Windows 10 license questions

GoogalyMoogaly · 19 Oct 2017 at 17:48

Hi,

Thinking of getting a 8700K and that'll mean I want to re-jig my systems to put all the best hardware in one. My concern is how this will work with Windows 10.

Firstly, is it possible to find out what your Windows 10 key is?
2 of my PCs were upgraded from Win7 and I have those keys, but I'm not 100% sure which way round the keys are. The 3rd PC is running Windows 10 Pro that previously a Windows 10 Preview install but was made into a full copy of Windows 10 upon release. I've never entered a key for this one and would like it as this is probably what I'll use to install on the 8700K PC.

Now, assuming I can get these keys...
I know in Windows 10 you can change the key, this sounds really useful as I could switch motherboards over, keep using the existing HDDs and Windows install and just put the right product key on for the motherboard (I'm sure I'll do a full re-install at some point, but with 3 PCs to fiddle with wanna make as little work as possible at this point).
Does anyone know what happens if you enter a Windows 10 Home (or Win 7 home) key into a Win 10 install that was previously running Win 10 Pro?

Also, someone told me that If I've linked a Microsoft Account to the Windows 10 install that it will be tied to that rather than the motherboard, is this true?

Thanks for any help guys!

malachi · 20 Oct 2017 at 14:47

GoogalyMoogaly said:
Hi,

Thinking of getting a 8700K and that'll mean I want to re-jig my systems to put all the best hardware in one. My concern is how this will work with Windows 10.

Firstly, is it possible to find out what your Windows 10 key is?
2 of my PCs were upgraded from Win7 and I have those keys, but I'm not 100% sure which way round the keys are. The 3rd PC is running Windows 10 Pro that previously a Windows 10 Preview install but was made into a full copy of Windows 10 upon release. I've never entered a key for this one and would like it as this is probably what I'll use to install on the 8700K PC.

Now, assuming I can get these keys...
I know in Windows 10 you can change the key, this sounds really useful as I could switch motherboards over, keep using the existing HDDs and Windows install and just put the right product key on for the motherboard (I'm sure I'll do a full re-install at some point, but with 3 PCs to fiddle with wanna make as little work as possible at this point).
Does anyone know what happens if you enter a Windows 10 Home (or Win 7 home) key into a Win 10 install that was previously running Win 10 Pro?

Also, someone told me that If I've linked a Microsoft Account to the Windows 10 install that it will be tied to that rather than the motherboard, is this true?

Thanks for any help guys!

The license is now linked to your MS account (if you signed in with it) and not the motherboard anymore. So you can move the license around, may times are you want.

OspreyO · 20 Oct 2017 at 14:52

What if you have multiple computers. Are they all tied to the one MS account

TallPaul1878 · 20 Oct 2017 at 14:58

Hi I recently rebuilt my PC and when installing Windows again you should choose not to input a Windows key.

Windows will install perfectly fine and then inform you that it is not activated.

When you want to activate Windows 10 you will need to go to the help option and there will be a choice for upgrading your PC.

It's the motherboard that is actually assigned to the Windows copy so in my case I had to identify my previous Gigabyte motherboard and transfer the licence to my new ASUS motherboard.

Windows will prompt you to do this, it will list your previous PC when you sign in with your Microsoft account on your new PC.

Your old PC will now be unlicensed and the new PC will be licensed. It's pretty simple actually.

TallPaul1878 · 20 Oct 2017 at 15:04

OspreyO said:
What if you have multiple computers. Are they all tied to the one MS account

Unless you have a business license then I'd assume each of your PCs has it's own licensed copy of Windows installed.

If your Microsoft account is linked to a couple of PCs then I expect you will see all of these when you come to install on a new PC.

So make sure you select the correct old PC and not a family member's laptop by accident when you move the licence over

j0s · 20 Oct 2017 at 15:34

Except if you have the OEM version of Windows you cannot transfer the licence to a new computer.

The way to find out if you have retail or OEM version of Windows is open a cmd promo and type

slmgr -dli

TallPaul1878 · 20 Oct 2017 at 15:42

j0s said:
Except if you have the OEM version of Windows you cannot transfer the licence to a new computer.

The way to find out if you have retail or OEM version of Windows is open a cmd promo and type

slmgr -dli

Good point. Forgot to mention that.

You'll most likely have OEM version if it's a pre-built system like a HP or Compaq.

If it's a custom build then it's probably a full version.

something daft already!! · 20 Oct 2017 at 15:53

Upgrade licenses die with the hardware. They are like OEM. You cannot transfer them. However, it is still possible to upgrade from 7 to 10 if you have need of assistive technology.

GoogalyMoogaly · 20 Oct 2017 at 20:37

Well this all sounds like it's going to be a pain in the neck.
The 2 motherboard/CPUs that I'm keeping have the upgrade (from Win7) licenses, they'll just be moving about into other PCs. I'm hoping the existing license will move with the motherboard and the Windows install on the HDD will just pick up and use that license instead of the one it had.

All in all, this sounds like it's going to be a right pain.

Anyone know if you have Windows 10 Pro installed and then put a motherboard with a Win 10 Home license on it, will it convert to a Win 10 Home install (disabling all the Pro features)?