Can I legally use this Windows 10 installation?

If the copy of windows has previously been registered and there's been no significant hardware changes, then you can re-activate ok

You can create as many user accounts on your laptop as you wish. There is legally absolutely no limit to this.

Only thing you should check however, since you bought the laptop from a friend, is that your Windows is activated and activated with correct type of key. Laptops usually have the OEM-key embedded in the laptop firmware, for easy re-installation in case of total hard-drive failure.

You can use the ShowKeyPlus tool to check this.

As this is a Windows 10 install you do not need to worry about any Key as this is no longer required for activation.

Activation is accomplished via a digital licence based on your system's Hardware ID and held on the Servers at Microsoft. This means that even if you did a wipe of the disk and a fresh install if the system is legal then it will activate automatically

Check the settings pages on the system to see the actual activation status, (Click the windows logo on the taskbar or press the windows key, and type activation to get a direct link), if it's licenced then you are good to go - you can also use Showkey Plus as a confirmation

When creating a new user and resetting things up you should use the original administrator user to add a new user with your details, ( always better if you use a Microsoft ID as this gives better recovery options, but a local account will work, make sure that this new account is an admin account Log out and back in - to the new account and make your changes ... and use your new system ...

When after a reasonable time Weeks or months , you are sure that there is nothing left under the old User that you require you can delete the old user, when logged in as your new user, but even then I would select the option to move all the old users files and sittings to a folder on the desktop (if offered), just to be as safe as possible

Your choice as to which account you use, I think Microsoft would prefer only one account per user but I do not think there are any checks,

It could be a good idea if you are not sure about your future plans and want to retain you existing account un changed to add a new one

I always create local accounts only, and then connect those accounts to my Microsoft accounts. This makes administration a lot easier and it also keeps your Windows machine login credentials separate from your Microsoft online service credentials.

There is no limit on how many local computer accounts you have connected to the Microsoft account, since they only see the login token you/your computer sends to the servers for credential verification.

Sprocket said:

Thank you, I will remember that and try to change it later on.

Many thanks.

Bob

After you have created a new LOCAL user account with YOUR desired username and password and also made sure it is part of Administrators group (not Users group), then just login to that new account and open any Microsoft App (Store, Mail, OneDrive ...etc..) and sign in to your Microsoft Account. When the computer asks if you want to sign in and let all apps use Microsoft Services, press yes (this dialog box keeps changing for every new version of Windows so your experience might look a bit different). Just make sure you let all apps sign in to MS and all is good. :)


Easiest place to make sure your new account has the right credentials, is to use Computer Management, which can be found when right-clicking on the Start Menu icon. Then just navigate to "Local Users and Groups" > "Users" and find your new account and open properties for it. Finally navigate to the "Member of"-tab and add the Administrators group and remove Users group. Save all and everything is done. :)