Windows 10 LTSC iot deferred activation

Hi there people. I wanted to ask if anyone has had any hands on experience with deferred activation.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/ans...ctivation.html

From the looks if it, once you put in your product code your machine will activate regardless of internet connectivity. If true this would suite my purposes perfectly since I'm looking for a way to build a system for the internet apocalypses.

While the internet is going anywhere anytime soon I am interested in this product and I would like to know if anyone has had any hands on experience with LTSC iot specifically running systems in total isolation.

alphanumeric said:

Any PC that requires Windows Digital Activation will not activate with just the product code. Activation will be put off to a later time if there is no Internet connection. You have the option to activate over the phone. Or activate online, your choice. If you are going to accept the end user license agreement you will have to activate, to be legal.

You're telling me that if I install Windows 10 pro into a computer that is never connected to the internet I won't get a watermark as long as the product code is genuine?

Mintmag said:

You're telling me that if I install Windows 10 pro into a computer that is never connected to the internet I won't get a watermark as long as the product code is genuine?

I don't understand. Windows has no way of knowing if the product key is genuine until it tries to activate it. That can over the Internet or by phone. Your choice. In any case it will show the watermark if you haven't activated it before 30 days has passed.

What Happens If You Don’t Activate Windows 10 After 30 Days?

On installing a fresh copy of windows, you will be provided with a 30 days free trial of the windows product you are using.

During this 30 days trial period, you will be able to use all the available features without any restrictions. The entire Windows experience will be available to you.

Even if you installed an unauthorized or illegal copy of Windows 10, you will still have the option of buying a product activation key and activating your operating system. Software updates and user interface personalization will also be available to you within the first 30 days of installation.

However, if 30 days pass and you still do not activate Windows, all your customizations will go away. You will be greeted with a very generic version of Windows with the operating system embracing a stock look after undoing all your personalization.

A watermark will also appear telling you to activate Windows on your computer. You will also receive reminders requesting you to activate your Windows after 30 days are over.

Your personalization settings will also be deactivated and you won’t have the opportunity to access these settings.

What Happens If You Don’t Activate Windows 10? (Explained
What Happens If You Don't Activate Windows 10? (Explained | WhatsaByte

alphanumeric said:

The Windows installer will check the key to verify if its "valid" for that version and edition of Windows. You can't just enter random charters.
Enter a 10 Pro key, even the generic key, and 10 Pro is installed.
Activation is a separate process. If said PC has a Digital License for that edition it will activate, even if you used the generic key.
If it doesn't have a Digital License it will check the product code you entered. If it doesn't like what it see's it won't activate and you will have to enter a new Genuine Product Code.
Also keep in mind that some editions of Windows activate via Volume Licensing (KMS). And its not a one time activation. It will time out if it can't connect to the KMS.

Volume Licensing has two types of activation keys KMS and MAK. Companies don't buy individual copies of software but activations for them. For example, they can buy 100 activations of Windows 10. All of these activations use the same KMS or MAK key.

Individual companies maintain their own activation servers to activate Microsoft software. Software is activated with KMS keys. An activation will succeed as long as their is a free activation available.

Microsoft maintains it own activation servers to activate Microsoft software. Software is activated with MAK keys. An activation will succeed as long as their is a free activation available.

LTSC has something called deferred activation

This might help explain things Never Activate Windows 10 IoT Enterprise for Offline IoT devices - YouTube