Windows 10: Is linking the Windows key necessary on an OEM system?

I am in the process of updating a laptop with Windows 8.1 to 10. The key is tied to the laptop since it is a Dell and only has a local account. I know on Windows 10, when you build your own PC or otherwise you can link the key to your Microsoft account. Should I link the OEM key to a Microsoft account before updating 8.1 to 10? How do I do that?

Will Windows 10 in general be easier, harder or about the same to run? The laptop has a Sandy Bridge i3 and 4GB RAM so not a powerhouse. It's just a basic surfing/typing laptop for a friend. Most of the time it will just be Chrome and Word open.

Once I complete the upgrade, what are some key settings to change to squeeze all of the performance I can out of the system?

Side question: Is it worth the hassle of leaving 8.1 for 10? I'm afraid that the installation for Windows 10 will mess up and I could lose my key. How can I find the key and write it down for Microsoft support to activate if necessary?

submitted by /u/Lichkaiser
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:)

 

Question On OEM Windows clean install......

"Flavors" of Windows licenses

Windows can be a little "odd" about license keys. There are at least 4 categories:

• Retail
• OEM
• Volume (electronic download)
• Corporate (no key needed)

For guaranteed success, the license key and media should be in the same category. If you have retail media, you may not be able to install it using an OEM or Volume license key, even though the key is valid for that version of Windows. *Wtf :wtf: Apparently, this is part of Microsoft's anti-piracy scheme (i.e., all customers are guilty until proven innocent).

 

Windows 7 OEM key

Generally the upgrade has to be done first, before a clean install can be done, and it's not really relevant to transferring the key to another system.

 

Windows 7 OEM key

Hope this is not against the rules. If you do a clean install of Windows 10, it may, (has for me) accept a Win 7 OEM key and activate.