Windows 10: Must I use a MS account before OS reinstallation or it wont activate?

My aunt bought a used Windows 10 laptop, OEM licence. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is legal, since a OEM licence is tied to a particular device, so one can sell their copy of Windows as long as they also sell the device? (that is, it is legal for my aunt to use this Windows laptop?)

Because the laptop is used, to be on the safe side, I asked my aunt for permission to do a clean OS reinstall. It seems reasonable for me to wipe the disk and do a clean OS reinstall if buying a used computer.

However, there is one thing that stops me. From the article Reinstall Windows 10 on support.microsoft.com:

Wait, what? After version 1607 it is not enough for Windows to take the activation key from the motherboard, as it used to be? If I simply wipe the disk and reinstall Windows it won't activate, I MUST first create a Microsoft account and link it to the system before wiping the disk? So I need to connect to the internet a system that contains who-knows-what and use it to set up an account?

Inspection of the bought system revealed that it only has one local account and is not linked to any Microsoft account. Good - it seems that connecting the licence to a new Microsoft account is possible. Nonetheless, I would like to avoid it if possible, for the following reasons:

1. Perhaps I'm exaggerating, but again, I have doubts about connecting to the internet a system that contains who-knows-what and use it to set up an account;
2. The computer belongs to my aunt and not to me and as far as I'm aware my aunt is VERY strict with not providing her personal data to anyone if possible and, as far as I'm aware, Microsoft accounts now require a phone number;
3. Really, is it now necessary to have an internet connection and provide a phone number to Microsoft to use a computer because else the system won't activate? This seems kind of ridiculous to me.

But running winver in the bought computer revealed windows version 2004, build 19041.329, which is newer than 1607. Also the laptop seems fairly recent so it seems probable that the laptop's manufacturer preinstalled a Windows version newer than 1607 in the first place.

Do I have to set up a Microsoft account and link it to this computer before reinstalling the OS?

:)

 

Windows 10 Reinstall using different MS Account

I have reinstalled windows a couple different times (Reset, Recovery, and clean install) but every time I cannot activate - the Activation window is blank.

Could it be I am using a different MS Account for the reinstall? Checking my two MS accounts I see that this serial version of windows is now linked to both accounts (but it is NOT activated). Any suggestion on what to do? Do I need to disconnect the
serial from the old MS account so it can be activated using the new MS account?

Thanks

 

Remove account

I suggest you backup your personalized files first before removing the account.
To delete an account, follow these steps:

1. Press WIN + X keys and click Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
2. Type the following command and press Enter. Replace test with the name of your sister's account. Code:

 

What User Account should I use for PC to be sold

I'm going to sell my PC but before I do, I'm going to put a clean install on the machine. As part of a normal installation steps, you normally login to your MS Account. But I don't want to put my account on the machine, I'm hoping you have a solution that will allow me to put some local/temp user account that the new owner can then login with their MS account name and password after they purchase the PC.

I looked through the User Tutorials but nothing jumped out at me.

What do you suggest?

Greg