reactivating windows 10 on new hardware, without "proper" product key

Porthos · 06 Feb 2020

f14tomcat said:

PeterPan2000... does yours have a sticker similar to that?

Of course it does NOT. Hence the reports showing a unauthorized key.

f14tomcat · 06 Feb 2020

Porthos said:

In the US yes. If you live in the EU, Sales of unused OEM keys is allowed by EU laws. In the EU it is a free for all when it comes to relinng Windows keys.

He lives in FL.

Porthos said:

Of course it does NOT. Hence the reports showing a unauthorized key.

I just wanted to verify. No need to yell.

Porthos · 06 Feb 2020

More about refurbisher program. Microsoft Refurbisher Program - iFixit

f14tomcat · 06 Feb 2020

Porthos said:

More about refurbisher program. Microsoft Refurbisher Program - iFixit

That explains well the responsibilities of the Refurbisher.

Hopefully, as the OP's contact point, he will read your post and understand.

PeterPan2000 · 06 Feb 2020

Interesting. Please forgive I'm not acknowledging each of you individually, as this has gotten quite complicated. I'll issue more "thanks" when I'm done with the issue, and trust me... all your input is appreciated. On the one of the threads posted by @f14tomcat, I read a response about these OEM packages that said...

"Yes, you can buy and use them, under the license terms say they are intended for system builders who are building and selling systems. There is nothing preventing the average user from purchasing a copy and use it, in fact, many people do.

Understand the limitations that come with it:

OEM versions of Windows 10 are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system"

Personally speaking, I can live with those terms. I'm retired and living on SS, so please don't fault me looking for a bargain (look at the OLD machine I bought! I can't afford a NEW machine!)

Understand that my feeling is that windows is JUST an operating system. If it works, I don't need to fix it. The only reason I have a windows-10 machine today is because my windows-XP internet applications and browsers on my last machine are no longer supported or updated. So I'm forced to need a newer OS. For me, XP was just fine. Its JUST the applications I'm concerned with. I don't care much about not having "direct support from Microsoft", especially having seen the difficulty communicating with them this past week. I just want my system to work and remain activated on THIS machine.

So the question remains... if I CAN (not 'should', or 'ought to') legally use an OEM install on my machine, knowing the above restrictions apply, can I just use the security and activation procedure in my settings to use the new product key? Or would i have to do a fresh install, destroying all the installed applications I've added to this now 2 week old system?

f14tomcat · 06 Feb 2020

No one is faulting anyone. Just trying to explain the real facts. It's complicated. If you're comfortable with everything knowing these facts, that's fine. Stay with what you have, and do what you believe needs to be done to maintain it.

NavyLCDR · 06 Feb 2020

It violates Microsoft's Terms of Service included with the System Builder version of Windows 10 to use it for your own personal use.

Porthos · 06 Feb 2020

NavyLCDR said:

It violates Microsoft's Terms of Service included with the System Builder version of Windows 10 to use it for your own personal use.

I totally agree and would never do it on a clients computer.
MS can not track down every one or anyone for that matter who uses a "system builder" OEM key for their own personal non business use.
Or can they detect if a user just uses a key off the side of an old machine to activate a computer other than the original computer it came with but it happens all the time successfully.

I will never do it personally but the computer is not mine or one of my clients so I have no influence on what others do. I can just point out the EULA like many others here have done and move on.

Berton · 06 Feb 2020

Porthos said:

Any old seller can sell on Amazon. It can be as bad as Ebay.

Legally refurbished means the seller is a registered or authorized refurbisher with MS.

They come with NEW COA's But they only have OEM status.

Attachment 266003

I have purchased such Notebooks in the last year and they did come with the sticker.

Bree · 06 Feb 2020

PeterPan2000 said:

This really stinks. If nothing else I will put this information in my feedback for this seller, and will turn in the company to Amazon. I'm sure knowing what I now do, the seller will prefer to just issue me a refund. I won't take it! I like the machine and will buy a license. Based on the expiration date I see in that command dump, I have until august before for the current activation ends.

You have my sympathy, it's not nice to feel you have been scammed.

If you are very lucky, you may not need to buy a license. If this machine was originally supplied by the OEM with W8, W8,1 or W10 pre-installed, then there will be an OEM key embedded in the bios. You can test if that is the case with ShowKeyPlus.

ShowKeyPlus

If there is an OEM key in the firmware, then a clean install of W10 will read this key and use it to choose the edition to install (Home or Pro) and to activate it with a digital license. If there's no OEM key then I'm afraid you'll have to buy a license.