Retail Win8 upgraded to Win10: Use the license on a new machine in the

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  1. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #1

    Retail Win8 upgraded to Win10: Use the license on a new machine in the


    I'm wondering how to use my migrated Win8 Retail license on my next machine. It will be a few years from now and well past the free upgrade offer.

    I've used Showkey and I'm not sure if what it returns will be usable. If memory serves me (don't trust it myself) I think it's either the default Win10 Pro key or my Win8 Key (I'm on Win8 now, will post an image next time I'm on Win10).

    The default Win10 certainly won't activate and the Win8 key will not upgrade after 29 July 2016.
    The digital entitlement won't be valid - that's for the old machine.

    It will most likely require phone activation and that's not a problem. I'll just have to remember that's how Win10 will activate given this scenario.

    Remember: it's a Retail licence
    I understand and comply with all of the legalese (one machine, remove from old...)

    Any thoughts?
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  2. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #2

    Did you run showkey or Superfly's ShowkeyPlus?

    ShowkeyPlus provides a lot of infor:

    Retail Win8 upgraded to Win10: Use the license on a new machine in the-showkeyplus.jpg
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Slartybart said:
    ...
    I've used Showkey and I'm not sure if what it returns will be usable. If memory serves me (don't trust it myself) I think it's either the default Win10 Pro key or my Win8 Key (I'm on Win8 now, will post an image next time I'm on Win10).
    ...
    Ztruker said:
    Did you run showkey or Superfly's ShowkeyPlus?
    Superfly's ShowkeyPlus

    I'll post an image in a while. But I think the only fields were the first 3 on your image. No OEM key obviously and I don't believe there was anything in the original key or edition.

    I tried retrieving from backup, but that asked me for a backup location. So I dropped it for a few days, then decided to ask the forum.

    When I post the Showkey info, then the discussion can go further. I'm been lacking focus for the past few days, so please bear with me.

    Thanks Rich
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Here's the history
    HP OEM Laptop
    Win7 upgraded to Win8, upgraded to Win8.1 upgraded to Win10
    Clean install Win10

    There were a few Tech Preview rls on it. Both Win8.1 and Win10 have been clean installed a few times
    I am not running any Insider builds now

    Various other multi-boot scenarios, but it's fairly vanilla now.
    Current is a clean install of Win10 in May using a fresh ISO from TechBench

    Retail Win8 upgraded to Win10: Use the license on a new machine in the-shkeywin10.png

    The ShowKeyPlus window is from launching the pgm.
    I added red boxes to highlight what I got when I tried Retrieve from backup.

    edit: Never mind - I read the tut again - the Software hive is on the live machine, NOT in a backup

    I'm not real concerned about this, so please don't spend too much effort - there are other members who sorely need your help. My thoughts are that only MS can answer this, but it would be helpful to know before 29 July.
    This is more of an Academic thread to provoke thought and discussion.

    Thanks to anyone who provides insight.

    Bill
    .
    Last edited by Slartybart; 20 Jun 2016 at 22:14.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    The upgrade to Windows 10 has no affect on the previous Windows 7/8/8.1 product key. The Windows 7/8/8.1 product key will continue to work exactly as it did as if it was not upgraded to Windows 10. Just think of the Windows 10 upgrade as being a copy of the Windows 7/8/8.1 that it came from.

    Use the Windows 7/8/8.1 product key on a different computer and it may complain that it is in use on another computer - that's nothing new. You have to call Microsoft and tell the computer voice that that copy of Windows is installed on only 1 computer.

    The fact that there remains a digital entitlement for Windows 10 on the old computer has not affected re-use of Windows 7/8/8.1 product keys yet, and there is nothing to indicate that that will change on July 29th.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Activation in Windows 10 - Windows Help
    > Activating Windows 10 (Version 1511 or higher) using a Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 product key
    During the free upgrade, you can use a valid Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 product key to activate Windows 10[ (Version 1511 or higher).

    > Activating Windows 10 after a hardware configuration change
    If you upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer and then made significant hardware changes to your device, such as replacing the motherboard, Windows 10 might no longer be activated. For help on how to activate your device, contact customer support.

    Thanks Navy,

    It's probably just the wording of the above, always referencing the Free Upgrade, that's bothering me.
    If you can use a previous Qualifying license after 29 July, that would essentially mean the Free Upgrade doesn't end. I suspect that the servers will only accept Win10 keys after 29 July.

    The only thing I can imagine is a cross reference to an existing digital entitlement based on the key during a phone activation.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #7

    What are we talking about here? Moving the Windows 7/8/8.1 to a new computer after July 29th, or activating Windows 10 on a new computer after July 29th?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Activating Windows 10 on a new computer after July 29th with a Retail Win8.1 license following the EULA.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 3,453
       #9

    Thing is Bill, digital entitlement is not really retail (i.e transferable), the qualifying (retail) key is. The EULA does not really take that into account, it seems geared at "normal" upgrades.
    So Win 8.1 on the new machine is all good after 29 Jul. It won't upgrade to Win 10 tho'. - as far as we know.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #10

    Superfly said:
    Thing is Bill, digital entitlement is not really retail (i.e transferable), the qualifying (retail) key is. The EULA does not really take that into account, it seems geared at "normal" upgrades.
    So Win 8.1 on the new machine is all good after 29 Jul. It won't upgrade to Win 10 tho'. - as far as we know.
    I agree. Unless you pay for the upgrade.
      My Computer


 

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