Ability to install Windows 10 on a future new-build PC


  1. Posts : 187
    Windows 10
       #1

    Ability to install Windows 10 on a future new-build PC


    Hi. I've only recently made the move from Windows 7 to Windows 10. I did it by getting the free upgrade available to users of assistive technologies. According to howtogeek:
    “As with the previous free upgrade offer, this method gets your PC a “digital license” that is valid for the life of the device. You can continue using Windows 10 and even reinstall it on THAT (my capitals) PC in the future.”
    After doing the upgrade, my Product ID/Key situation is shown below.

    What I'd like clarification of is the position I'd be in if I built myself a new PC in the future. Would an installation USB/disk made today with the Media Creation Tool work on a new-build PC?

    And, if so, which of the three keys shown below would be 'the one'?

    Thank you for your time
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Ability to install Windows 10 on a future new-build PC-clean-install-showkey.jpg  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    dortmunder said:
    What I'd like clarification of is the position I'd be in if I built myself a new PC in the future. Would an installation USB/disk made today with the Media Creation Tool work on a new-build PC?
    Yes

    dortmunder said:
    And, if so, which of the three keys shown below would be 'the one'?
    Can't tell, you blocked too much stuff out. If you just click on the product keys themselves in the Showkey Plus Window they will blank out.

    See here:
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...troubleshooter

    Click on the link for "You recently made a significant hardware change"

    and

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 187
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks, NavyLCDR. For the confirmation and the tip about ShowKey - I'd been clicking on the popup! You say I blocked too much out but I don't see how the numbers/letters would be necessary for my question. When the time comes I'll just try 'Installed Key' first followed by 'Original Key' if need be. Thanks again.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #4

    When you build a new PC you have to buy windows for it, your digital license is good for the PC that you did the upgrade on.

    Technically/legally that`s how it should be, like always, but W10 and having a Digital License and having a Microsoft account has changed everything.

    The link provided by Navy should help clear things up.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    dortmunder said:
    Thanks, NavyLCDR. For the confirmation and the tip about ShowKey - I'd been clicking on the popup! You say I blocked too much out but I don't see how the numbers/letters would be necessary for my question.
    You blocked out the Windows Edition the original product key was meant for. But it looks like it is OEM:SLP. That product key can only be used to reinstall the factory software from a factory recovery disk. It can't be used to install Windows from a standard install disk that you download from Microsoft. There is a trick that will make a standard install disk from Microsoft work with the OEM:SLP key, but I don't know what that process is.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 187
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    No, that wasn't me - the OEM Key line DOES look like that on my screen. I can't find any way to reveal the whole line. I assumed it was a glitch in the program.
      My Computer


 

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