Windows 10: Can't use win 7, 8, 8.1 keys after July 29th

Yes, that is correct. See this Microsoft webpage:
Windows 10

Click on +Using the Media Creation Tool, then +Performing a clean installation using a USB or DVD. Scroll down to the blue Note box:

So, there it is, straight from Microsoft!

 

It's not 100% clear to me, but I think Ed Bott might be saying that you can still activate Windows 10 with a Windows 7/8.x product key, even on July 30th:

How long this will apply for, who knows, and it;s not clear whether the product key has to be an unused one, but there may still be a window (sorry *Wink ) where people can still upgrade for free.

 

I'm guessing that he's mistaken on this. Most likely, he's already activated Windows 10 on a virtual machine on the same system, and since virtual machines all have the same ID's, it would mean there was already a digital entitlement for Windows 10 in his VM environment, and it just so happens he used the Windows 7 key to install, but the actual entitlement is coming from a different activation he has done before.

 

Very very plausible. Especially if he has been doing a lot of testing scenarios. Plus all the unknowns? Conceivably, like you've hinted at, the key used to install was a valid key, and was accepted during setup. Likely due to the install media used. Had there not already been a Digital Entitlement on the server, activation would fail. But, the hardware ID was good so it activated with the already stored Digital entitlement. IMHO the verdict is still out. I'm not a believer just yet.

 

That doesn't make sense with what Kari (I think it was Kari) said. He said when you create a new virtual machine, it like having another computer (Those were not the exact words but I made it simple). So Ed Boot test shouldn't of worked unless Microsoft just waiting tell Monday to stop the keys. I think Ed should of waited till Tuesday or even later to test them. Microsoft got to be-carefull and not turn off or stop the wrong keys.

 

That's not my experience with VMs.

When I create a new VM, on a host machine which has had other activated VMs, the new ones don't activate.

If I take a VM that's already activated, wipe the disk and clean install it, then it sees the entitlement and does activate. Admittedly it's a while since I created a new one, but my experience is that VMs behave much like physical machines.

Also Ed Bott knows his stuff so is likely to be well aware of how activation worked, as does Paul Thurrott who says much the same thing.

I think groze's explanation (that Microsoft are waiting till after the weekend to turn everything off) is more likely.

 

The way to tell if an activation was the result of the product key or previous digital entitlement would be to install Windows 10 by skipping entering the product key. With only the generic Windows 10 product key installed, in an elevated command prompt run:
slmgr /ato

With no pre-existing digital entitlement, that command (automatic online activation) will fail. Then go to the activation tab under updates and settings and change the product key to a Windows 7/8/8.1 product key. If that activates, then the activation was the result of the Windows 7/8/8.1 product key and not a pre-existing digital entitlement.

If you enter a Windows 7/8/8.1 product key during the installation process, the user has no way of knowing if it was the product key that caused the activation, or if Windows just pulled an existing digital entitlement from Microsoft servers.

 

I just remembered something else to. The international dateline. That's another reason Microsoft would wait till Monday or later to stop the keys.

Source International Date Line (IDL)

 

Confused, you bet I am, I thought that the product keys for earlier versions of Windows were invalid after upgrading or if used to activate a clean install of W10.
If, for arguments sake, I changed my mind and reinstalled W7 having removed W10 first, say in six months time, it would activate?

 

Absolutely nothing happens to the Windows 7/8/8.1 Product Key due to the upgrade to Windows 10. The Windows 7/8/8.1 Product Key remains valid for the same use that it was before the upgrade to Windows 10. The only additional legal limitation that is imposed is that you cannot have Windows 10 installed and activated at the same time as the Windows 7/8/8.1 that it came from - such as dual booting or in a virtual machine. The upgrade does not create an additional license and 1 license = 1 installation of Windows at a time. But you can use that 1 license for either the original Windows 7/8/8.1 or the Windows 10 and install one or the other at any time.

 

So if one of my pc's blew up, I could use the W7 on a new pc assuming the licence was not OEM.

 

Yes, That is correct. And, we haven't fully explored it yet, but with the Anniversary update coming out it looks like Microsoft may have included features in the update to allow you to transfer the digital license for Windows 10 to new hardware as well - but it looks like you have to sign in with a Microsoft account in order to link the digital license to your Microsoft account.

I'm getting a replacement computer that was replaced under warranty by the manufacturer which I will be testing this feature on.

 

Maybe this is why his VM activated? http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...0ffe9dd?auth=1

EDIT: Reports are, that agent got it wrong, it has not been extended. I can't post a link to my source, its a private site.

 

The only thing I don't get, the Microsoft agent checked with a supervisor. Shouldn't the Microsoft supervisor know?

Actually, I am kind of surprised Microsoft didn't extend it for 30 days, because of the anniversary update just a week or so later.

 

The support teams are often outsourced, and not even official Microsoft employees. Their "supervisors" often know less than they do.