Is Digital activation tied to a microsoft account as well as hardware?

Hi donegaljoe.

Another member may have a better understanding of this than me however it is my understanding that OEM licenses are not transferable from machine to machine.

That said MS has a specific process called the activation trouble shooter and Brink has a tutorial on how to use. Even mentions motherboard replacement as an example.

Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10


Ken

I've activated several machines using only a Local Account.

donegaljoe said:

...since we have a digital licence for Windows 10, and should one need a new motherboard, how does Microsoft determine if we are entitled to Activation for Windows 10 or not, if that activation is only tied to hardware...

...digital activation licence is only tied to hardware, or linked to a Microsoft account as well.

It's optional. If you only ever signed in with a local account then it will just say 'activated with a digital licence' and it will just be tied to your hardware, but you can link the digital licence to your Microsoft account. In fact, this is recommended practice if you intend to upgrade the motherboard and run the activation troubleshooter afterwards if it doesn't activate. See these tutorials...

Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License

Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10

First and foremost, digital licences are tied to the hardware, and if you reinstall OS on same PC, it will activated regardless of whether a local or MS account.

The digital licence link to the MS account is a secondary protection mechanism that allows you to MANUALLY reactivate Windows (using the activation troubleshooter) in the event it fails to do so e.g. due to a hardware change (or some unknown glitch).

The EULA definitely states retail standalone licences can be transferred to new PCs i.e. you can simply activate new pc/mobo be entering the key at the "Change Product Key" screen (but if transferred too many time, it may get temporarily blocked, requiring telephone activation.

OEM keys are according to the EULA non transferable to new devices.

The EULA states clearly an upgrade inherits the same status as the original key. So if the original key e.g. Windows 7 Home was oem, then an upgrade to 10 Home is LEGALLY OEM as well.

HOWEVER, Windows 10 does not really use the product keys anymore other than just to verify you have a legitimate licence for that device, and if so, you get granted a digital licence tied to that hardware and you only get a placeholder generic key of no use.


When Windows 10 first came out, people said - hang on, I had a 7/8 retail key and if I upgrade, my key has been converted to OEM status in effect which is a downgrade in status.


In the first year of free upgrades, this was not an issue as you simply reused the key on new device (wiping windows from old device of course). So MS introduced a mechanism whereby digital licence could be transferred to new mobos (and although not intentional new pcs - MS them selves regard a new mobo as a new pc).

NOW here's the thing - it seems that MS cannot tell whether a digital licence came from an original OEM or RETAIL key (or they do not care).

So what status does a digital licence have - oem or retail?

According to EULA, its status is based on original key. In reality, neither status applies i.e. a digital licence is not classified with either. The upshot is digital licences can be transferred regardless of original key status. HOWEVER, digital licences can only be transferred three times according to tests.

So they are a sort of halfway house between oem and retail - I think of them s limited retail rather than unlimited retail.

So what happens, if you had an original retail 7/8 key and used up your three digital transfers? In reality, this is no big deal as you can still UNOFFICIALLY activate Windows 10 with the original key BUT no guarantee MS will permit this forever.

To this end, if you have an original 7/8 retail key, and wish to transfer licence to new device, it is better to enter the key (creating a new digital licence) rather than transferring the digital licence (as that is limited).

Incidentally, I am seeing claims on other forums now that if you login on a new pc with a digital licence linked to the MS account (using same MS account), it activates automatically now rather than needing to run the activation troubleshooter. I find that hard to believe but maybe MS have quietly made the reactivation process easier?

lx07 said:

I agree with most of your post, and thanks for testing the reactivation. Just a couple of asides though, you say activating with an original key is "UNOFFICIAL". Considering that MSFT decide whether (or not) to activate a key that is their prerogative and you can't get much more official than MSFT deciding it is valid. If they say it is, it is.

Then there is the case (in some countries) of OEM license being transferrable anyway. What I found is (perhaps based on my location, or perhaps just MSFT employee incompetence) I could transfer a Windows 10 retail license automatically. I could not automatically transfer upgraded OEM (the troubleshooter wouldn't see it) and if I phone they will eventually give up and give me a Windows 10 retail key anyway. Again this is their prerogative as it is their software not mine.

As time goes on this will become increasingly less relevant as eventually people replace their computers and 90% of new home computers come with Windows installed anyway. You would have to build your own or specifically go out of your way to buy one with Linux preinstalled and most people just don't. Apple is a bit different (pretty much everyone runs Windows too, in my case exclusively) but the license cost is pretty trivial compared to the hardware outlay.

It will all end up subscription based Windows 365 soon anyway, you mark my words.

By unofficial, I simply mean MS have never publicly acknowledged you can still upgrade for free. I assume this is for legal reasons i.e. they cannot be sued if people fail to upgrade (as "unofficial"). Also, it means they can quietly drop free upgrades as they wish.

Re. subscription 365 - that is pure speculation, and nobody has any grounds to support that. I do not think it will ever be subscription but I couykd see "premium" options being subscription/additional one off cost - after all that is a basic role model used by many software companies E.g. Adobe reader is free, but you have to oay for write features, Macrium Reflect Free vs home etc.

It's possible there is thinking about Windows 365 as a subscription, probably follow in the footsteps of the current Office 365 which is a monthly payment [maybe has a small discount for annual pay]. Office 2016 is a separate program and one-time purchase [according to Microsoft's Office Chat room last week about it].