Can't use win 7, 8, 8.1 keys after July 29th

Burgurne · 22 Jul 2016

I have been told by Microsoft here in Denmark, that once you have used your windows 7/8/8.1 key to upgrade to windows 10, this key will still be OK to clean install after 29/7. If it is an OEM-key, then it will ONLY work on the PC you did the upgrade on. If it is a RETAIL, then it will still be a RETAIL Windows 10 (home/Pro) key after 29/7. I hope Microsoft Denmark did tell the right facts

The 7/8/8.1 keys that has NOT upgrated before 29/7 will NOT be able to activate a windows 10 for free after that date.

RPmtl · 22 Jul 2016

Debbie said:

Sorry if this has been answered before. (Am asking this on behalf of a friend who doesn't want W10 in spite of my encouraging her to upgrade) - After 29th July will the GWX icon in notification tray go away, stop giving reminders to upgrade or what?

What I've recommended to friends (and helped them do) is to back up their hard disk before doing the upgrade. I use Paragon Backup & Recovery 14 Free Edition to copy the hard disk, though there are other apps that also work well with Windows 10. They can then restore their previous installation and keep using it as long as they wish. If and when they choose to upgrade to Windows 10 their machine will be registered with MS so no upgrade key would be needed.

A simpler solution would be to pop in a fresh hard disk and do a clean install using Microsoft's ISO download. As soon as it's activated you could just pop the old hard disk back in to continue using the old OS. The disk used for the Win10 install could be reformatted as it would no longer be needed.

It's a bit of work but at least allows you to take advantage of the free Win10 offer without having to use it until you're ready.

cereberus · 23 Jul 2016

alphanumeric said:

I could have explained it better, but what I meant by the "free upgrade code striped out" is removing the auto detection of 8/8.1 OEM keys etc on a clean install. That was only added to make the free upgrade easier.

Not sure it is that easy to strip it out without timing issues.

If somebody currently blocked all updates downloaded an iso now, then version would have and could keep the code needed to activate using old key.

I think the code will remain but the block against the keys will be at the server end ie you enter the key, and server comes back saying key is not valid.

This would make far more sense, cannot be bypassed and would give MS option to do future free upgrade offers if the rate of uptake starts falling behind.

alphanumeric · 23 Jul 2016

All I can say is I hope "you can't use win 7, 8, 8.1 keys after July 29th" for installs or activation. Auto detect Windows 10 OEM keys only. It's what I personally would like to see. It's not rocket science. When you do your reinstall, reinstall that same version, do a skip key, and it activates with the Digital Entitlement. If it has one. Reading 8.8.1 OEM keys just complicates things IMHO. Plus Windows 7 doesn't have embedded keys. And some Windows 7 keys are blocked from manual entry, OEM-SLP for example. Anyway, I do see why some want it to stay the way it is. And there are some valid reasons for doing it. I still hope they don't.

Klaian · 23 Jul 2016

I wish there was some way to tell which win 7/8/8.1 key have been upgraded. I will hate after the 29th to find out one of my license didn't get the free entitlement.

davwilli · 24 Jul 2016

Klaian said:

I wish there was some way to tell which win 7/8/8.1 key have been upgraded. I will hate after the 29th to find out one of my license didn't get the free entitlement.

If you log in to your Microsoft account, and go to settings/accounts/manage my Microsoft account you will find the devices licensed to your account.

NavyLCDR · 24 Jul 2016

Klaian said:

I wish there was some way to tell which win 7/8/8.1 key have been upgraded. I will hate after the 29th to find out one of my license didn't get the free entitlement.

It isn't product keys that get upgraded to Windows 10. Windows 10 upgrades are per device, not per product key.

groze · 24 Jul 2016

alphanumeric said:

All I can say is I hope "you can't use win 7, 8, 8.1 keys after July 29th" for installs or activation. Auto detect Windows 10 OEM keys only. It's what I personally would like to see. It's not rocket science. When you do your reinstall, reinstall that same version, do a skip key, and it activates with the Digital Entitlement. If it has one. Reading 8.8.1 OEM keys just complicates things IMHO. Plus Windows 7 doesn't have embedded keys. And some Windows 7 keys are blocked from manual entry, OEM-SLP for example. Anyway, I do see why some want it to stay the way it is. And there are some valid reasons for doing it. I still hope they don't.

Alphanumeric what do you think will happen with Windows 7 legit oem-slp keys that were upgrade to windows 10 and those that were not? I can see many scenarios that could cause issues in different ways.

alphanumeric · 24 Jul 2016

groze said:

Alphanumeric what do you think will happen with Windows 7 legit oem-slp keys that were upgrade to windows 10 and those that were not? I can see many scenarios that could cause issues in different ways.

I'll give you my take on that. On a clean install, even with the free upgrade, they are rejected if you enter them manually. Only OEM-COA keys are accepted for manual entry. The only situation where they are accepted is if you actually upgrade from an OEM Windows 7 install to Windows 10. Even then, I don't think the key is actually looked at. All that's checked is whether the system is legally activated or not. If yes, you get a digital entitlement. After the 29th it will be the same deal with one exception. If you upgrade from a factory Windows 7 OEM install, you won't get issued a digital entitlement automatically. instead it will look to see if one exists on the activation server. If yes your activated, if no, your not activated.
The thing is OEM-SLP keys are in a way, generic keys. Every Dell with 7 Home Premium has the same Dell OEM-SLP key. They are blocked from online activation even for Windows 7. OEM-SLP installs do not activate online, ever. Those keys are listed all over the Internet. They are useless unless you have the custom OEM install media, and if you have that, you don't need to know what the key is anyway. They are entered with a script during the install.

Mystere · 24 Jul 2016

groze said:

Alphanumeric what do you think will happen with Windows 7 legit oem-slp keys that were upgrade to windows 10 and those that were not? I can see many scenarios that could cause issues in different ways.

Nothing happens to your keys. They just can't be used to upgrade to Windows 10 anymore.