Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

thedoc46 · 3 Sep 2020 at 15:37

Quick question with reference to the above.

If my license is Digital as in: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

Can i successfully buy a new mobo, cpu and memory, switch everything out, re-format, re-install Windows, and just re-login to my Microsoft Account and it'll re-activate?

Won't the digital license still be associated with my previous hardware ?

Is there a specific procedure i should be following, like just plug in my existing boot drive, allow it to plug and play all the new mobo drivers, and because the account / install is still the same, just new hardware, it updates big brother at Microsoft and moves my license that way ?

Sorry its confusing to say the least.

mickyflinn · 3 Sep 2020 at 15:51

Yes its linked but you will have to set the option to a change of hardware.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

thedoc46 · 3 Sep 2020 at 17:28

mickyflinn said:
Yes its linked but you will have to set the option to a change of hardware.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

Where do you set the option to a change of hardware ?

something daft already!! · 3 Sep 2020 at 17:37

It depends on which license you have. Is it retail or OEM?

mickyflinn · 3 Sep 2020 at 17:51

thedoc46 said:
Where do you set the option to a change of hardware ?

Here is a better guide it shows you hardware change.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change?amp

thedoc46 · 3 Sep 2020 at 18:16

something daft already!! said:
It depends on which license you have. Is it retail or OEM?

Originally it would have been a Win7 Ultimate Retail, to which i upgraded when it was free and just ran with that since.

thedoc46 · 3 Sep 2020 at 18:18

mickyflinn said:
Here is a better guide it shows you hardware change.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change?amp

Cool ok, that makes perfect sense. I do see my main PC listed in my Microsoft account, so guessing i just point to that after i re-install and fingers crossed, i have no issues.

something daft already!! · 3 Sep 2020 at 18:19

That's probably OEM. They are tied to the hardware. If you open command prompt and type slmgr -dli

That will display your license type.

If it's OEM it is unlikely to be activated after the reinstall on new hardware.

If it does activate, it does not mean it's a legitimate license.

james.miller · 3 Sep 2020 at 18:31

Should be retail, my upgraded win7 Pro copies are

Ree · 3 Sep 2020 at 18:32

once you install all your new gear and install windows etc just enter your key for whatever windows version you bought and it'll activate with the new hardware. did this when i upgraded and worked no problem.

thedoc46 · 3 Sep 2020 at 22:37

something daft already!! said:
That's probably OEM. They are tied to the hardware. If you open command prompt and type slmgr -dli

That will display your license type.

If it's OEM it is unlikely to be activated after the reinstall on new hardware.

If it does activate, it does not mean it's a legitimate license.

Thx for this handy command.. So i ran it and it came back with:

Name: Windowws(R) Professional edition
Description: Windows(R) Operating System, RETAIL channel
Partial Product Key: xxxxx
License Status: Licensed

Do we think it'll still ask me for a key ? or will my MS account, just move it over automatically. If it asks for a key, is there a a way to find my key within the OS ?

something daft already!! · 3 Sep 2020 at 22:44

It should be linked to your MS account and you should be able to activate when you login. You can only have it on one device at a time.

Matteysan · 4 Sep 2020 at 19:15

If you are installing from scratch with a key linked to your MS account, Skip putting in the cdkey at the start, then when it gives you the option to login/create an account use the account from before.

Always done it this way works fine.

Grafter67 · 5 Sep 2020 at 00:29

In the very unlikely event it doesn't work at first, the only real differences will be that it will tell you on the bottom right of the screen that it isn't activated and you won't be able to choose your own wallpaper until it is sorted.

pp111 · 7 Sep 2020 at 08:18

thedoc46 said:
Quick question with reference to the above.

If my license is Digital as in: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

Can i successfully buy a new mobo, cpu and memory, switch everything out, re-format, re-install Windows, and just re-login to my Microsoft Account and it'll re-activate?

Won't the digital license still be associated with my previous hardware ?

Is there a specific procedure i should be following, like just plug in my existing boot drive, allow it to plug and play all the new mobo drivers, and because the account / install is still the same, just new hardware, it updates big brother at Microsoft and moves my license that way ?

Sorry its confusing to say the least.

Yes. And in fact you don't even need a Microsoft account. Windows recognizes your PC.
Even if you completely change your hardware it can be made to work as long as you don't re-install Windows and you just move the boot drive to the new PC. You can clone the drive later, once it has accepted and registered the hardware with the new PC.

M4xson · 7 Sep 2020 at 13:47

I didn't need to activate windows 10 straight away it seems to work fine without registering a key. That was 10 months ago and I'm still not bothered enough to do it.

Saul Farrell · 14 Sep 2020 at 18:09

thedoc46 said:
Quick question with reference to the above.

If my license is Digital as in: Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account

Can i successfully buy a new mobo, cpu and memory, switch everything out, re-format, re-install Windows, and just re-login to my Microsoft Account and it'll re-activate?

Won't the digital license still be associated with my previous hardware ?

Is there a specific procedure i should be following, like just plug in my existing boot drive, allow it to plug and play all the new mobo drivers, and because the account / install is still the same, just new hardware, it updates big brother at Microsoft and moves my license that way ?

Sorry its confusing to say the least.

Yes it will ask you if you've changed any hardware and if you select yes then you remove the license from the 'old computer' (old hardware) and give it to your new one.