Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"

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  1. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #51

    TrustMe said:
    If I did this, would my license still linked to my MS account? Will it boot straight to the Desktop? When I first upgraded to 1607 I linked my license to my MS account, then switched back to a local account without a password.

    Has anyone else read for the past month or so all licenses show up as Retail, even if you upgraded from OEM?
    If you do that while logged in with a Microsoft ID, it will log in with your Microsoft ID, and boot right to your desktop. License should still be linked.
    If you do that while logged in with a local account, it will (as far as I know) log in with your local account, and boot to your desktop. License "likely" won't be linked to your MS account.
    I don't use a local account anymore, haven't for a long time.

    My theory of why they change to Retail is its a new license and tech support switches from the OEM to Microsoft. In the past if you had an OEM install, you called the manufacturer who sold you the PC for tech support. If it was a Retail you called Microsoft. Once you upgrade via the free upgrade the OEM isn't going to help you much. They usually only offer support for the factory installed OS. Once you upgrade that, your on your own. That's my theory on it. I haven't seen anything official as to why it happens. My MSDN keys are all Retail anyway so my installs will all say Retail.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #52

    Quote from Ten Forums video thread:

    Kari said:
    Four new videos. As they belong together, I will post them in one post. First some background:


     Windows 10 Digital Activation


    Digital Entitlement = Digital License

    Windows 10 version 1511 introduced Digital Entitlement. It remains the same in version 1607 but Microsoft decided to change the name to Digital License.

    To put it simple it means that as soon as Windows 10 version 1511 or later is activated it is entitled to digital activation. The product key or other authorization for activation is stored on MS activation servers based on machine signature and GUID.

    It seems that this extremely simple concept is for some seemingly "experienced" users incredible difficult to understand. So difficult that I have been insulted, I have been called a troll, or I have just been completely ignored when trying to explain this. I will make this one more try in my efforts to get digital activation explained.

    In version 1511 when activated with a product key the activation page in Settings shows the product key but nevertheless Windows is already after activation entitled to digital activation in all subsequent reinstalls. Version 1607 made this a bit easier for these "experienced" users to understand the concept, showing Digital License directly after a product key activation:



    However, the system has been the same since version 1511.

    Following video shows Windows 10 Home version 1511 activated with product key, then directly after activation restart booting from install media, reinstalling Windows 10 Home version 1511 wiping the hard disk empty, deleting all partitions and skipping the product key. Windows will be automatically activated because it is entitled to digital activation:



    One machine can have multiple digital licenses. In following video Windows 10 Home N is activated, then upgraded to Windows 10 Pro N by changing the product key, and immediately thereafter restarted booting from install media, reinstalling Windows 10 Home N version 1511 wiping the hard disk empty, deleting all partitions and skipping the product key. Windows will be automatically activated because it is entitled to digital activation:



    Same machine as above, again restarted and this time clean installed Windows 10 Pro N, wiping the hard disk empty, deleting all partitions and skipping the product key. Windows will be automatically activated because it is entitled to digital activation, the machine in question having two digital licences (Windows 10 Home N and Windows 10 Pro N):



    Notice that this last video also shows that digital activation is not tied to a Microsoft Account; although MS account is recommended and let's you tie the activation to your MS account, it is only needed for troubleshooting activation issues.

    Whatever activation method or product key type used to activate Windows 10 version 1511 or later, as soon as it is activated it is entitled to digital activation, getting a digital license.

    That's it.

    Kari
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,535
    Win 11 x 64 Home on PC and Win 11 Home x 64 on Surface 9
       #53

    I have done as alpha recommended and deselected the tick box (option 1) but it still asks me for password, the last boot up suggested I had an incorrect pass and gave me two sign in options which neither appeared to do anything. Three boots down, trying one more

    edit: still asking for password, so I finally found out where to 'delete' my MS account from the pc, but not outlook, and found that it was actually superceding my own (old!) account. I deleted the email address and it logeed me out, then my 'normal' screen appeared and I logged in successfully without a password.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #54

    @Kari

    Nice videos, great work. I wish I had those skills

    My experience has been different though. I don't know why but that's not how it works for me.
    This what I did. I'm using Education version because that PC already has digital Licenses for Home and Pro.

    Install Education 1507 with a skip key > shows as not activated.
    Enter my Retail key > shows as activated with product code.
    Clean install Education 1507 with a skip key on the same PC > shows not activated.
    Enter my same Retail key shows as activated with a Product code.
    Clean install Education 1507 with a skip key on the same PC > shows not activated.

    Where in that sequence does it get the Digital License?

    This is what I get on a clean install with a skip key, and this PC was already activated with Education twice.
    It also had an Internet connection in all cases.

    Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-not-activated-capture.png
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #55

    elbmek said:
    I have done as alpha recommended and deselected the tick box (option 1) but it still asks me for password, the last boot up suggested I had an incorrect pass and gave me two sign in options which neither appeared to do anything. Three boots down, trying one more
    You should probably start a new thread on this issue by the way. Any when you remove the check mark, and click OK, it should have asked you to confirm your password. Did you just leave if blank or enter one?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #56

    alphanumeric said:
    This is what I get on a clean install with a skip key, and this PC was already activated twice.
    The button Activate (as seen in your screenshot) does not automatically mean activation has failed because missing digital license or wrong product key.

    It is also shown when Windows cannot reach activation servers. Most often a simple click of that button automatically activates Windows.

    Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-image.png

    If the message about Windows being unable to reach activation servers will be shown even after clicking that button, disabling Internet connection, re-enabling it and then reboot should fix that issue.

    I repeat: the message you get, and the Activate button shown do not automatically mean a failed activation. It can also mean that temporarily Windows was not able to reach activation servers. This for some reason seems to happen quite often on virtual machines.

    Kari
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #57

    Kari said:
    The button Activate (as seen in your screenshot) is not shown when activation has failed because missing digital license or wrong product key.

    It is only shown when Windows cannot reach activation servers. Most often a simple click of that button automatically activates Windows.

    Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-image.png

    If the message about Windows being unable to reach activation servers will be shown even after clicking that button, disabling Internet connection, re-enabling and then reboot should fix that issue.

    I repeat: the message you get, and the Activate button shown do not mean a failed activation. It only means that temporarily Windows was not able to reach activation servers. This for some reason seems to happen quite often on virtual machines.

    Kari
    I clicked that and it still would not activate. That was one of the first things I did on the second clean install. I then entered a product key and it activated with no issues.

    EDIT: Screen shoot shows it has internet connection.
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  8. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #58

    Anyway, as mentioned in videos Windows needs to be fully updated. I have absolutely no issues in clean installing build 10586.0 wiping the hard disk without a key as long as I before reinstall updated 1511 build 10586 to be up-to-date, 10586.494.

    This, as so many other Windows features is best to be done when Windows is fully updated.

    The second of four videos I posted proves this beyond a doubt.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #59

    This is screen shots I captured from an earlier attempt. It shows product code after being activated?
    Activation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-no-key-capture.pngActivation switched from "with product key" to "with Digital License"-key-entered-capture.png
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #60

    Kari said:
    Anyway, as mentioned in videos Windows needs to be fully updated. I have absolutely no issues in clean installing build 10586.0 wiping the hard disk without a key as long as I before reinstall updated 1511 build 10586 to be up-to-date, 10586.494.

    This, as so many other Windows features is best to be done when Windows is fully updated.

    The second of four videos I posted proves this beyond a doubt.
    I was running a fully updated 1507 on my PC. It was my daily user. It was only after the upgrade to the Anniversary Edition that it toggled to show Activated with a Digital License.
      My Computer


 

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