Windows 10 activation question

[fowler002]

I’m giving my 2500k pc to my dad’s friend, I’ve installed Windows 10 on a “new”(old) SSD a 500GB Samsung 850 Evo(originally had Windows 10(upgraded from Windows 7) on a 120gb version of that SSD. I chose the I don’t have a key option when installing, I created a new Microsoft account for him and looking under the activation section it gives this

 

[fowler002]

It might be a bios activation. That’s activated with windows 10 home. That activation probably will be now tied to the new account now.

So on theory it can now be upgraded to windows 11 home edition.

It’s a pc I built myself years ago, also doesn’t look like it supports windows 11 as the windows compatibility checker says the cpu isn’t supported and mentions secure boot and tpm also.

I got the same activation message when I on an external ssd to run windows 10 on my steam deck

 

[fowler002]

That settings page would have simply said "Windows is activated with a digital licence" before the reinstall. After you fresh installed it, it automatically reactivated because it was the PC known to the activation server. Now you've created a Microsoft account it automatically linked the existing digital licence to it.

As long as the activation remains linked to the Microsoft Account, your Dad's friend has his own Windows 10 home licence, and even if the motherboard died, they could replace the PC and reuse the Microsoft account to activate the install again.

I was planning on using that license to activate the windows 11 on my new pc and get a cheap key for him, guess if it’s used the existing license for him I’ll get a new key for myself.

 

[fowler002]

Thanks you all for your replies, looks like I don’t need to buy any keys if the Windows 10 has activated as I was able to activate the Windows 11 by choosing the “I’ve changed hardware”(or whatever the correct wording is) and the name of the pc in my Microsoft account that I’m giving to my dad’s friend. I thought I’d have to phone/email a real person at Microsoft but just had to choose the pc from the list and click activate