Windows 10: The Clean Install Question. Reading Between The Lines.

What do you mean by "Original Key"? What tool are you using to view this?

Why not? That's how it works now... Windows 7 also has a COA key, which can be used as well if the SLP key doesn't work.

 

Showkey ,Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

Windows 7 OEM SLP installs do not activate online, Windows 10 will. What's to stop anyone from using that OEM key to install Windows 10 on any PC? Windows 8 PC's with embedded keys each have a unique key all their own. Windows 7 OEM PC's don't.

EDIT: I'm thinking its going to ask for the key on the COA sticker. That will be a unique key for that PC.

 

I apologize if I'm coming across as antagonistic or argumentative. That is not my intension. I'm just curious to know how this is going to work and if you know something that I don't? That's all.

 

Huh? Windows 10 would automatically detect the SLP in SLIC, the user doesn't have to type it in, so what stops anyone from using the OEM key is that it's not in BIOS for anyone.

 

You lost me with that reply? Windows 7 PC's do not have a product code in the BIOS. The SLIC table does not contain a product code, its also not locked to a specific version. It's just coded Dell Windows 7, or HP Windows 7. The custom OEM install media determines what version of Windows 7 is installed. Just reading the SLIC table will not tell you what version of Windows 7 is installed, just that its authorized for an OEM install of Windows 7.

My Windows 7 install that I listed above is an OEM install. Just checked my laptop, Windows 8.1 Core (embedded key) upgraded to Windows 10074 > 10122 > 10130. The listed "Installed key" does not match the one listed as "Original key".

 

I misspoke. What I meant was that the upgrade would see the SLP key that was used to install the previous version of Windows and, combined with the SLIC table for that vendor, give you the equivalent activated version of Windows 10.

If you are installing clean, then you would use the COA key when Installing Windows 10, or in WIndows 8, it would get the key from the BIOS. All major Windows 7 OEM hardware shipped with 2 sets of keys, the SLP key and the COA key. Either could be used for activation (either auto-activation or phone activation).

I asked you before, what tool are you using that lists "Original Key" and "Installed Key"?

 

@Alpha don't be too concerned about keys... Gabe has already stated neither Windows 7 nor Windows 8 keys will be required.

How GWX will validate underlying systems is all conjecture right now... it may well be enough to have a valid slic table (MSDM in Win8) on an activated system to read the qualifying edition (as far as OEM installs are concerned)

Regarding ShowKeyPlus - I'm working on providing the Win7 edition (together with the original key) - it will be in the next release.

 

Thanks. The 'can I clean install' was really the opening question in all this... the way the licensing might work is an interesting discussion.

Thinking of specifics (that apply to me *Smile), what might happen in this case.


Situation 1. My main PC runs a paid for W8.1. Lets say I upgrade, format and clean install. The license issue is handled in whatever way Microsoft decide. After doing all this I decide 10 isn't for me at the moment and I want to go back to 8.1

I'm assuming in this the first case that there should be no issue. My 'reinstall' of 8.1 would simply be reinstating a disk image that was already licensed and so the original license would still work with no action needed.


Situation 2. As above, however this time I decide I really like W10 and so I intend to now fully install my copy of W8.1 on a different PC and to use the main PC's original Dell OEM W7 disc to bring it up to W10 qualifying status. That would give me (legally) a W7 to W10 'OEM' upgrade and then a clean install on the main PC, and the option of either using 8.1 or going down the 8.1>10 route on the second PC.

Any unforeseen issues in all that.

 

Situation 1 :

The only problem you may have is with the reinstallation of Windows 8.1, considering they have not yet told us how they are using the license keys. If they convert them to Win10 only, you will face an issue. Otherwise 8.1 is still supported until 2024? i beleive.

Situation 2:

So long as you install Windows 7 before the upgrade or reservation, then I would like to say you should have no issues. So long as the PC meets the requirements for Windows 10

 

And I told Showkey, https://www.tenforums.com/software-ap...7-showkey.html It's in my other post that you quoted. *Wink

 

It might seem like I'm getting wound up about keys, I'm not really. All I originally asked is if he had any info he could share that says Windows 10 will use Windows 7 and 8 keys to activate with. Then it snow balled a bit. I can see how Windows 10 could easily read and use Windows 8 embedded keys, that's easy. Windows 8 uses OA3.0. Windows 7 uses OA2.1 and the keys are a mess with that system. That's why they got rid of it with Windows 8. I can't see Microsoft going back to it again.

My theory is Windows 8 keys will be read as part of the qualification process for the free upgrade, then a new Windows 10 key will be issued to be used on that PC for clean installs of 10. Same deal for Windows 7 except you may have to type in the code from the COA sticker, then you get a new Windows 10 key tied to that PC. It sounds like the key may actually be embedded in the ISO you get for that PC. Like you say though, all just a bunch of guesswork.

 

Superfly, is there a way to tell if a current install of Windows 10 TP is OEM or Retail? From say the Product ID shown in showkey?

 

An OEM key will have the letters OEM somewhere in the 25 number/letter chain.

 

Only on Windows 7 and lower. The Product ID for Windows 8 does not have that 3 digit section and is only 20 characters long.

EDIT: I'm talking about the Product ID shown on the System screen, not the Product Code on the COA sticker, even that doesn't have OEM in it. OEM will be printed on the sticker but its not part of the actual product code.

 

Having started this thread, I'm afraid to say that at this point (today) all these questions have become somewhat hypothetical for me.

I still can not get W10 to install on my Dell Vostro i5 (I tried an upgrade install a couple of months ago and that took seven hours and was unusable with CPU pegged out at 100% all the time). Today I followed the latest link in the tutorial to get the current build and install using the clean install/fresh format route. It has failed.

https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...tml#post250391