Am I right in thinking that with the Anniversary method of dealing with Product Key activation, that
1) if the key is associated with my MS account, if I buy a new PC, replacing the old one, then the product key will validate through my account on the new PC?
2) is it OK to have multiple keys associated with the one account in the case of owning more than 1 PC, e.g. laptop and desktop?
1. No. Windows Activation "validates" through Microsoft Activation servers, not your Microsoft Account.
2. Yes you can multiple digital licenses for Windows 10 associated with your Microsoft Account. I've got about 10 showing on mine.
Thanks but I'm confused! I thought things had changed in Anniversary, like as stated in these links:
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re...ardware-change
Microsoft Account - Link to Digital License on Windows 10 PC
Am I misunderstanding what is said there?
I'm confused by the fact that I understood those links to suggest that there was no longer the fussy activation process that used to exist in Windows, and that now a product key was linked to your MSA rather than a bunch of hardware IDs.
So, for example, if one changed computer, input the product key, the servers would look at the MSA and see if there was a match and then validate, rather than the old 'sorry can't do this as I'm seeing a different motherboard, etc.'
OK... after digital activation product keys are no longer needed for activation - they are merely there to tell Windows which edition to install (hence .. generic or default keys)
The digital licence stored at MS has your original activation based on a combination of H/W ID and Product ID of Win 7/8 even 10, and by assigning that to your MSA you are now able to use the transfer wizard to assign it to new H/W, specifying a H/W change.
So via MSA it checks that you have a valid licence, then if by a H/W change it will update the digital licence with the new H/W ID and assign a new digital licence... that's the way I understand it, anyway
OK thanks. That makes more sense to me now. So basically I don't have to worry about buying another product key if I change my PC? I just have to go through the wizard?
If Windows 10 does not activate automatically via the Microsoft Activation Servers - which it will activate automatically if that computer's unique ID (Installation ID) matches one already stored there - there are two ways to activate it:
1. Enter a valid product key. Currently Windows 7, 8 and 10 product keys are being accepted (if they are not blocked from automatic online activation). We don't know when or if Microsoft will stop accepting Windows 7 and 8 product keys to activate Windows 10 with.
or
2. Run the activation troubleshooter which has the ability to retrieve digital license information from a Microsoft Account. This information is then sent to Microsoft Activation servers by Windows 10 to gain activation.
The activation of the installed Windows 10, however, will always occur as a result of the return of the proper activation code from Microsoft Activation Servers - either automatically online or over the phone - and Windows 10 will never be activated from the Microsoft Account login alone. Retrieving the digital license information from the Microsoft Account only provides information which is sent to the Microsoft Activation server in order to receive the activation code in return.
Sorry guys, I don't mean to be awkward here, but I am confused again.
From your reply, NavyLCDR, I can't see much difference from the old method. Are you saying that the key/activation code is still linked to hardware?
The basic question is, will I be OK to use my key on a new PC which will be replacing the original one the key was validated on?
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