OEM key activated in 2 machines at the same time

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  1. krollo
    Posts : 206
    Win10 Pro 64bit 22H2
       New #1

    OEM key activated in 2 machines at the same time


    Hi 10F,

    I have this System Builder OEM Win7 Pro SP1 x64 I bought ages ago for my other ASUS laptop. This is the actual DVD (I scanned it) and ASUS has been activated for years using its product key:

    OEM key activated in 2 machines at the same time-media.jpg

    I have an HP Omen as my main laptop now and just for giggles, I did a Change product key using the OEM key from years ago and Win10 Pro OEM also activated!

    The same OEM key is activated on 2 separate machines at the same time.

    ASUS (Win7 Pro OEM):

    OEM key activated in 2 machines at the same time-slmgr_dli_w7.png

    HP Omen (Win10 Pro OEM):

    OEM key activated in 2 machines at the same time-slmgr_dli_w10.png

    (Note: After entering the old OEM key I bought, Win10 promptly changed it to the Generic Win10 OEM key after activation.)

    I'm not even sure why that worked.
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  3. MaloK
    Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       New #2

    Hi Kat,

    You will need many more active "illegal" activation's then that before getting noticed. And blocked.
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  4. krollo
    Posts : 206
    Win10 Pro 64bit 22H2
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Hey @MaloK,

    Does it count as "illegal" if it was purchased from a legitimate store years ago?
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  6. MaloK
    Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       New #4

    Loll no, What counts, is on how many machines it is activated and used at the same time.
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  7. krollo
    Posts : 206
    Win10 Pro 64bit 22H2
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    MaloK said:
    Loll no, What counts, is on how many machines it is activated and used at the same time.
    Interesting. Windows Activation sure is a magical land.
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  8. MaloK
    Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       New #6

    Microsoft left a good buffer between "What looks illegal" and "What is total Pirating" this prevents the legitimate complains about Window not activating because : I had trouble with my computer and changed my MB 3 times and reinstalled Windows 6 times to fix it, "Calls" to occur. Not a bad idea loll.
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  9. krollo
    Posts : 206
    Win10 Pro 64bit 22H2
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Thanks @MaloK, that does shed light on this little experiment of mine
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  10. MaloK
    Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       New #8

    MS always had very permissive activation process and if the key you are using is not intensively used in the "wild". Your activation will be successful and 100% legal. If you bought this key and never gave it to someone else, It is a valid Windows 10 activation key. I try to restrict this to one per active machine, But you could push it.

    Like we say "If the sticker is on the case" and we keep the "case". It's still an OEM machine... I built this computer myself so I'm the OEM...

    And finally... Anyway I call myself for support....

    In addition Windows 98 activated by Phone last week. (made me laugh)
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  12. krollo
    Posts : 206
    Win10 Pro 64bit 22H2
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Hey @MaloK,

    That sounds great for me. Definitely not used in the "wild" and I still have the physical media from the original purchase. :)

    If for example I bought a pre-installed Win11 Home OEM laptop in the future, then chuck this old OEM key. It would be funny if Win11 Home OEM turned to Win11 Pro OEM and became activated on a 3rd machine at the same time.

    I wonder if it's still legal by then.
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  13. MaloK
    Posts : 2,800
    Windows 7 Pro
       New #10

    "At the same time" That would be "pushing it" loll, But I'm pretty sure a good W7 key will activate 11 but I've yet to try it.
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