Windows 10: More free upgrade and activation questions answered

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  1. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #30

    alphanumeric said:
    I was just being sure the OP knows that it won't be lost. I did my reinstall of Windows 8.1 well after the 30 day rollback period ended. To prove you could go back after the 30 days. It's 30 days because a scheduled disk cleanup deletes the Windows.old. Once the Windows .old is deleted Rollback won't work, there is nothing left to roll back too.
    OK, thanks. Just checking behind myself. :)

    Oh, so you can reinstall and activate, but you can't roll back because Windows.old is no longer there.

    And . . . drumroll . . . the same Product Key will activate both 8.1 and 10, so I guess you could go back and forth forever if you wanted? Not that I'd want to go to all that hoop jumping.
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  2. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #31

    Wynona said:
    OK, thanks. Just checking behind myself. :)

    Oh, so you can reinstall and activate, but you can't roll back because Windows.old is no longer there.

    And . . . drumroll . . . the same Product Key will activate both 8.1 and 10, so I guess you could go back and forth forever if you wanted? Not that I'd want to go to all that hoop jumping.
    Yes, as far as I know, you can go back and forth as often as you want.

    You only need to enter the product key for Windows 8/8.1. You can do a skip key for Windows 10, if that PC doesn't have an OEM embedded key.

    I'm as I type this. A lot more fun than taking muscle relaxers and pain meds. lol
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  3. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #32

    alphanumeric said:
    You only need to enter the product key for Windows 8/8.1. You can do a skip key for Windows 10, if that PC doesn't have an OEM embedded key.

    I'm as I type this. A lot more fun than taking muscle relaxers and pain meds. lol
    I'm sorry you need them. I don't like what does to me, so I'd rather take the meds at bedtime; much less backlash.

    Yeah, and as you know, both of mine have OEM embedded Home keys.
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  4. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #33

    Wynona said:
    I'm sorry you need them. I don't like what does to me, so I'd rather take the meds at bedtime; much less backlash.

    Yeah, and as you know, both of mine have OEM embedded Home keys.
    I take my meds on week days, when needed. I try to only take the pain killers when I really need them. Then they actually work when I need them. On the weekend I'll have some rum & coke, in moderation. It's a lesser of two evils type of deal.
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  5. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #34

    Anyway, getting back on track. Rumor has it, those that didn't do the free upgrade will be automatically rolled back to Windows 3.1 and receive a complimentary, free for the life of the device, updated version of Microsoft BOB.
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  6. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #35

    alphanumeric said:
    Anyway, getting back on track. Rumor has it, those that didn't do the free upgrade will be automatically rolled back to Windows 3.1 and receive a complimentary, free for the life of the device, updated version of Microsoft BOB.
    Ohhh, shoot! I don't have one that I didn't do the free upgrade on. Does that mean I don't get a free copy of Microsoft Bob?
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  7. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #36

    Wynona said:
    Ohhh, shoot! I don't have one that I didn't do the free upgrade on. Does that mean I don't get a free copy of Microsoft Bob?
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  8. Posts : 25
    Windows 10
       #37

    Wynona said:
    Yes. Once Windows 10 has been on a machine, you have a digital license for it.

    Only one gotcha: If it's an OEM that came with Home on it and you've upgraded it to Pro, you may have to jump through a few hoops to get back to Pro.

    If the above applies, go to this thread and read the first post. Installation and Activation of Windows 10 Pro - Windows 10 Forums

    I don't know if there's a tutorial on this issue yet.
    I rolled back my laptop to Windows 7 Pro prior to July 29th. It reports a Product ID and no way to find if I have a digital license key to Windows 10.

    I have a Microsoft account, but I can't find a list of digital license keys. I am not sure if you are correct about still having a Win10 license key after a roll-back. To be sure, I would have to see it. Does anyone know how to interrogate one's Microsoft account to obtain a list of license keys?

    I understand that Win7 has a product id, Win10 has a digital license key. That's my issue.

    BTW: I did my rollback prior to the AU. FWIW: MSFT says only 10 days after AU to rollback.
    Last edited by retreaded; 13 Aug 2016 at 15:52. Reason: clarification
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  9. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #38

    retreaded said:
    I rolled back my laptop to Windows 7 Pro. I have a Product ID and no way to find if I have a license key to Windows 10. I have a Microsoft account, but I can't find a list of license keys. I am not sure if you are correct about still having a Win10 license key after a roll-back. To be sure, I would have to see it. Does anyone know how to interrogate one's Microsoft account to obtain a list of license keys?
    If you did the free upgrade to Windows 10, you get a generic key that only works if you have digital license. You don't need it anyway. You just do a skip key during the install. If your installing the matching version to what you got with the free upgrade it will activate automatically with Digital Entitlement stored on the activation server. I've only ever seen a list of devices and the version of Windows installed on them. I have never seen keys listed under my Microsoft Account..

    I upgraded, went back to Windows 8.1, then clean installed Windows 10 again with no activation issues.
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  10. Posts : 25
    Windows 10
       #39

    alphanumeric said:
    If you did the free upgrade to Windows 10, you get a generic key that only works if you have digital license. You don't need it anyway. You just do a skip key during the install. If your installing the matching version to what you got with the free upgrade it will activate automatically with Digital Entitlement stored on the activation server. I've only ever seen a list of devices and the version of Windows installed on them. I have never seen keys listed under my Microsoft Account..

    I upgraded, went back to Windows 8.1, then clean installed Windows 10 again with no activation issues.
    This is promising. I don't really mean to beat a dead horse here. I don't want to upgrade to Win10 unless and until I can get Bluetooth support for my Lenovo Bluetooth mouse and printer for my Lenovo T510. For some reason, Lenovo will not provide support for this product, even though they do for several other Laptops about the same vintage. This means well beyond the authorized upgrade promo. In the meantime, Lenovo may change their mind and develop a Bluetooth driver for it. Stranger things have happened.

    Anyway.... this has been a learning experience for me. I never knew how MSFT followed the customer upgrades until now. Digital License Key? Seems similar to DRM.... guess they learned from the music industry.
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