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

. . .been gone all day so this first time reading through this thread. . .the only thing that has me confused is what deference does it make as long as your copy of Windows 10 is activated. . . *Smile

 

Looks like I posted the wrong 10 Home generic key earlier, which didn't help. *Redface Read the article linked in the first post and you'll likely make more sense out of it.

 

It doesn't, other than it confuses people wondering why they don't have a unique key. And worry it may not activate on a clean install. It had me scratching my head at first. I was expecting new keys to be issued to be honest.

 

What free version you get depends on what version of Windows your upgrading from. Example, 8.1 gets you 10 Home, 8.1 Pro gets you 10 Pro. It you only qualify for 10 Home, and you try to upgrade to 10 Pro, you get asked for a key. And vice versa.

 

Do you mean Device ID, or do you mean serial number? I should think Microsoft can tell my Dell XPS8500 from other, identical XPS8500s by using the serial numbers rather than device IDs. What do you think"

 

Hi there

sometimes it's actually not possible to read the serial numbers of hardware components - especially if there's no "ROM" area to store this data into so where would Ms get the data from.

Some data can undoubtedly be got from things like the Driver ID which can link to specific hardware - but that then relies on Software rather than the actual hardware which won't always be accurate.

I have as a test restored an activated W10 image to a DIFFERENT machine but with identical hardware - and wasn't asked to re-activate -- I ensured it was disconnected from the Internet so there wasn't any automatic activations taking place in the background.

Seems on this type of stuff you just have to take pot luck until someone can publish some sort of details about the activation methods currently being used.

My own view on this is that with so many Free copies of W10 being available NOW and for up to a year - Ms must really ask themselves whether the COST of maintaining all that activation stuff is really worth it - and just concentrate on deriving REVENUE from other products and services it can supply to USERS of Windows.

Kindle for example (e-book reader) costs virtually nothing -- Amazon make their money on supplying CONTENT.

Even (very belatedly) music producers are concentrating less on trying to stamp out Torrent sites but more in providing PAID subscription services like Spotify etc . (Movie and TV produces are still a long way behind that model though).

The next year will be very interesting -- meanwhile enjoy FREE W10 (as many copies and versions as you can legally acquire). !! Great time also for people to try out Virtual Machines in a variety of environments too.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Sure.

But what "product and service" does Microsoft offer to Windows users? Don't say the "Windows Store", because we know that nobody uses those garbage "apps" or that silly "app store".

Office? Probably, but many people, like me, bought Office 2007 or 2010 years ago, and don't need to rebuy it.



What else does Microsoft offer?

 

I use the Store and several Windows Apps. Just because you don't that doesn't mean "nobody" does. *really

 

Hi there

We might not know as yet but there will certainly be some new stuff in the offerings.

Remember how "Texting" wasn't even heard of when mobiles first starting getting popular --then the income for a while exceeded revenue from people actually "Making Calls" which was why the device was invented in the first place.

Now it's SKYPE / social media / Instagram etc.

We can't possibly know what will come in the future.

If I could predict ACCURATELY the next set of inventions --I wouldn't be typing a reply on a Forum on a drizzly Mon afternoon !! -- I'd probably be being wined and dined on a nice yacht with a load of "Nubile young things" around "Servicing me" !!!.

Cheers
jimbo

 

I'd probably be being wined and dined on a nice yacht with a load of "Nubile young things" around "Servicing me" !!!.

Heck, I don't need the store for that. I got Xbox! *Biggrin

 

Gee, Jimbo, you would have had to have made a HUGE fortune from your invention to achieve your wish with the nubiles!!