Upgrading to Windows 8.1 from corporate license

wesimmo · 11 Oct 2014 at 21:05

I've got an old work laptop that has got a corporate license for windows 7.

I no longer work for the company but they let me keep the laptop when i left, since then it's been so long since i used it I've forgotten the password for Windows...

I was going to buy my own Windows license for it anyway, but without actually logging in on it can i use the Windows upgrade license to install Windows 8.1?

koolpc · 11 Oct 2014 at 21:08

Have you checked with Microsoft website?

Mujja · 11 Oct 2014 at 21:13

Does it have a windows 7 professional license key on a sticker?

Reinstall windows 7 using the key and upgrade.

I've done a few windows 8 installs with an upgrade license and was never asked for a windows 7 key.

this_is_gav · 11 Oct 2014 at 22:31

wesimmo said:
I've got an old work laptop that has got a corporate license for windows 7.

I no longer work for the company but they let me keep the laptop when i left, since then it's been so long since i used it I've forgotten the password for Windows...

I was going to buy my own Windows license for it anyway, but without actually logging in on it can i use the Windows upgrade license to install Windows 8.1?

If the license is explicitly for the laptop, yes. If it's a corporate license using Windows Enterprise and a KMS server, no.

AthlonXP1800 · 11 Oct 2014 at 22:34

I had the same problem with my sister PC she brought to me had problem with Windows 7 but cannot logged in Safe Mode, she completely forget password. Same go with my uncle not used his old laptop with Windows 7 for years had forget password.

No worry, you really don't need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 to recover files because you forget the password.

I used Offline NT Password & Registry Editor to reset passwords booted from DVD and successful logged in Windows 7.

http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html

Hyburnate · 11 Oct 2014 at 22:37

So as above, burn it to a DVD and change the BIOS Boot priority and away you go

wesimmo · 13 Oct 2014 at 18:34

Cheers all.

I actually remembered the password in the end. Still I should get my own license I guess?

Terrier_Jimlad · 13 Oct 2014 at 21:02

If the laptop was licensed using their MVLS license then technically you shouldn't be using it as the license does not follow the laptop once it has left the corporate environment, you should have reverted back to an OEM license.

AthlonXP1800 · 14 Oct 2014 at 04:44

wesimmo said:
Cheers all.

I actually remembered the password in the end. Still I should get my own license I guess?

Good for you to remembered password. If corporate license was still activated then you very lucky as it is really up to company to deactivated your license, not Microsoft then you don't needed to buy your own license. I know some people who owned company laptops with Windows 7, 8 and Office 2010 with corporate license still used it after they left the company or retired. But it will be 1 time use so if you reinstall or clean install Windows 7 again after format hard drive then you cannot activate volume license because it need only activate on your company network, you will need to buy your own license.