Windows 10: Is Windows Retail Version Upgrading to Win 10 OEM??

But if you are buying a Dell computer and the OS is preinstalled on it, then it is already OEM.

 

Well, I just finish chatting with MS and mention what would happen . I was told you would still be able to use your windows 8 even after July 29/16 if you had upgraded to 10 and the board happened to die ... Remember when windows 8 came out and MS was selling the pro version for $15, well here in Canada they were and what ever the exchange is in your country . any ways I asked her what type my copy was, I had to provide key which I wasn't to thrill about it but any ways I was told its a retail version and mention what would happen if I upgraded to 10 pro and my board dies after july 16 . I was told that I could still use my 8 pro but would have to pay for a 10 pro version, which makes sense . But the bottom line is even if you use your 8 and upgrade . You still are able to re use it if something were to happened to the 10 installation . One copy per one PC as usual

 

I'm having the same question as the topic starter. And there is a lot of (conflicting) information on the internet about upgrading from a retail license. So I decided to contact Microsoft support.
Turns out that they even don't seem to know it as I was told the exact opposite as what has been told to 'sn00ker'.

I asked them 'I upgrade my computer from a Windows 8.1 Retail license to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer. After more than a year I buy a new computer to replace my current computer. Can I install Windows 10 on that computer using the license I obtained during the upgrade?'

The answer from Microsoft: 'yes you can'

So different Microsoft representatives give different answers...
I really hope Microsoft clears things up asap by releasing official documentation about upgrading from a retail license, including how you can transfer Windows 10 to a new pc. I'm waiting for a definitive answer to upgrade my retail licenses to Windows 10...

 

My Windows 7 OEM upgrade shows as 10 Pro Retail. Still doesn't mean its transferable though. All the free upgrades use the same generic product code. Activation is done based on your hardware hash stored on the activation server when you upgraded and activated for the first time. I did a clean install and skipped entering a product code. It activated and ended up with that same generic common product code. With a full Retail that you would purchase, you get a unique product code to install with. To transfer you just use that same product code on the PC your moving it to. As its been done in the past. If you did the free upgrade you can't do that. Your product code is the same as the billions of others who did the free upgrade. Your free upgrade is tied to the hardware not the product code. That's how I see it. Just my educated guess.

 

And that even had limits as to what would automatically activate. I have a 3 pack family license for Windows 7 that has one License Key. I've hit the re-install limit on that key before and had to call Microsoft to get an activation, which was always provided.

 

My gamerrig (from win8.1 Pro Retail) upgrated to windows 10 Pro RETAIL Channel. Part of productkey is 3V66T as the rest of you.
My laptop (from windows 7 SP1 Home Premium) Upgrated to Windows 10 RETAIL Channel. Part of productkey is 8HVX7.

My guess is, that the 2 keys are different because of "Pro" and "non-Pro" version?

Is there another software/method I can check productkey AND licens-type (retail/OEM)?

 

The upgrade converts your OEM license to a retail key, which is not tied to your hardware. I know this because I did the upgrade on my laptop, retrieved the key and used it to perform a clean install on a different PC.

 

That is why I removed my Retail purchases of windows 8.1 and

reinstalled the OEM software version and then upgraded the OEM version..

oem for oem - and kept the right to transfer my retail windows 8.1 purchases, by choosing not to upgrade them..

But after a years time, the Free update will expire, and a windows 10 purchase will be required anyway..

 

Yes Home would have a different key than Pro. I've been using showkey, https://www.tenforums.com/software-ap...7-showkey.html .

 

did that different PC ever have windows 10 installed ???


There is no secret we all have the same windows 10 product keys

Windows 10 Upgrade Activation Keys
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows 10 Pro VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Windows 10 Home YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7

 

I am not getting involved in this at all...except to note that you can't see anything like that using Tapatalk (on my phone, at least).

I will look for the flags when I'm back on the laptop...and will also check which version of W10 Pro it has.

It was pre-installed when I bought it, used, so I assume that it's a Dell OEM version.

 

The free upgrade does not expire after one year. Once you do the free upgrade, Windows 10 Is free on that device for the life of the device. The opportunity to do the upgrade for free expires after one year. After the one year period ends, and you decide to upgrade then, you pay to upgrade, that's all. This might be what you meant, but the way you worded your post made me want to clarify it.

 

Thank you

 

I think this is simpler than you think, here is my understanding.

If you upgrade from windows 7/8 retail, you get an upgrade on that machine only.

If later you swap machines after the free upgrade period you can transfer your copy of windows 7/8 onto that new machine (as per retail license) but if you want to upgrade you will have to pay for it, just like you always would have.

Microsoft have made it really clear that the upgrade is for the lifetime of that device (not license number).

Z

 

yes, basically saving the retail key for windows 8.1 is a mute point of transfer..
If you want windows 10 after the one year free period..
you'll have to purchase it anyway