Obtaining a new license - some questions

I've giving up trying to reactivate Win10 after a motherboards change - see thread here for details. I'm going to buy a new license. But I've got some questions about that.

If I buy directly from Microsoft do I just get an email with a key and a link to download? And if so, the new key work with my existing, running Windows won't it? There's no reason to reinstall Windows, is there? (That sounds like a very boneheaded question to me. I want it to be a very boneheaded question. But I think I should ask it anyway.)

If I were to buy Windows from Amazon instead of Microsoft would I be getting a physical package and have to wait for it to be delivered before getting that key?

In preparation for my motherboard replacement I switched my Windows account from local to a Microsoft account in hope of using the Activation Troubleshooter to reactivate Windows. I have no other use for using the Microsoft account on Windows (that I know of). Is there any reason I should not switch back to local?

Have a look on the eBay UK site for best Windows 10 key prices. Sellers here email the key to you...sometimes it only takes seconds. You can use these to activate an existing installation (in any country).

Also, I personally can see no reason not to switch back to local account. I have NEVER used a Microsoft Account and probably never will.

enigma101 said:

Have a look on the eBay UK site for best Windows 10 key prices. Sellers here email the key to you...sometimes it only takes seconds. You can use these to activate an existing installation (in any country).

Is eBay a legitimate Microsoft reseller? Is there any way to know whether I'm getting a legitimate license?

cereberus said:

The most compelling reason for using an MS account is that your digital licence gets linked to your MS account, so if Windows fails to activate after a hardware change, you can reactivate it.

In practical terms, it means you can teansfer your digital licence to a new mobo (if mobo fails say) or PC even. If you only use a local account, your digital licence cannot be transferred. This is irrelevant if original key is full retail, but is relevant if original key is oem. There is a grey area in the EULA as they do not really cover digital licences.

That "if Windows fails to activate after a hardware change, you can reactivate it" sounds great, but I get a message from Troubleshooter that the activation cannot be done but it gives no explanation. Using the 'Virtual Assistant" to do the same action - reactivation after major hardware change - I get the same result but with a suggestion that I talk with a person to resolve the issue. Selecting the "talk to a person" option just hangs.

If that ability to reactivate is the reason using the Microsoft account I'm not very impressed.

eBay doesn't sell stuff, the person listing is the actual seller and responsible for the item. All I can say is they seem to use a loophole which allows them to legally re-sell 'OEM' keys. Strictly meaning they have to sell you a piece of old PC hardware with the key. Usually this is provided as option where you need to pay postage for said hardware. Of course no-one actually wants this so they just use the emailed key and call it quits.

Authentic Re-seller?....well...most of them actually do claim to be. Again speaking from experience, I've purchased many keys from different sellers for Windows and Office and never had any issues. Even if you did, the most you would need to do is start a Paypal dispute although I've never had too.

[QUOTE=enigma101;1384373]they seem to use a loophole which allows them to legally re-sell 'OEM' keys.
I think I'll avoid that. Even if it's a perfectly legal loophole, I'm currently having problems reactivating what started as an old Win7 OEM license that was "transferred" from my old motherboard to a new one. The only reason I'm thinking of buying a new license is to avoid complications like that.

enigma101 said:

Authentic Re-seller?....well...most of them actually do claim to be.

Microsoft has published a list of authorized resellers here. I don't know if it's complete. I do know it's not exactly up to date. (NCIX declared bankruptcy several months ago.) I think I'll stick with places on the list.

Superfly said:

How is the transfer wizard failing? i.e with which error code?

Have run a diagnostic report to check if a digital licence was created? (only the script version has it)

BTW: You take your chances with the e-Bay keys -- they cannot guarantee authenticity such as an approved MS reseller. Having said that MS no longer blocks over-used MSDN keys - evrything get DL (except you in this instance.. it appears )

I'm not on that PC at the moment and won't be for a couple hours. I'll update this posting when then. (I'm running on about 2 hours sleep and not a t peak performance right now. I'm going more slowly than I might wish. )