Windows 10: Second-hand computer has Windows 10 Pro installed (OEM licence not in BIOS), but only...

I've used ShowKeyPlus to review the Windows OS installed on my second-hand Dell computer.


Windows 10 Pro is activated and running fine - many people would be happy with this, but I would like to be sure I have properly licenced software. I've signed into Windows with my Microsoft account and it even says 'Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.'


Unfortunately, I noted from the original order information that this machine shipped with Windows 10 Home (Dell tells you this when you enter the service tag). Sure enough, the BIOS has an OEM key for edition 'Win 10 RTM Core OEMM'. The installed key is for 'Win 10 RTM Professional OEMM'.


So, it looks like I'm the recipient of a machine with a grey-market licence. Is this the case? I don't know the provenance of the computer. Is there any way this licence is perfectly legitimate?


Can I simply change the product key and the computer will downgrade me to the Home edition I know I have a licence for?


What is the best and cheapest way for me to ensure this operating computer has a proper licence for the Windows 10 Pro it is already running? I'm in Australia.


Thank-you for any help

:)

 

Why are there 2 different keys for Windows 10 on OEM Laptop?

Hi,

Just to answer your questions..

1. Was the OS installed already when you purchased the PC or were you given a key &/or DVD with the OS?

OS was pre-installed OEM Windows 10 Pro. The SLP key is already there in BIOS and as I did a clean install using Windows 10 ISO downloaded using Windows Media Creation Tool, the installer automatically picked it from the SLP and
installed Windows 10 Pro on to it and activated it. I never had to enter any key anywhere due to OEM system

1. Was the PC purchased from a retail store or a PC repair/specialist?

It's an Acer B117 Laptop purchased in retail from Amazon.com

1. As stated usually PCs arrive with Home installed rather than Pro.

Yes, however there are a handful of Laptops that do ship with Windows 10 Pro OEM for a bit higher price that those with Home

1. As long as the OS activated successfully then you should be OK.

I agree, nothing is broken, so there's nothing to fix. I have a genuine Windows 10 Pro OEM Licences. I was just curious about the reason for 2 different keys. The knowledge I had so far was that your Windows 10 key resides
in BIOS for OEM. So I thought it must be same as what third party tools would return as your Windows 10 Key, after its activation, but it is different from what's there in BIOS.

Thanks for your support.

 

Transferring two licences between three computers

I have two windows 10 licences, one used on computer that doesn't work anymore and another on lap top in use. I'm buying a new computer and I would like to move licence I have on lap top, as it's pro version, to new computer and put licence from not working
computer to lap top.

To explain in more detail:

Current situation:

• Lap top - Windows 10 pro licence, upgraded from windows 8.1. To my knowledge it's not OEM. I have reinstalled system from complete format few times on this device with this licence. I still have product key from 8.1.
• Not working computer - Windows 10 home licence, upgraded from windows 7. For sure not OEM. I have reinstalled system from complete format few times on this device with this licence. I still have product key from 7 and access to hard drive windows is installed
  on.
• New computer - Has no licence.

What I want to achieve:

• New computer - Windows 10 pro
• Lap top - Windows 10 home

I read this
article on how to transfer licence, but I'm not exactly sure how to proceed in my case.

Also how would it be best to install Windows 10, I only know how to get files from installation media, but I'm under impression that is bound to licence and computer?

 

Get a Windows 10 licence for free if you register on Windows Insider

Yeah.

I installed the preview on 3 computers and I have 2xWin8 pro and 1xWin8 pro WMC licences already. I'm wondering if there will be a way to convert my Win 8 licences to Win 10 ones without having to install the full OS and go through the upgrade route.

I'm also hoping that my retail license will remain retail as I plan to upgrade a little after skylake is released.