Windows 10: Account Linked Licensing, Family Accounts, and Equipment Transfers are painful.

I have been resistant to moving to Microsoft accounts for years because I am the most reliable at managing my own household. Now that I have had to deal with hardware upgrades near failures on systems that received digital upgrades to windows 10 from previous versions and needing software that is only available from the windows store, I have been forced into it. As expected, I am seeing a lot of unnecessary issues, not the least of which is MS being the arbiter of what I do with things I own and how I do it. I guess next tax season, we all have to answer that MS can claim us as d

:)

 

Effect on family if I create a Microsoft Account to link license

It will have no effect on their accounts.

They will be prompted to create MSA if they for example sign into a store app but this is unaffected by what you do with your account. It is just what Windows does.

You certainly can transfer an upgraded licence, I have.

Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

 

Multiple questions about installing - transfer accounts etc.

According to you, the accounts were Windows built-in admin, a local admin and standard user. None of them needs to be moved.

The built-in admin account, as the name says, will be there when you boot the laptop first time. It is disabled by default, you just need to enable it. For two other accounts, simply create same accounts on laptop.

Attach the HDD to laptop using an external USB enclosure, copy contents of data folders to respective folders on laptop.

You mentioned that the desktop accounts were / are local accounts, not Microsoft accounts. See the options to get Pro here:

• Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

If you can still access Windows on desktop, boot it up, make it a Microsoft account and link license to that MS account. Tutorials:

• Switch to Microsoft Account in Windows 10
• Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License

When done, see this tutorial. It will show step by step what do on the laptop to transfer desktop license to it: Use Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10

This article is the best I have seen about when a license transfer is possible, and when not:

• https://www.howtogeek.com/261053/whe...e-to-a-new-pc/

 

Effect on family if I create a Microsoft Account to link license

You cannot transfer the license to another PC you will need a new one,
(but you can use the product key if it's a retail one)