Windows 10: Stupid Question Regarding Redundant Windows 10 Licenses

OP bought 8.0 not 8.1 - due to an MS "faux pas" in original window 8 EULA, oem licences are transferable (as transfer of oem was not specifically excluded in the transfer rights) but they reversed this when 8.1 came out.

file:///C:/Users/M/Downloads/windows_8_english_ca383862-45cf-467e-97d3-386e0e0260a6%20(1).pdf

So OP can reuse his 8.0 licence of new pc if it was an oem licence (but probably retail), or clean install 10 etc, and activate with 8.0 licence legally.

You can now get round the end of July 28th limit with upgrades by clean installing windows 10 on a pc (for OP I recommend dual boot option using a virtual hard drive), activate it with 8.0 key (if not installed previously on same hardware) and CRUCIALLY use an MS login account.

Then when redstone comes out in a few weeks, one can transfer the digital licence to a new device using the new activation troubleshooter. This facility exists in latest Insider versions

I know this works as I created a VM, installed latest Insider 10, activated with an 8.0 key, then created a second vm, and transferred digital licence to new VM.

 

Thanks. Since time is running out on the free upgrades, I am in a quandary of what to do with the extra license. These are the 2 options I can think of;

1. Keep the Windows 8 license, product key and original installation disc in a drawer and hope that one day I will need it. (I can't imagine when I would ever need it.)
2. Use it right now on my present computer as a means of dual-booting Windows 10 Pro (my new license) and Windows 10 Insider.

I don't know what else to do and I am leaning towards using it right now to dual boot.

 

You do not have to keep windows 10 home on pc once you have upgraded.

A good solution here is to create a virtual hard drive which does not affect your current install or partitions (other than adding another boot entry). As far as W10 Pro is concerned you just have a fairly large file on your hdd.

To do this

1) create a bootable installation usb stick (or dvd) from
Windows 10

2) Boot from installation drive

3) Select language and bit type (64bit mostly), and click next

4) At install now screen, press shift+F10 to get to a command prompt.

5) type these command (you can change disk size according to your available storage - I have set to 30,000 MB (30 GB) - do not recommend less). You can also change drives, paths etc - fairly obvious what to do. I am assuming C drive and path VHD. Note: if you have an ssd with enough spare capacity, install it there for speed.

c:

cd\

md vhd

diskpart

create vdisk file=c:\vhd\win10home.vhd maximum=30000 type=fixed

select vdisk file=c:\vhd\win10home.vhd

attach vdisk

exit

exit (yes twice)

You will now be back at the install now screen, having created an empty VHD of 30 GB.

Click on install now, select custom install, choose home, choose the new vhd as destination, install it and enter 8.1 key to activate it. It is ESSENTIAL you use an MS account to be able to transfer your new digital licence to a new pc later.

When this is finished, you will have a nice dual boot menu to select 10 Pro or 10 Home.

You can delete it or leave the vhd on pc. I recommend leaving it to be on safe side - it's just a file.

If you like, you can change settings in control panel system to boot direct to 10 pro.

If you do decide to remove it, you can delete it or backup vhd to another drive eg an external drive and remove boot entry from boot tab by running msconfig.

Then here's the neat bit. When you get a new pc you want to install Home on, you install redstone (out in a few weeks), and use its activation troubleshooter to transfer digital licence to new PC. I have tested this between two VMs and it worked well.

You could install an Insider version but I would not bother as Redstone is due out in about 4 weeks.

 

Thanks. It sounds like a lot but it sounds like something I could manage. I will definitely consider this as an option.

 

Save some steps if you use the Win8 license

Download the Win8.1 ISO and enter your key when installing.

Set Windows Update to check for updates but let me decide

Then apply the rollups for Windows Server 2012 R2 & Windows 8.1:
Current Windows Server 2012 / R2 s Eclectic Tips and Tricks
Start with the April 2014 – http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2919355 and work down the list.

The major rollups are:
2014 April
2014 Nov
2016 May

You can install all of the others to reduce Windows Updates though.

Then finish with Windows Update, check for updates and install what is offered

 

Its quite easy really - just follow the steps as I have set them out.

 

It is easy Rocky ... cereberus laid it out very nicely for you. Booting to a VHD is far superior to running a VM.

 

I can run an Insider Preview on a VHD?

 

Absolutely - I experimented with various methods (VM, own partition, VHD) last year and found VHD to be very useful - cumulative upgrades (not normal updates) failed - complaining about upgrading a VHD - no big deal, grab the newer TP ISO and do a clean install on the VHD

There are a few ways to restore your old TP user, but since it's a tech preview, I always went through the motions of creating new users and installing 3rd party apps. I limited those to only a very few *Wink

It's a test bed - don't use it as a production system - consider any data on it as expendable.

When booted to the VHD, I remove the drive letters for my real system so the Tech Preview doesn't see them

 

Thank you. I will probably attempt this within the next day or so.

 

p

Only downside to a vhd is you cannot upgrade builds. You have to clean instal. This limits usefulness for Insider Program, particularly at moment where we have had four new builds in a week on Fast Ring.