yes
when we activate win10 via a win7/8/8.1 key it still shows the generic W10 key after it activated...
in Digital entitlement it will shows the generic W10 key after it activated
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Can I obtain my free copy of Windows 10?
- Thread starter Billies Bangers
- Start date
when we activate win10 via a win7/8/8.1 key it still shows the generic W10 key after it activated...
in Digital entitlement it will shows the generic W10 key after it activated
yes. i would tbh, as I'm guessing your key gets checked/flaged when activating....
even if you buy Windows 10 from the Windows Store which is retail and successfully activate it. it still comes under Digital entitlement and it should show the generic W10 key after it activated.. but as the product key is retail it is transferable
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Cool thanks. I'll find a spare drive and do it this weekend, hopefully that will validate the W7 key for W10 activation post July. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the state of play is later this year. I feel there is a good chance MS will extend the free upgrade offer as they are agressively trying to get everyone over to W10.
Well I have just gone through the moving hardware process. It is not smooth. The free upgrades are definitely device locked.
On my old PC I had a Win 10 Pro installation upgraded from Win 8 Pro (Retail) and so activated with a Digital Entitlement.
First I removed the key/activation from the old PC with the command: slmgr.vbs /upk
This uninstalls the licence as required by the T&Cs, but doesn't "reset" the hardware fingerprint on your original key.
I then performed a clean install of Win 10 Pro (TH2) on my new PC using my Win 8 Pro (Retail) key. It installed OK but didn't activate (Error code: 0x803F7001). The servers know the new PC hasn't be activated previously and that the Win 8/10 key is associated with different hardware.
So I tried automated telephone activation with the command: slui.exe 4
This is the normal route for moving a retail key. However this fails.
So I then jump onto MS Chat Support and explain the situation. I give them my Win 8 Pro key and they confirm it is valid. Agent says they need a remote desktop session. They check a few logs and try removing and re-adding my key which still fails. They then run a script which injects a key and activates the installation. This was only on screen for a split second but I saw it was a different key. I ask them about the key and they said it's all fine you are activated know we fixed it for you. I ask them outright for the key because I saw it was different. They say they will have to call me to discuss, which they do. After a brief chat they (painfully) read the new key out to me (this is not the generic Digital Entitlement key). In Activation it now shows as Product Key rather than Digital Entitlement.
After the support session ends (40 minutes in total) I extracted the new key from my system to confirm it matches the one read out to me. I then also note the product type, OEM:NONSLP
So they have given me an OEM Win 10 key as a free upgrade from retail Win 8. They have allowed me to move the licence as per the T&Cs but it is once again device locked. All I can say is good luck trying any of this once the free offer ends!
On my old PC I had a Win 10 Pro installation upgraded from Win 8 Pro (Retail) and so activated with a Digital Entitlement.
First I removed the key/activation from the old PC with the command: slmgr.vbs /upk
This uninstalls the licence as required by the T&Cs, but doesn't "reset" the hardware fingerprint on your original key.
I then performed a clean install of Win 10 Pro (TH2) on my new PC using my Win 8 Pro (Retail) key. It installed OK but didn't activate (Error code: 0x803F7001). The servers know the new PC hasn't be activated previously and that the Win 8/10 key is associated with different hardware.
So I tried automated telephone activation with the command: slui.exe 4
This is the normal route for moving a retail key. However this fails.
So I then jump onto MS Chat Support and explain the situation. I give them my Win 8 Pro key and they confirm it is valid. Agent says they need a remote desktop session. They check a few logs and try removing and re-adding my key which still fails. They then run a script which injects a key and activates the installation. This was only on screen for a split second but I saw it was a different key. I ask them about the key and they said it's all fine you are activated know we fixed it for you. I ask them outright for the key because I saw it was different. They say they will have to call me to discuss, which they do. After a brief chat they (painfully) read the new key out to me (this is not the generic Digital Entitlement key). In Activation it now shows as Product Key rather than Digital Entitlement.
After the support session ends (40 minutes in total) I extracted the new key from my system to confirm it matches the one read out to me. I then also note the product type, OEM:NONSLP
So they have given me an OEM Win 10 key as a free upgrade from retail Win 8. They have allowed me to move the licence as per the T&Cs but it is once again device locked. All I can say is good luck trying any of this once the free offer ends!
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Well I have just gone through the moving hardware process. It is not smooth. The free upgrades are definitely device locked.
On my old PC I had a Win 10 Pro installation upgraded from Win 8 Pro (Retail) and so activated with a Digital Entitlement.
First I removed the key/activation from the old PC with the command: slmgr.vbs /upk
This uninstalls the licence as required by the T&Cs, but doesn't "reset" the hardware fingerprint on your original key.
I then performed a clean install of Win 10 Pro (TH2) on my new PC using my Win 8 Pro (Retail) key. It installed OK but didn't activate (Error code: 0x803F7001). The servers know the new PC hasn't be activated previously and that the Win 8/10 key is associated with different hardware.
So I tried automated telephone activation with the command: slui.exe 4
This is the normal route for moving a retail key. However this fails.
So I then jump onto MS Chat Support and explain the situation. I give them my Win 8 Pro key and they confirm it is valid. Agent says they need a remote desktop session. They check a few logs and try removing and re-adding my key which still fails. They then run a script which injects a key and activates the installation. This was only on screen for a split second but I saw it was a different key. I ask them about the key and they said it's all fine you are activated know we fixed it for you. I ask them outright for the key because I saw it was different. They say they will have to call me to discuss, which they do. After a brief chat they (painfully) read the new key out to me (this is not the generic Digital Entitlement key). In Activation it now shows as Product Key rather than Digital Entitlement.
After the support session ends (40 minutes in total) I extracted the new key from my system to confirm it matches the one read out to me. I then also note the product type, OEM:NONSLP
So they have given me an OEM Win 10 key as a free upgrade from retail Win 8. They have allowed me to move the licence as per the T&Cs but it is once again device locked. All I can say is good luck trying any of this once the free offer ends!
they give key passes like they did with u. when you transfer again u just give them your retail key and they will do the same again.
as i said above even if you buy the version downloadable Windows 10 from the Windows Store which is retail and successfully activate it. it still comes under Digital entitlement. going by this below... so it would happen the same with that
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But will they do that once the offer is over. That is the question which is dividing the Internet. The terms of the offer indicate not. I guess we won't know for sure until somebody tries. I thought they would just reset the status on my Win 8 key rather than issue a new OEM key. Also really odd that they tried to hide that they had done that.
In which case a retailer copy with a product key is a better option. Automatic telephone activation is much better than a 40 minute support call.
my point is if you buy the downloadable version of Windows 10 from the Windows Store which is retail and it still comes under Digital entitlement just like the free upgrade.
so as the downloadable version of Windows 10 from the Windows Store is retail (which means transferable) even though it activates using Digital entitlement method, it's still transferable. therefor the free upgrade is transferable if you've upgraded from a retail license..
its not as simple as just reset the status on your Win 8 key as win10 uses a different way of activating than previous OS. it's much easier for them to just give out key passes when user transfer on retail licenses
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How can you be so sure? The one purchased from the Windows Store is linked to your Windows Store Account as a Windows 10 Retail licence. The free upgrade instead relies on the fact that your computer has been previously activated with Windows 7/8. Two completely different routes to Digital Entitlement. I can see them simply saying that the offer is closed for new devices. Note the emphasis on device in both the original offer and follow ups from Microsoft.
"We are excited to offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified new or existing Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices that upgrade in the first year. Once a Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it current via Windows Update for the supported lifetime of the device – at no cost."
My point is we can't be sure at this stage.
but you have the win10 license terms on your side. it clearly states if you upgrade from a stand-alone product such as Win7/8/8.1 retail then you can still transfer it...
i suggest try not to worry about it to much. we'll know in just nearly 2 months
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I did a clean install of win 10 Pro, downloaded from microsoft, on my new build using a win 7 pro retail key.
Absolutely no problems, immediately activated with microsoft.
Absolutely no problems, immediately activated with microsoft.
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Just to be clear, to clean install via the usb creation tool, the destination drive needs to be a GPT disc, not MBR right?
Win10 would not install on a new SSD when I tried a few months ago, but I had already intialized the disc in Win7 so it was MBR.
Win10 would not install on a new SSD when I tried a few months ago, but I had already intialized the disc in Win7 so it was MBR.
Yes it will work like for the first install. If only it was just a slick to then move the install to new hardware.
You probably need to go into the advanced/custom setup drive options and delete all the existing partitions (assuming of course any data has be backed up elsewhere). Just leave the space as unused and then the installer will setup the disk and partitions.
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I read about being able to wipe the drive and converting it from mbr to gpt via command prompt.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26193-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-disk.html
Formating the drive in options during the Win10 setup didn't work when I tried it.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26193-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-disk.html
Formating the drive in options during the Win10 setup didn't work when I tried it.
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The real question here is are Microsoft really going to discontinue the free upgrade post July. Given they are desperate to get everyone onto Windows 10 then I suspect the answer is NO. If you are a waverer when it's free then you are hardly like to jump in with both feet if you have to pay for the privilege are you?
I don't think they will extend the current offer as they are stating quite clearly that it is coming to the end.
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsex...ctive-devices-free-upgrade-offer-to-end-soon/
However and can see them having a new offer, linked to the anniversary release, due to the "success of the previous offer". Perhaps a discounted upgrade before it goes up to full price as another pressure tactic.
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