Windows 10: MS to Allow Windows 10 Activation with Windows 7/8.1 Keys Start Nov.

*Ditto I've verified it myself. I reinstalled Windows 8.1 Pro back on a PC I had originally did the free upgrade from. Same key as before the upgrade and well after the 30 day period. Activated just fine.

 

Good for you - as it should be.

I don't know why some people find Windows 10 licensing so confusing - it really isn't.

 

Well, sometimes somebody says something, then it gets repeated. Say it often enough and it gets taken as fact even though its fiction.

 

That part of I'm fully aware of; however there was talk here that the reason you also only got 30 days was because after that your old Windows PID also became invalid as it was used in place of the required PID for Win 10.

This was a big bone of contention here (this forum) when Win 10 was first released to the general public. In fact, the other issue tied with it was system upgrades. In other worlds - can one upgrade their PC (MB, RAM, CPU) without havng to purchase a copy of Win 10? I'm not sure that question has been adequately answered as well, but...

At any rate I'm a bit too lazy to search for the thread but I'm sure some, if not most, here remember that debate.

Thanks.

 

It's confusing because MS made it that way otherwise you wouldn't have had the myriad of articles, threads, posts and questions all over the place asking for clarification.

It's not like some of us are newbies and don't have a clue. That said, don't be confused by my low post count here, I simply don't post in these forums like I did in Vista and 7.

Peace *Cool

 

There was plenty of talk that you would have to give up your old product key for the Windows 10 free upgrade. My personal testing shows this to be false. I got a new PID and a new key. The new key is generic but its still a new key. My old product code is still usable and not blacklisted or blocked from activation. It's in use right now on my spare desktop PC. The same PC it was originally used on before it was upgraded to Windows 10.

 

Thank you; that's good to know.

 

And the main proponent of that false theory, Kari, posted back and admitted that he was wrong once he performed a valid experiment that didn't involve using the same product key multiple times on multiple different computers. Many of us here have used our old OS keys after 30 days after upgrades and they continue to work just fine. But old myths do die very hard.

 

What is confusing (annoying anyway) is that at the moment if you upgrade from retail 7 or 8 to 10240 you can't move that activation (without spending hours on the phone) even though the EULA says you can.

I run Windows 10 in bootcamp on Apple which means sometimes I native boot into Windows and also sometimes run the same partition as VM through VMWare when signed onto OSX. This just doesn't work with upgrade license - it doesn't matter if you upgrade one or the other or both to get registered on the MS servers - it just doesn't work. To do that you need a Windows 10 retail key (which I got by phoning Microsoft and asking for one).

Even in that case - when I've been given a retail 10 key to replace it - my original 7 key still works (not that I have any need for it any more).

 

I'm not sure what falsity Kari was perpetuating so I'll address your post like this...

Regarding PC upgrades... There were many sites and others pushing the same thing because MS provided vague and confusing answers which left way more questions then those answers provided. In fact, I'm still not so sure what the answer is.

As for the Win 7 & 8 PID reusability - its good to hear you and others had no problem reclaiming them when reverting back beyond 30 days. However, MS also initially left some dazed and confusing answers to that one as well.

At any rate I thank you for your replies.

And for the record, Kari and I have a good rapport so... but I do understand people make mistakes.

Anyway Peace *Cool

 

A friend of mine wants to do this new way...making an iso with the tool on the microsoft site and rather then doing the upgrade from his old 7 install, would like to simply clean install with the iso and use his windows 7 key to activate it...Anyone know if it is in effective yet? If not, how would we know when?

 

The build required for this activation by key from 7 or 8, is 10565 or later - currently these are time limited to July 2016. If your friend wishes a non-evaluation version they should obtain the RTM version from the Media Creation tool, and follow the instructions here:
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

 

Alternatively if you activate 10565 with key you can then clean install 10240, skip entering the key and it activates automatically through digital entitlement.

 

That's actually 2 installs - an upgrade, whereas the route I suggested requires just one install.

 

You're right - that is a better way *Redface