New
#31
Thanks for input. I have successfully installed Windows 10 in a dual boot as before with Win 8.1. According to MSoft Technical via a phone call there is no way to activate Win 10 this way unless I first upgrade Win 8.1 by overwriting it which I did not want to do.
Why this is necessary when MS could still read my Win 8.1 and hardware config via clean install of Win 10 on my dual boot arrangement. Its all on same machine!
To be clear, as long as you don't change you'r hardware you will be fine to re install as many time as you want WITHOUT entering any keys. It is actually saved with your motherboard in the Microsoft activation server.
You might try this, although I don't know if it will work once you have tried once to activate Windows 10 clean install and failed:
Why Activate? - Windows 10 Forums
Basically, make sure your computer has no ability to connect to the internet. Run the gatherosstate program on your Windows 8.1 partition. Copy the resulting XML file to the proper location on you Windows 10 partition. Reboot Windows 10 at least once with the XML file saved. Then connect to the internet again with Windows 10 and hope for the best.
Windows 10 Pro also has BitLocker..
Because ... MS decided to change the Activation method for the free Upgrade. However, I did read recently where someone had a long discussion with MS Support and were told that MS is possibly working on this activate-with-a-key approach -- which would be nice, if it turns out to be true.