wrong, but I think the installation ID should be the same. Doesn't that depends on hardware? Hardware will be identical in your case, so I see no reason the ID would be different. This shouldn't affect activation as long as you use a different Windows key per computer.
    Serial numbers that can be read by the OS are different. That's how the OS detects a same model motherboard replacement and deactivates.
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  5. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #15

    What? Supposing you install Windows 10 and some days later your motherboard dies (knock on wood). Since it is a recent model, you get a replacement from the shop with the same model. According to your suggestion you wouldn't be able to activate Windows again! I don't think this is the case. The worst that can happen is that automatic activation fails and you have to do it by phone, but I don't think this will be just because you changed motherboard. It would make sense if you went to a different model, but again if you can convince Microsoft that you replaced a broken motherboard, you should be able to activate by phone.
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  6. Posts : 420
    Windows 10 1803
       #16

    same arguments we had early in lives of both 7 and 8.
    remember how aggressive MS was about 'stamping out grayware' ??? they got over it.
    and yes, the worst that can happen is a friendly phone chat
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  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #17

    spapakons said:
    What? Supposing you install Windows 10 and some days later your motherboard dies (knock on wood). Since it is a recent model, you get a replacement from the shop with the same model. According to your suggestion you wouldn't be able to activate Windows again!
    I never stated you would not be able to activate again. What I stated was that Windows 10 would detect the motherboard change and deactivate. Several members on this forum have already reported this happening. After calling Microsoft, some have had good luck and Microsoft has activated their computers for them and some haven't been so lucky and Microsoft told them to go back to Windows 7/8/8.1 and upgrade again.

    spapakons said:
    Since the hardware in each computer will be identical, I may be wrong, but I think the installation ID should be the same.
    So, let's go with your theory. Every off the shelf computer then of the same make and model number from the same manufacturer would have exactly the same Installation ID - one computer gets activated and hundreds of computers get activated. So, if I did a clean install of Windows 10, never having had Windows 10 before, and if anyone, anywhere else with the same manufacturer, make and model number of my computer activated Windows, then mine would activate based upon their Installation ID. Not the way it works, because serial numbers are part of the hardware algorithm that is used to calculate the hardware ID - which is unique to each computer - and which is used as part of the Installation ID which is unique to every computer and to each version of Windows installed on that computer.

    This is from Belarc System Advisor, see all those serial numbers?:

    Win10 Install with harddisk mirroring on multiple workstations.-belarc.jpg
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  8. Posts : 3,505
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 21H1 (May 2021 build 19043.1083)
       #18

    Well, there is another option. You can install Windows 7 on all computers and activate. Then use a DVD-ROM or other media to save download time and upgrade to Windows 10. Activate so the key is stored on Microsoft server. Now every computer can activate again automatically. Take one "master" disk, format and clean install Windows 10. At first welcome screen, before creating any user (OOBE) you press a special key combination (CTRL+SHIFT+F3). This makes Windows 10 login with the built-in Administrator account in "audit mode". You can install all your software and make any changes you need to interface etc. Then you generalize the installation so it is hardware-independent (just in case) and shutdown. Clone this "master" disk to the other computers. When they first load Windows will go in OOBE mode again where they can create the user accounts and activate. You do some work to install Windows 7 and 10 in all computers, but you save a lot of trouble later when installing all your applications and settings.
    Read details at this thread.
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