W10 licence transfer. What happens if I change/upgrade my PC later on?

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  1. Posts : 89
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #71

    Nalydyenlo said:
    I have a strange one! I successfully upgraded from win 8.1 pro to win 10 pro and it activated without a problem. Then I decided to re-install win 8.1 pro on a different drive as I have the installation media. I had no problems activating that with my win 8.1 key. Now I have a dual boot with 10 and 8.1 and both are activated! So, I would say to the OP to go ahead and upgrade cause it seems you can still use win 8.1 if you have the installation media and your win 8.1 key.
    That's certainly interesting but I wonder if it's temporary and eventually your 8.1 installation may be deactivated. Anyway, for me it's not the real issue. I don't plan to go back to Windows 8.1 once I've upgraded. What I'd really like is to be able to install Windows 10 when I next upgrade my PC without having to install 8.1 first. I don't need the extra wear on my SSD or indeed the hassle of two installation steps to run Windows 10 on new hardware.

    Of course, we don't always get what we want and I realise the free upgrade is precisely that - an upgrade. I can hardly complain about the terms and condition of a free offer. I'm just a little disappointed and it has somewhat dented my enthusiasm for the new OS.
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  2. Posts : 7
    Windows 10 Pro
       #72

    groze said:
    I was able to activate 10 without using a Microsoft Account on a clean install.
    Yeah, Microsoft accounts are not necessary for activation. Installation of win8.1 (and win10, I think) allows you skip account creation and it doesn't prevent you from activating. As for the clean install, I'm guessing you upgraded your previous OS first. If not, then I guess your hardware (i.e. motherboard) supported it, i.e. your windows 8 key was stored on your mobo.
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  3. Posts : 7
    Windows 10 Pro
       #73

    wiggly1uk2000 said:
    That's certainly interesting but I wonder if it's temporary and eventually your 8.1 installation may be deactivated. Anyway, for me it's not the real issue. I don't plan to go back to Windows 8.1 once I've upgraded. What I'd really like is to be able to install Windows 10 when I next upgrade my PC without having to install 8.1 first. I don't need the extra wear on my SSD or indeed the hassle of two installation steps to run Windows 10 on new hardware.

    Of course, we don't always get what we want and I realise the free upgrade is precisely that - an upgrade. I can hardly complain about the terms and condition of a free offer. I'm just a little disappointed and it has somewhat dented my enthusiasm for the new OS.
    If it is temporary, I won't miss win 8 that much anyway. I just thought I'd encourage you cause I think win 10 is really good. New efficient browser, new features and you can turn off UAC without disabling apps. Great!

    I understand your concern about upgrading hardware and then re-installing 'cause I thought about that too, but if activation fails on a new machine, surely there's a way to transfer the license, like over the phone or something.

    EDIT: I just read somewhere that if your channel is RETAIL you'll be able to transfer your license, presumably over the phone, but that if it is OEM, you wont.
    Last edited by Nalydyenlo; 01 Aug 2015 at 13:46.
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  4. Posts : 89
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #74

    Nalydyenlo said:
    If it is temporary, I won't miss win 8 that much anyway. I just thought I'd encourage you cause I think win 10 is really good. New efficient browser, new features and you can turn off UAC without disabling apps. Great!

    I understand your concern about upgrading hardware and then re-installing 'cause I thought about that too, but if activation fails on a new machine, surely there's a way to transfer the license, like over the phone or something.

    EDIT: I just read somewhere that if your channel is RETAIL you'll be able to transfer your license, presumably over the phone, but that if it is OEM, you wont.
    Yes, I've been using the Windows 10 previews from the beginning so I know I'd be happy with the OS itself. It's only the finer details of the installation process (with the free upgrade) that bug me. I've reached an age where I find myself drawn to the things that make life simpler, not more complicated!
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  5. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #75

    wiggly1uk2000 said:
    For the average user perhaps but consider PC tech enthusiasts and gamers who may need to reinsall Windows regularly and on different hardware. I see no way this new system is going to make life easier for them. I far preferred the Windows 8 promotion where they offered the OS at a discounted price and gave you a product key.
    Only a small percentage of people have transferable licenses. the 95% of the rest of people with OEM copies will be able to re-install on the same hardware without a key being needed. Eventually (in several years), most of the people with upgrade licenses will have bought new PC's that came with new OEM WIndows 10 licenses.
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  6. Posts : 89
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #76

    Mystere said:
    Only a small percentage of people have transferable licenses. the 95% of the rest of people with OEM copies will be able to re-install on the same hardware without a key being needed. Eventually (in several years), most of the people with upgrade licenses will have bought new PC's that came with new OEM WIndows 10 licenses.
    So why not give out a new product key to everyone who upgrades from a retail licence and make 100% of users happy?
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  7. Posts : 121
    Windows 10 Pro
       #77

    I guess because will use that Keys to make their money by selling it :/
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  8. Posts : 89
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #78

    Akane said:
    I guess because will use that Keys to make their money by selling it :/
    I've never bought a PC with Windows preloaded and never will. Windows 10 has been pitched at gamers (for DX12) who usually build their own computers and regularly tinker with upgrades and modifications. The free Windows 10 upgrade is going to be a pain in the proverbial for those who do frequent reinstalls because of major hardware changes.

    I thought the whole idea was to get everyone onto Windows 10 as soon as possible through the free upgrade. How ironic that you have to install your old OS first in order to transfer the licence!
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  9. Posts : 4
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #79

    Would anyone know if this applies to a MSDNAA copy of windows 8? I received my copy through my university, so would it be treated as a retail purchase?
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  10. Posts : 429
    Windows 10 Fast Ring
       #80

    lnav83 said:
    Would anyone know if this applies to a MSDNAA copy of windows 8? I received my copy through my university, so would it be treated as a retail purchase?
    Couple of things. First is that you need to be running Win8.1, Win8 is not part of the upgrade program (but check anyways). Next, this is a volume license, not a retail or OEM license. Businesses with their volume licenses are not scheduled for upgrades until Aug 1st. Finally, the only real difference between retail and OEM is that you cannot transfer the license to another computer.
    Are you still using this for school? If so, check with the IT dept. as they usually frown on students messing things up for them!
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