Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License  

RK1997 said:

I created a VM last week. I signed into it using my MSA and activated it with a retail Windows 10 Pro key. It's activation was successful but it never got linked to my MSA. I followed the ones in this post by removing and re-adding the account but it still showed my partial product key, product ID, Status and name of Windows. I then tried this command (slmgr/ato). It said it activated successfully and this time it got linked. Why didn't it get linked before like it happened on my host machine?

Hello RK1997,

Do you remember if it showed "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account" in Settings > Update & Security > Activation the first time?

Sometimes the Settings window may need to be refreshed (close and reopen) to see the change for the message above.

RK1997 said:

Nope. It always showed the edition, Product ID, Status and Partial Product Key. The Digital License line replaced them today only after I ran slmgr/ato. "slmgr/dlv" showed the same thing before and after running the activation command.

I'm not sure why either since it said activation was successful. It has always been an instant link to MSA for me.

Using slmgr/ato to activate with current key would have acted as a refresh for activation to toggle it to show as linked.

I'll add a note in the tutorial for this in case anyone else doesn't get linked instantly.

Sorry to respond to an old thread but I want to make sure that when I get my new PC and it is activated with the new key , I am thinking that all I have to do is to login with my existing MSA? Is this correct?

Josey Wales said:

Sorry to respond to an old thread but I want to make sure that when I get my new PC and it is activated with the new key , I am thinking that all I have to do is to login with my existing MSA? Is this correct?

Presuming that your new PC comes with a preinstalled OS, you don't even have to login with MSA. Only if you want to link the license with your MSA.
If it's not, and you install Windows with a previously used license, first you remove the licence from the old PC, install it on the new one and then you just login with MSA and... you're done!

ddelo said:

Presuming that your new PC comes with a preinstalled OS, you don't even have to login with MSA. Only if you want to link the license with your MSA.
If it's not, and you install Windows with a previously used license, first you remove the licence from the old PC, install it on the new one and then you just login with MSA and... you're done!

No it comes from Digital Storm with Windows 10 Pro on a Flash Drive. No preinstalled SW.

All I guess I really want to be able to do is use the same logon and MS outlook.live.com/mail Account.

Josey Wales said:

All I guess I really want to be able to do is use the same logon and MS outlook.live.com/mail Account.

Josey,
Without being an expert on what DS licenses are (most likely OEM ones), I don't see the reason why you shouldn't be able to use your own MSA and mail.
The only difference between OEM and Retail is the ability to transfer the license to a new PC. OEM license cannot be used with another PC, as it's linked to a specific machine. It has nothing to do with the MSA, as far as I know.

I might sound stupid, but your best bet is to clarify that with DS!

ddelo said:

Josey,
Without being an expert on what DS licenses are (most likely OEM ones), I don't see the reason why you shouldn't be able to use your own MSA and mail.
The only difference between OEM and Retail is the ability to transfer the license to a new PC. OEM license cannot be used with another PC, as it's linked to a specific machine. It has nothing to do with the MSA, as far as I know.

I might sound stupid, but your best bet is to clarify that with DS!

They Custom build the machine, it is not your normal OEM. The Win Pro 64 Bit is not OEM. I am going to just believe that I can use my existing Sign in and Outlook.live.com email