Windows 10: Install W10 Home OEM on to two drives - is it allowed?

I have a W10 Home OEM DVD, and used it to install this OS on to an SSD. Unfortunately, I'm having some trouble with this SSD, so I bought another one. It's the same capacity, but made by a different manufacturer. Can I install the OEM OS on to the new drive OK? Or will MS complain, thinking that I am installing this OS on to a second PC? I don't intend to keep both SSDs running for that long, but I'd like to boot between both of them for say a couple of weeks, before I'm happy that the new SSD is working OK, at which point I'll probably format the first SSD, and use it for something else. Thanks for any comments/tips, etc.

:)

 

when try to install w10 pro oem on disc - w10 home is instead installed

Hello. I purchased Windows 10 Pro oem(oei) disc. I have a Lenovo h30-05 desktop which came with Windows 10 Home oem. I wipe clean the hard drive that contained Windows 10 Home oem, and did a new install of Windows 10 Pro oem. It installed but the new install
is Windows 10 Home not Windows 10 Pro. The disc has Windows 10 Pro Full Version 64-bit printed on it, and the disc sleeve has Microsoft Windows 10 Pro oem sticker with the product key. Does anyone know why this disc installs Windows 10 Home instead of Windows
10 Pro? In my Lenovo bios, the "System Information" has the following (after I wiped the hd and before I installed Windows 10 "Pro") : Preinstalled OS License SDK0J40700 WIN -> which (it seems) to be the Windows 10 Home oem that came with the computer. Note
that "Preinstalled OS License SDK0J40700 WIN" is still there (still recognized by bios) even when I disconnect the hard drive from the system board - And at the same time bios indicates there is no hard drive connected (which is correct). Do I have to remove
the bios recognition of this Preinstalled OS License? If so then how do I do this? Also note that I did not activate the Windows 10 Home oem. And note that I uninstalled the Windows 10 Home oem product key in "Command Prompt (Admin)" by entering the command:
slmgr.vbs /upk. Are there anything else I have to do for Windows 10 Pro to install? Or is this disc (maybe) Windows 10 Home and not Windows 10 Pro? Thank you.

 

when try to install w10 pro oem on disc - w10 home is instead installed

Because of the OEM Marker on the motherboard, it will always reinstall Windows 10 Home by default.

To work around this:

Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro using the following default product key:

VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Review instructions how to perform an Easy Upgrade using the default key:

How
to Perform an Easy Upgrade in Windows 10

After upgrading, proceed to enter the Windows 10 Pro OEM product key.

Click Start > Settings > Update & security
> Activation > Change the product key then enter the new product key then click
Next to Activate

 

There won't be any issues with activation if they are both for the same computer. Running both at the same time does violate the End Users License Agreement, however.

 

Thanks. If I attach both SSDs to the same computer, and periodically boot between them, am I right in thinking that neither installed OS will actually be running at the same, and consequently this configuration will not violate the EULA.

 

No

d. Multi use scenarios.
(iv) Use in a virtualized environment. This license allows you to install only one instance of the software for use on one device, whether that device is physical or virtual. If you want to use the software on more than one virtual device, you must obtain a separate license for each instance.

 

If the OP purchases a Retail version, would that allow him to run two versions on the same machine ?

 

If the computer had an OEM originally than yes. 1 license = 1 installation of Windows, regardless of if it is retail license or OEM license. But I sure wouldn't purchase a second license just for testing and troubleshooting an SSD.

 

Thanks. So it's OK to install the W10 OEM OS on to a second drive, connected to the same PC as the first drive, providing that I don't use the initial install of it on the initial first drive? (I could wipe it, for instance.) The reason I ask for clarification on this matter is that I remember years ago when installing an MS OEM OS on to hardware, if there were more than 3 changes to that hardware, the installation/registration of it might not be successful.

 

The EULA/End User License Agreement has words to the effect of the Retail version is allowed to be installed on a REPLACEMENT computer, can't be on 2 computers at the same time. As mentioned the OEM version is tied to the computer it came with, can't be moved/used again. The change with Win10's digital entitlement does make things somewhat questionable as to what we can actually do.

 

You won't have any problems with activation on the same motherboard.