Windows 10: Shhh!!! Free upgrade from W7/W8/W8.1 still working !!

Hi folks
I recovered another old server -- rescued again from I.T dept scrapping it and totally wiped HDD's. Nothing of mine was or ever had been on that machine.

Created media creation tool for current version of Windows and installed W10 Pro eng-GB edition.
checked "I don't have a product key and installed.

At first boot I went to activation -->change product key as Windows was flagged as not activated.

entered an old Technet key for Windows 8.1 pro (VL, multiple activation edition) -- key was from around aug 2013 so 5 yeas old !!.

Checked activation after entering the product key. (The one from Technet for Windows 8.1).

"Windows has been activated with a digital licence".

I'm sure this is legal - but I'm surprised those activation servers haven't shut this down by now.

Cheers
jimbo

:)

 

Now that W10 is out, are you a W7 / W8 refusenik?

Yes line of site internet. Was technet w7 ultimate then w8 pro upgrade that $15 one.

 

Shhh!!! Free upgrade from W7/W8/W8.1 still working !!


Hi folks

a legal VL multiple activation license is still a LEGAL license so there is IMO no way that this would stop working until Ms say that W8.1 or whatever was no longer a "Qualifying product" for upgrade.

People who have trouble with these licenses might have bought invalid or stolen keys from Internet or whatever.

I have to admit though I was surprised that given a legal key the upgrade to W10 still works after all these years my key was from around Aug 2013 so around 5 years old !!!! (which is just a tiny bit older than me actually !!!!!).

I can't believe it totally but perhaps W8.1 still has the possibility to update while people who had W7 / W8 etc get problems. Could be that the numbers of people who installed W8.1 and activated it compared with the number who installed W7 and W8 was miniscule so Ms just didn't bother with locking the activation codes.

Anway to recap to get free update to W10 Pro from "qualifying systems". (W7 PRO/ultimate, W8 pro / W8.1 Pro)
do the following :

1) you don't need to ensure the old OS is actually activated - just do a a clean install and IMO there's no point in not doing a clean install from these older OS'es

2) Download Windows MCT (media creation tool).

3) add the ei.cfg to the sources folder - this saves problems on getting correct edition -- default via this type of upgrade is Windows Home !!. Adding this file (check on the Forum for way of how to do this). With this file added at install time you get a prompt of what edition you want to install.

4) run the install but choose "I don't have a product key" -- ignore other advice on the forum to enter the "generic one".

5) after installation complete at first boot go to Windows activation -- you will probably see Windows not activated.

6) choose in the activation menu Enter product key.

7) now enter your W7/W8/W8.1 product key.

8) you should now find "Windows activated with digital Licence".

Cheers

jimbo

 

Now that W10 is out, are you a W7 / W8 refusenik?

Thanks, when W7 becomes in effect obsolete, I will upgrade to W8, when that is gone I will upgrade to an Android tablet and play candy crush all day in retirement *Big Grin