Windows 10 activation workaround?

Dadicator · 10 Jan 2016

NAVYLCDR -- Point well taken -- but if my motherboard goes south I am not paying for more software I already own. -- but you are correct in pointing out what the EULA states. If Dell Computer can REFRESH old machines with the same software I don't see a problem with the consumer doing the same. When you put the Product Key you retrieved by given software, it will activate it and burn the Product Key into the new motherboards BIOS system.

If you look at the Product Key recovery files you will also note that it saves all other past keys including upgrades or versions [i.e. windows 7 home]. So the original Windows 7 key is listed as well as the new windows 10 key that was installed during activation. Same goes for 8, 8.1 installations

NavyLCDR · 10 Jan 2016

Dadicator said:

When you put the Product Key you retrieved by given software, it will activate it and burn the Product Key into the new motherboards BIOS system.

Nothing gets burned to the motherboard bios by Windows. Only computer manufacturers can store product keys in bios.

Dadicator · 10 Jan 2016

NAVYLCDR -- I am very sorry and not trying to step on your toes --- But I worked with hundreds if not thousand of installs and re-installs ===> This is TRUE windows will and does burn, install, or store these keys -- I have seen it first hand many, many times. These files are kept in the ACPI => MSDM Table

NavyLCDR · 10 Jan 2016

Dadicator said:

NAVYLCDR -- I am very sorry and not trying to step on your toes --- But I worked with hundreds if not thousand of installs and re-installs ===> This is TRUE windows will and does burn, install, or store these keys -- I have seen it first hand many, many times. These files are kept in the ACPI => MSDM Table

You are entitled to maintain erroneous beliefs. Run showkey plus from this forum, it will show you the lack of a product key stored in bios.

This is a tablet that has the product key stored in the bios by the manufacturer:

Windows 10 activation workaround?-capture1.jpg

Windows 10 has not, and will not change the product key stored in bios.

This desktop computer has had Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and now Windows 10 on it, no product key in bios:

Windows 10 activation workaround?-capture.jpg

This is my laptop with just a product key marker in bios:

Again, upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8 to Windows 10. No new product key in bios because Windows does not and never has burned product keys to bios.

Product keys that you upgrade from are stored in the registry for reversion purposes whether or not the manufacturer provided the product key in bios. My Windows 10s have been subsequently clean installed after the free upgrade, so I don't have the old Windows 7/8.1 product keys stored in the registry.

Dadicator · 01 Apr 2016

Product Keys -- I read some post that say Microsoft does not honor OEM Keys -- Check with MS but I think this is incorrect -- I own two Factory DELL machines both with Windows 7 Pro -- I upgraded both machine to Windows 10 -- One machine got hit with Virus thru Email and I had to reload Windows 10 and when it ask me for a Product Key -- I put the Windows 7 Pro Key back in -- It worked fine and it was activated.

Superfly · 01 Apr 2016

Dadicator said:

Product Keys -- I read some post that say Microsoft does not honor OEM Keys -- Check with MS but I think this is incorrect keys-- I own two Factory DELL machines both with Windows 7 Pro -- I upgraded both machine to Windows 10 -- One machine got hit with Virus thru Email and I had to reload Windows 10 and when it ask me for a Product Key -- I put the Windows 7 Pro Key back in -- It worked fine and it was activated.

Yup 'cos it had prior digital entitlement - you don't need to re-use the Win 7 key in that case - the Win 10 Pro generic key will work.

Thus same hardware + same edition = no key required.

MS does honour OEM keys if they are used on the PC that it was initially activated on.

(NB There is a distinction between Windows 7 OEM:SLP and OEM:COA keys - the latter needs online activation (and thus qualifies for digital entitlement), the former is included with the OEM licencing files from their disc and is done off-line and cannot be used for digital entitlement activation (except as an upgrade from original installation), when used it acquires the prior DE without using the key)