Windows Activated without a key being entered

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  1. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #11

    Saltgrass said:
    You gave up your Win 7 license for the old install. That system now has your Free upgrade from Win 7.



    Since you cannot now do a free upgrade, the Win 7 license in no longer relevant.
    Hi there

    @Saltgrass
    @Fafhrd
    @NavyLCDR
    @kevvyb

    actually NOT TRUE -- yiu can still enter a valid W7 / W8 / W8.1 key AFTER W10 is installed and it will activate (the old W7/W8/W8.1 OS must be RETAIL though not OEM).

    I needed a NEW W10 VM system Today (4th Feb 2017) and after installing a Brand new W10 (from the media creation tool) on a VM I entered (after boot) a key from W7 - old TechNet subscriber --kept the keys even though I've long since discarded the ISO's.

    W7 key Pro worked just fine to activate new W10 Pro install.

    Install the OS first --then change product key to activate - enter a valid old Key from the previous OS --even after a CLEAN install.

    Not sure how long this legal "loophole" will last so I'm creating 3 or 4 W10 systems while the old keys still work !!.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #12

    It's no secret to some of us in your "@" list, Jimbo, that Microsoft activation servers are still behaving exactly as they did before the Anniversary Upgrade at the end of 1607. In fact it probably has been done to death here on TF, and there is a list floating around of not only retail pre-Windows 10 edition keys, but OEM-COA, free MCE upgrade and several other discrete types of product keys that will still activate a fresh windows 10 clean install.

    If you have the time and the virtual or real hardware resources (and physical space) to run all these new systems on and the keys to spare, go for it.

    If it's an oversight, loophole or deliberate laxity, nobody's saying
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 247
    Windows 10 Pro version 21H2 (standalone licence)
    Thread Starter
       #13

    alphanumeric said:
    Are you sure you installed Home on the old laptop? It should not have activated.
    Yes definitely Home on old laptop - just checked, but good point.


    Saltgrass said:
    How did you transfer your Digital License to the new machine? Was it done during the free upgrade period?
    alphanumeric said:
    He likely used the Activation Trouble-shooter Activation Trouble-shooter - Use in Windows 10 It only shows up if the system isn't activated.
    Logged into MSA on both machines. Installed on new machine and entered Windows 7 Pro (RETAIL) licence key. Did not use the Activation trouble-shooter.

    Saltgrass said:
    If the prior install does mess with your current activation status, you should be able to purchase a Win 10 license and change the License key to get it working or perhaps call Microsoft. Not sure anyone will be able to give you a definite answer.
    The point is that is not really what I want. Having successfully transferred my Win10Pro licence to the new machine (on the back of my upgrade from Win7Pro RETAIL), I merely want to be able to pass the machine on legitimately to someone else but with Windows 10 installed ready for activation. If I can't do that I will just uninstall it and pass it on with nothing installed.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 247
    Windows 10 Pro version 21H2 (standalone licence)
    Thread Starter
       #14

    I'll just deactivate it....
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 15,027
    Windows 10 IoT
       #15

    If its activated with a Digital License and it is in fact 10 Home, I'd just leave it. The Home DL is a different DL from the Pro one it had. One is not tied to the other. All my PC's have multiple Digital Licenses for Home Pro and Education. I can switch back and forth between the three with no repercussions. I don't think you can deactivate it? You can strip the product key out but the DL will stay tied to that hardware. As far as I know anyway.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,983
    Windows 10 x86 14383 Insider Pro and Core 10240
       #16

    How do you deactivate a digital license on a piece of hardware that's registered its hardware hash on the microsoft windows 10 activation servers - I'd really like to know the method.

    You can pass it on with no OS, but in the future someone will try to load windows 10 on it, then it will be the same as you leaving 10 on it now.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 15,027
    Windows 10 IoT
       #17

    Fafhrd said:
    How do you deactivate a digital license on a piece of hardware that's registered its hardware hash on the microsoft windows 10 activation servers - I'd really like to know the method.
    Exactly, I don't think you can. The best you could do is a transfer to a new device.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #18

    kevvyb said:
    I'll just deactivate it....
    And they can just do a clean install of either Windows 10 Home or Pro and it will activate itself with the digital license stored on MS Activation Servers, so what's the point?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 247
    Windows 10 Pro version 21H2 (standalone licence)
    Thread Starter
       #19

    So that seems to make a mockery of the whole licencing model then....?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 31,471
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #20

    kevvyb said:
    So that seems to make a mockery of the whole licencing model then....?
    You installed Windows 10 Pro on this laptop using your own retail Windows 7 Pro key. This was a legitimate upgrade.
    But what was on the PC when you got it? Did it come with Win7 Home pre-installed, or maybe even Windows 8/8.1 Home? Especially if it was supplied with Windows 8/8.1 there would be a key built into the hardware. Although officially ended, the free upgrade still seems to be operational. The activation of Windows 10 Home could well be based on a Windows 8 key from the hardware, which is (until MS stop allowing upgrades) entitled in its own right to a free upgrade and a non-transferable Digital Licence tied to the PC's hardware.

    A Digital Licence for Pro will not activate Home, or vice-versa. However the DL for Home was created, it should be completely independent of your DL for Pro.
      My Computers


 

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