Windows 10 automatically enter product key?

Eisberg

Eisberg

New member
First I did the upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. Then I got my first SSD and decided to do a clean install, I wiped out my original 1TB hard drive of everything. Installed the SSD and then I installed Windows 10 using a USB stick, and I skipped the steps to enter my product key. After everything was done, got my drivers installed, verified everything was working correctly I went to go activate Windows 10 and it was already activated :eek: I didn't have to enter the product code at all.

How?
 
Eisberg said:
First I did the upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. Then I got my first SSD and decided to do a clean install, I wiped out my original 1TB hard drive of everything. Installed the SSD and then I installed Windows 10 using a USB stick, and I skipped the steps to enter my product key. After everything was done, got my drivers installed, verified everything was working correctly I went to go activate Windows 10 and it was already activated :eek: I didn't have to enter the product code at all.

How?
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It has something to do with your hardware, MS said that once you upgrade to Windows 10 you will never need a key unless you change hardware. I'm guessing something with the CPU/MB maybe?
 
|MaguS| said:
It has something to do with your hardware, MS said that once you upgrade to Windows 10 you will never need a key unless you change hardware. I'm guessing something with the CPU/MB maybe?
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Ah, if that is the case then awesome. Cause yeah the only thing changed was adding in the SSD to my computer and doing a clean install. Everything else stayed the same.
 
Right. The license is tired to the hardware now, and not simply a key. To do a fresh install, it's using a generic key now. It's the same license key for everybody. You can find it online pretty easily.
 
I guess people need to be prepared to buy another license whenever they upgrade. I wonder if we'll start seeing old windows keys being included with old motherboards on ebay from here on out.
 
Rambozo said:
I guess people need to be prepared to buy another license whenever they upgrade. I wonder if we'll start seeing old windows keys being included with old motherboards on ebay from here on out.
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If you want to upgrade your PC you can always install a previous version of windows and upgrade back to windows 10. That's what they expect (your old key is your Windows 10 Key), so for me I would install my Windows 7 and then I can go to Windows 10.
 
Great. Now I can't do anymore mobo swaps without buying another license. Thanks MS. W7/W8 had no issues with phone activation going through 5+ mobos from Ivy Bridge -> Haswell -> Haswell-E -> Devil's Canyon

I'm an enthusiast and an overclocker. I change hardware frequently. I'm NOT going to buy a new Windows license every time just because I change a couple parts. My license is still being used on only one machine, it doesn't matter if it's a "new" PC according to MS' criteria.
 
ShaidarHaran said:
Great. Now I can't do anymore mobo swaps without buying another license. Thanks MS. W7/W8 had no issues with phone activation going through 5+ mobos from Ivy Bridge -> Haswell -> Haswell-E -> Devil's Canyon

I'm an enthusiast and an overclocker. I change hardware frequently. I'm NOT going to buy a new Windows license every time just because I change a couple parts. My license is still being used on only one machine, it doesn't matter if it's a "new" PC according to MS' criteria.
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If MS want to be fair they would let you deactivate the PC and give you a key to register the new hardware. Or have it register to your MS Account.
The Developer of Daemon tools register SN keys to an account where I can deactivate the PC using the Key.

What do other enthusiasts say about this change?
 
ShaidarHaran said:
Great. Now I can't do anymore mobo swaps without buying another license. Thanks MS. W7/W8 had no issues with phone activation going through 5+ mobos from Ivy Bridge -> Haswell -> Haswell-E -> Devil's Canyon

I'm an enthusiast and an overclocker. I change hardware frequently. I'm NOT going to buy a new Windows license every time just because I change a couple parts. My license is still being used on only one machine, it doesn't matter if it's a "new" PC according to MS' criteria.
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You need to purchase a retail copy of Windows.

With the amount of money you spend on PC hardware this shouldn't be a problem for you.:bleh:
 
Meteor_of_War said:
You need to purchase a retail copy of Windows.

With the amount of money you spend on PC hardware this shouldn't be a problem for you.:bleh:
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I did a quick research and it seem like can transfer the license by redoing the upgrade process to transfer the License to a new PC. I don't know how picky MS will be but that process is for full retail license.

I'm guessing if you bought a retail copy of win10 then it'll come with a CD key.
So you transfer the license like you normally would.
 
From what i understand OEM upgrades to WIn 10 are to bound to hardware. Changes to hardware will invalidate the licence. Exactly what level of change, i have no idea, and i dont think m$ has spelt this out clearly. I assume you should be able to change drives as they can die, but changing something like a board may revoke the key

Things are different for retail upgrades to win 10. You should be able to change whatever you want (reddit users have swapped mobos without any issues). I dont think anyone has a clear idea how m$ handles these changes nor has m$ a clear policy on this.
 
alitayyab said:
From what i understand OEM upgrades to WIn 10 are to bound to hardware. Changes to hardware will invalidate the licence. Exactly what level of change, i have no idea, and i dont think m$ has spelt this out clearly. I assume you should be able to change drives as they can die, but changing something like a board may revoke the key

Things are different for retail upgrades to win 10. You should be able to change whatever you want (reddit users have swapped mobos without any issues). I dont think anyone has a clear idea how m$ handles these changes nor has m$ a clear policy on this.
Click to expand...

What if something changes with your hardware?

If it’s something major like a motherboard replacement, its hardware ID will no longer be the same. If this was done by your PC maker or an authorized repair center, no worries: they can inject an OEM key and make sure the system remains activated and will be good going forward (because the new ID is now registered with the store). If you do this yourself, you will need to phone activate

In other words, everything works exactly as expected. So we can actually relax now. It looks like Microsoft has done the right thing, and I’ve been told they will be documenting this information on the Windows web site soon.
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https://www.thurrott.com/windows/wi...ate-your-pc-with-your-free-windows-10-license
What will happen (if you replace the motherboard without reinstalling the OS from scratch) is the computer you are replacing the motherboard on will show an activation challenge key, you will then call Microsoft and provide that challenge key which they will then provide back an activation code you have to enter to activate that machine. This is typically done via a 100% automated phone call, you speak the challenge code into the phone and it states back what you have to enter to complete the activation
Click to expand...
So there are 2ways to activate it after changing the Mobo.
If do a New install then you have to start from the upgrade process all over.
If you use an Existing OS then you get the phone call option.
 
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