Activation says linked to your Microsoft account, how do you sell it?

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  1. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #11

    cereberus said:
    @Kari was right about how to set uo windows for a new owner, but may have missed the legal point that you are required to remove windows altogether if you wish to retain your licence on that pc.
    I did not miss that:

    Kari said:
    Step 1.) Clean install Windows 10, the same edition you are currently using and which is digitally licensed. Be sure to delete all existing partitions and install to unallocated space!
    It's absolutely the same if you use DISKPART to wipe the disk before installing, or if you do it in Windows Setup by deleting all partitions and then install on unallocated space, an empty disk.

    No difference at all.

    Kari
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 15,031
    Windows 10 IoT
       #12

    I do believe what @cereberus was saying is use diskpart to wipe the drive, and leave it that way, blank. No Windows installed at all. No OS installed. Leave it up to the new owner to install "an" OS. Which is not the same thing as your procedure.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #13

    It doesn't change anything if I pre-install Windows for new user after wiping HDD clean delivering PC which boots to OOBE, or if I just wipe the disk but let new user to do the install. It is absolutely, completely most profoundly the same.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15,451
    Windows10
       #14

    Kari said:
    I did not miss that:



    It's absolutely the same if you use DISKPART to wipe the disk before installing, or if you do it in Windows Setup by deleting all partitions and then install on unallocated space, an empty disk.

    No difference at all.

    Kari
    I think I have not made it clear enough. I was talking about how to wipe drive BUT no carrying on to install windows at all.

    I also advocated using "clean all" which completely wipes data.

    Actually there is a difference between the diskpart command (using clean all) and deleting partitions if you do reinstall windows. With latter, tools like recuva could still retrieve data. With the diskpart 'clean all', data is nuked completely. As OP is selling PC, it is up to him to judge whether to take risk with quicker method or not.

    Personally, I would take longer approach if selling pc for peace of mind.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 15,031
    Windows 10 IoT
       #15

    Kari said:
    It doesn't change anything if I pre-install Windows for new user after wiping HDD clean delivering PC which boots to OOBE, or if I just wipe the disk but let new user to do the install. It is absolutely, completely most profoundly the same.
    No it doesn't change the end result, assuming they install Windows 10. That's not a given, especially if the drive is blank. Preinstall it and leave it at the OOBE and odds are they will at least do that.

    IMHO what your suggesting and what cereberus suggested are not the same thing.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15,031
    Windows 10 IoT
       #16

    @cereberus I like your plan, wipe the drive. If I was passing my PC on to friend or family what I'd likely do is install the edition it got with via free upgrade, in my case 10 Pro. If It was going to parts unknown, I'd wipe it clean like your advising.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,201
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Latest RP
       #17

    We also have to remember that there are commercial differences to be considered -

    A majority of users contributing to this thread have the ability to "Recycle" the licence, (Retail from MSDN Etc), on a future project.

    The vast majority of those selling a used system cannot legitimately re-use the OS as it is an OEM that came with the hardware.

    In these cases it's makes more sense to sell the complete "package" of Hardware and OOBE prepared OS. There is also a considerable financial gain potential, as the mass market are used to buying a Plug and Play computing experience and are used to paying extra for the privilege, the add on price of the OS can easily return at least the cost of the OEM install media and key that they would need to purchase ( assuming that they are intending to run windows). In this situation I would not offer an option of with or without OS as there would be less profit margin to the seller
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 15,031
    Windows 10 IoT
       #18

    It may also result in one less pirated system out there.

    Some people just won't pay for anything. Give them an already legal activated 10 Home, and maybe they won't cheat their way to get 10 Pro.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 15,451
    Windows10
       #19

    Barman58 said:
    We also have to remember that there are commercial differences to be considered -

    A majority of users contributing to this thread have the ability to "Recycle" the licence, (Retail from MSDN Etc), on a future project.

    The vast majority of those selling a used system cannot legitimately re-use the OS as it is an OEM that came with the hardware.

    In these cases it's makes more sense to sell the complete "package" of Hardware and OOBE prepared OS. There is also a considerable financial gain potential, as the mass market are used to buying a Plug and Play computing experience and are used to paying extra for the privilege, the add on price of the OS can easily return at least the cost of the OEM install media and key that they would need to purchase ( assuming that they are intending to run windows). In this situation I would not offer an option of with or without OS as there would be less profit margin to the seller
    Fair points, but if you want to leave Windows on pc and also go through oobe experience, then all you have to do is use 'reset my pc', keeping nothing, selecting option to wipe pc for selling which takes longer as it overwrites everything.

    I know we have digressed a bit but securely wiping drive before selling it is worth considering.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #20

    cereberus said:
    Fair points, but if you want to leave Windows on pc and also go through oobe experience, then all you have to do is use 'reset my pc', keeping nothing, selecting option to wipe pc for selling which takes longer as it overwrites everything.
    Depending on hardware, that can take a few hours. Clean installing until OOBE, wiping the hard disk takes 10 to 15 minutes. Quite a difference.

    That's a simple reason why I consider Windows reset being an utterly useless feature. Two methods, same result, huge difference in time required.
      My Computer


 

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