Windows 10: Do i lose my license

Hello again, so im planning to install windows 11 from my usb my laptop. But i get curious if my pro license will be gone because my laptop is oem type and the original license is home single language and i upgraded it to pro for workstation. So will the pro version be gone?

:)

 

Wìndows 10 full format without losing license

Unless you change to new hardware (motherboard), you should not need to do anything. You should be able to clean/reformat your harddisks and reinstall without an explicit windows 10 key (leave the windows key field empty during the install).

To be safe, I would recommend that you link your windows 10 product key with a Microsoft account. This should allow you to login with that account to re-verify your Windows 10, even if you have new hardware.

Step 1. Make sure you are using a Microsoft account:

Keep in mind that if you did not already have a Microsoft account, that your new login information will change to the email address/password associated with the Microsoft account.

1. Open "Settings"
   
2. Select "Accounts"
   
3. Select "Your info"
   
4. Select "Sign in with your Microsoft account instead" link.
   
5. Fill the information required
   
6. "Sign in" and follow the remaining instructions.
   

The next step is to verify that your microsoft account is associated with the windows key.

1. Once again, open "Settings".
   
2. Select "Update & security".
   
3. Select "Activation" on the left bar.
   

If everything is good, it should say next to Activation: "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account".

When you now reformat your machine, simply login with your Microsoft account.

Step 2. Hardware Change

As the others have mentioned, if you have changed motherboard you would lose the "windows key" associated with it. That is why you will need to notify Microsoft about "Hardware change".

1. Select "Settings"
   
2. Select "Update & security"
   
3. Select "Activation" on the left side.
   
4. Select "Troubleshoot". It should say something about it failing to be activated on your device.
   
5. Select "I changed hardware on this device recently".
   
6. Login with your Microsoft account (if you haven't already).
   
7. Select the device you are using now, and select Activate
   

Sidenote: I have recently changed my own hardware (motherboard, CPU, GPU), and followed the steps above in order to keep using my same Windows 10 key.
If for some reasons you had to take additional steps; please comment and let me know so I can update the step-by-step answer

 

Intel Could License AMD Radeon iGPU Tech for Future Processors

personally i think this is no different than what nvidia and intel doing right now with their current cross licensing deal. intel have been licensing nvidia IP for years and yet their gpu did not work like nvidia gpu at all. in another forum i see one of intel graphic engineer talking about the deal with nvidia is more about letting intel develop their own gpu without illegally stepping into nvidia existing IP and not about integrating nvidia tech into their gpu.

though what kyle been suggesting is something quite different. he said it is not a simply licensing it is more like intel want the entire RTG for themselves. means no more AMD radeon. but intel radeon instead.

 

Creating a MS account without losing Local account

Go to https://account.microsoft.com, click Create account and fill the form:





With a Microsoft account you can then use OneDrive and Office Online apps for free. You can also use built-in native Windows apps which require a Microsoft account like Mail, Skype Preview, People, Calendar and download apps from Windows Store.

See steps 3 to 5 in this tutorial to continue using local account as Windows sign-in account even when / if you download apps from store and / or use Windows apps requiring a Microsoft account, to avoid Windows user account converting to Microsoft account: Store - Use when Signing in to Windows 10 with Local Account - Windows 10 Forums

Other tutorials you might be interested in when you have created a Microsoft account:

• Microsoft Account Two-step Verification - Turn On or Off - Windows 10 Forums
• Microsoft Account - Link to Digital License on Windows 10 PC - Windows 10 Forums