Windows 10: Microsoft quietly rewrites its activation rules for Windows 10

Retail copies do NOT become OEM after Jul 2016.

Please read the Transfer section in the EULA/the License Agreement. Specifically Section 4 b that applies to Retail copies of W10. I quote:

 

MS is no stranger to shooting self in the foot but not letting retail copies be installed (using proper procedure of course) would be another place it hits.

 

My factory OEM Windows 7 install became a Windows 10 Pro Retail install. If anything its going the other way. OEM becomes Retail. Which makes sense, Microsoft becomes your tech support after the upgrade, not the OEM. The OEM is only going to give you support for what was installed at the factory. If you switch to a new OS, your on your own as far as their concerned.

 

I don't get it.

I have Full/Retail Windows 7 Home Premium. The one that comes in the nice pretty fancy box:




I upgraded my current installation to W10 Home.


If I ever decided to build a new computer, can I just use a W10 disc created via Media Creation Tool, then my W7 product key to activate?

Again, it's Full/Retail Windows, not the OEM version. Technically this should be possible, since Full/Retail licenses are transferable to a new computer.

 

Windows 10 will not accept Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 keys. You would have to Install Windows 7 on the new hardware and then upgrade to Windows 10 to activate it. Or swap motherboards and call Microsoft to get it activated again.

 

But upgrading to W10 from W7 will still be possible, even after July 2016?


Last time I checked online, when you "upgrade" to W10, your current W7 or W8.1 key will simply be "granted the right" to activate W10. They're not giving you a new key, obviously, but your current one should activate W10.

This is way more complicated than it should be...

 

All I'm saying is, if you clean install, and try to enter a Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key it will be rejected. Do a clean install on a PC that was never upgraded to 10 or activated with Windows 10, and it will fail activation if you do the skip key. Upgrade installs will be doable after July 2016, they just won't be free upgrades. I'm not sure what happens if you do another upgrade with an OS you used for the free upgrade after that date. On that same original hardware Windows 10 should activate like it did the first time. Activation for that hardware is already stored on the activation server. Install on new hardware, then upgrade to 10, I'm not so sure?

 

Not complicated, all you'll have to do is to dish out for W10 after that date. However, if you update before that date you will not need anything to update from.

 

Say you upgraded a Retail Copy of windows 7 to free windows 10.. Your PC (device is activated for life)

Then you change that PC's hardware in 6 months - MS sees this change to your PC, as a New Device

You reinstall The retail copy of windows 7 - and phone activate the retail transfer - then upgrade to windows 10 again for free

Say it was 18 months later, then you changed the PC hardware, once again MS sees this as a New Device
You can transfer the windows 7 retail activation via phone transfer
But You will need to purchase the windows 10 upgrade..
As the free upgrade expired..

 

If you do it that way, install 7, upgrade again, I'm thinking yes. You will have to pay to upgrade. Leave the OS intact, swap motherboards, call Microsoft, plead your case and you may be OK.

 

MS has been very Kind to me, in a few cases..

case in point:
when windows 8.1 upgrade first came out via the store upgrade only.. (before media tool)

I have 4 PC's connected to a 200MB per day satellite internet.. No way I was going to be able to upgrade 4 pc's with 3GB downloads at a limit of 200MB /day

I requested a copy of the windows 8.1 pro disks.. I had already purchased the upgrade pro keys..
Was very surprised to receive a Full Retail Windows 8.1 Pro Kit, including Key..

Did not cost me a dime, just plead my case... Still have not used that key either..

 

I'm sure that MS will make a way to transfer windows to another MB easier, doing it by phone is less practical for all, MS and customers. Skype method was not pleasant experience.

 

I've done several phone activations, all automated. I didn't even have to talk to a real person. All done with voice recognition. If you tell them the old hardware failed, and this is the only replacement you could get, they will almost always activate it for you.

 

All I had to do with W8 was to push some buttons but instructions were ambiguous and had to do it 3 times. I'd rather do it with serial and unique numbers plus my MSA, it should be enough to confirm authenticity. If they can keep my other data on file, they could do this too.

 

This means that MS recorded your "unique" hardware ID on their activation servers so they now know your exact machine and they know it's fine to be running Windows 10.

No, this won't work as the new computer won't have it's "unique" code already stored on the activation servers. With a new computer, you will either need to reload 7 again and then upgrade (and you only have 1 year to do this). If you are outside of the 1 year, you will then have to buy yourself a key to Windows 10.