Windows 10: Understanding Product code and activation

On early Windows versions (95 or 98), where there was no internet, all you needed to activate Windows was a valid code. At that time, with any activation code that satisfied the decryption equation inside Windows, even a pirate code, was able to activate. With the same windows copy and code it is possible to install on more than one computer.


With Windows XP, to avoid pirate’s codes, even with an activation code that satisfied the decryption equation inside Windows, MS began to verify, via internet or via telephone, if the code was a valid code furnished by MS. Once activated, at boot, Windows make a check to see if there has been any hardware modification since activation. Installing a new or different expansion card will lead to a new activation.
With the same Windows copy and code it is possible to install on more than one computer.

With Win Vista and Win 7, MS after verifying via internet or via telephone, if the code is a valid code, it began to record when the activation was done. To avoid unnecessary activation by installation or changing of add on cards, MS began to verify at boot if the LAN hardware MAC (manufacture code) hasn’t change. As most LAN hardware is integrated nowadays to the motherboard, this check was to see if the motherboard hasn’t changed. For instance, if you disable LAN on BIOS, Windows will claim for activation.
If you ever tried to reinstall Windows on a period less than a year or so from last activation, it won’t activate automatically, and you have to do by telephone. With the same Windows copy and code it is possible to install on more than one computer, using the telephone to activate.

I never did a Win 8 installation, but for what I read, I suppose MS is now recording the LAN MAC when you first activate, so it will activate automatically regardless when it was last activation, as long as it has the same LAN MAC, or in other words, same motherboard. Don’t know what is the procedure to activate if you change your motherboard (and the LAN code associated). Also don’t know if, with the same Windows copy and code, it is possible to install on more than one computer, using the telephone to activate.

Now let’s understand how Win 10 is activated. There are two scenarios:

- You have original win 7 or Win 8. You CAN’T use your win 7 or Win 8 code to do a fresh install. You will have first to do an upgrade on your win 7 or Win 8 (run setup from inside Windows, I suppose), MS will then verify if your win 7 or Win 8 is original, record your LAN MAC and activate. After this upgrade activation you can do a clean install using the same motherboard (LAN MAC). You just skip inserting the code during installation. To activate, MS won’t verify the Win 10 code, but if the LAN MAC has been used before during an update. Of course, if you have used same Windows 7 or 8 code in more than one computer, only the first one to activate will activate automatically.

- You by a buy a Win 10 code. In this case you have to insert the Win 10 code you bought during installation. For what I read, I suppose MS will record the LAN MAC when you first activate, so it will activate automatically regardless when it was last activation, as long as it has the same LAN MAC, or in other words, same motherboard. Don’t know what is the procedure to activate if you change your motherboard (and the LAN code associated). Also don’t know if, with the same Windows copy and code, it is possible to install on more than one computer, using the telephone to activate.

I’m not planning to do the update right away, for obvious reasons. Many bugs to correct and there will be many, many problems and fixes on the next months ahead. The ideal is to wait the first service pack before installing a new OS.





:)

 

Activation product code

Hi Noah,

To better assist you with regard to entering your product key, we would like to know what exactly is happening during the process. Do you get any error message when entering it? Are you getting the page where to enter the product key?

In the meantime, see this link
on how to activate Windows 10. At the bottom part of the page, check the steps that matches your Windows scenario.

Regards.

 

Activation product code

Press Windows key + R

Type: slui 3

Hit Enter

Try entering your product key.

Also, try running the Activation Troubleshooter in Start > Settings > Update & security > Activation > Troubleshoot

Let it perform a diagnostics test to find out whats the problem.

You can also try entering the product key through the command line:

Click Start, type: cmd

Right click CMD then click Run as administrator

At the command prompt, type the following commands:

slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx (allows you to replace the current product key with the specified)

xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx - represents your product key

Hit Enter on your keyboard

Exit the command prompt

Restart your computer