New
#290
Hi there
It seems therefore that the activation is a GUUID which can be held on the servers with an installation ID - that will give a unique code for every individual computer in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE whether it has identical hardware or not -- so Ms's problem is SOLVED.
Now what relation the W10 product key has in generating this - who knows --I rather suspect NONE for a FREE update as the keys are the same (at least the W10 ones).
Cheers
jimbo
It will be interesting to see if you can do the skip key, on a second clean install of a Retail version? And what if you've installed and activated different versions of Windows 10 on the same hardware. I did the free upgrade to 10 Pro on my desktop PC. It's now running Windows 10 Education, installed with my MSDN Retail key. It might be a long while before I do a clean install on this PC though. I can clean install 10 Pro with no key. I'll have to hunt up a spare hard drive to do some testing. It would be nice if entering the key was a one time first time deal.
I imagine if the only way you could get 10 was through the Windows Update service you wouldn't see the screen prompting you for a product key or later the one for changing keys. Everything is automatic once the activation server is connected to during the last portion of the set up right before reaching the desktop for the first time. I know that from not being able to connect via WiFi to the separate router I have set up for the laptop where 10 was prompting for the "guest" connect or the password for the home network.
At least now I know why only 7 could use the usb WiFi adapter that has to be plugged in while 10 will log on without it! That was seen when upgrading a 7 laptop and now will be checked on the second desktop case used mostly for testing.
I use Burncdcc without having to worry about how many times it's installed. It's from Terabyte Unlimited.com and they have quite a few freebies. It's older (last updated in 2012), but it gets the job done. For "burning" ISOs to flash drive, I use Rufus, which is also free and doesn't care how many times you use it. :)
I've never had the need to use anything else, but then I don't burn audio or video, which I figure is more complicated than what I do. :)
The only thing I have that "limits" me are my Nuance programs, but all I have to do is call them and I get more "activations". I just have to tell them I beta test and that I really do need to install that many times.
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I've had to call Microsoft a few times, but have never had to call because I upgraded the RAM. What is nice is that every time I've had to call, I was taken care of in a pleasant manner and got my new activation.
Guess I'll find out when I finally get the guts to add my SSD drive to this computer. :)