Windows 10: Windows 10: More free upgrade and activation questions answered

OK, thanks. Just checking behind myself. *Smile

Oh, so you can reinstall and activate, but you can't roll back because Windows.old is no longer there.

And . . . drumroll . . . the same Product Key will activate both 8.1 and 10, so I guess you could go back and forth forever if you wanted? Not that I'd want to go to all that hoop jumping. *Drink1

 

Yes, as far as I know, you can go back and forth as often as you want.

You only need to enter the product key for Windows 8/8.1. You can do a skip key for Windows 10, if that PC doesn't have an OEM embedded key. *Wink

I'm *Drink1as I type this. A lot more fun than taking muscle relaxers and pain meds. lol

 

I'm sorry you need them. I don't like what *Drink1 does to me, so I'd rather take the meds at bedtime; much less backlash.

Yeah, and as you know, both of mine have OEM embedded Home keys.

 

I take my meds on week days, when needed. I try to only take the pain killers when I really need them. Then they actually work when I need them. On the weekend I'll have some rum & coke, in moderation. It's a lesser of two evils type of deal.

 

Anyway, getting back on track. Rumor has it, those that didn't do the free upgrade will be automatically rolled back to Windows 3.1 and receive a complimentary, free for the life of the device, updated version of Microsoft BOB. *Tongue *Zip

 

Ohhh, shoot! I don't have one that I didn't do the free upgrade on. Does that mean I don't get a free copy of Microsoft Bob?

 

*Haha*Roflmao2

 

I rolled back my laptop to Windows 7 Pro prior to July 29th. It reports a Product ID and no way to find if I have a digital license key to Windows 10.

I have a Microsoft account, but I can't find a list of digital license keys. I am not sure if you are correct about still having a Win10 license key after a roll-back. To be sure, I would have to see it. Does anyone know how to interrogate one's Microsoft account to obtain a list of license keys?

I understand that Win7 has a product id, Win10 has a digital license key. That's my issue.

BTW: I did my rollback prior to the AU. FWIW: MSFT says only 10 days after AU to rollback.

 

If you did the free upgrade to Windows 10, you get a generic key that only works if you have digital license. You don't need it anyway. You just do a skip key during the install. If your installing the matching version to what you got with the free upgrade it will activate automatically with Digital Entitlement stored on the activation server. I've only ever seen a list of devices and the version of Windows installed on them. I have never seen keys listed under my Microsoft Account..

I upgraded, went back to Windows 8.1, then clean installed Windows 10 again with no activation issues.

 

This is promising. I don't really mean to beat a dead horse here. I don't want to upgrade to Win10 unless and until I can get Bluetooth support for my Lenovo Bluetooth mouse and printer for my Lenovo T510. For some reason, Lenovo will not provide support for this product, even though they do for several other Laptops about the same vintage. This means well beyond the authorized upgrade promo. In the meantime, Lenovo may change their mind and develop a Bluetooth driver for it. Stranger things have happened.

Anyway.... this has been a learning experience for me. I never knew how MSFT followed the customer upgrades until now. Digital License Key? Seems similar to DRM.... guess they learned from the music industry.

 

First the good news: You upgraded from Windows 7 Pro which means that when you upgraded to Windows 10, you got Windows 10 Pro.

Microsoft has stated that once you install and activate Windows 10 on a system, you have a Windows 10 license for the life of that device, so yes, you do still have your Windows 10 License. @alphanumeric (a Microsoft MVP) can confirm this.

As Alpha says, you no longer need a key to install Windows 10. Just install using your Microsoft Account.

There's an app called "Showkey". You can find a tutorial here: Showkey - Windows 10 Forums but you still won't need it.

 

BTW, Retreaded, there are tutorials in these forums for just about anything you can think of. Check out the Windows 10 Tutorial Index here: Windows 10 Tutorial Index - Windows 10 Forums

 

You can upgrade from, and clean install with a Local account and it will still activate. It will just say "activated with a digital license" instead of "activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account".

EDIT: The Digital License is tied to the hardware. Linking it to your Microsoft account is an extra feature, but not required for activation.

 

Is there a specific reason you want Bluetooth on the laptop, Retread?

I have a laptop that's only a couple years old and it has Bluetooth, but I haven't had a reason to use it. I do use it on my desktop and on an Android tablet.

A friend over in the Last One to Post Wins (Chillout Room) thread has an ancient HP (I think), which he wanted to test to see if he could get Windows 10 to run on it. We all watched/participated in his efforts to get it up and running. Well, well, well, whaddaya know; the thing took Windows 10 (probably only 32 bit) and went through several updates all the way through the Anniversary Edition and is running fine! Yeah, it's a tad bit slow, but goes to show ya that Windows 10 should work, Bluetooth or not.

I would say that although the laptop doesn't have Bluetooth, there still shouldn't be a reason not to install Windows 10 on it. Bluetooth isn't a requirement of Windows 10; just an added perk.

 

Since I use my Microsoft Account exclusively, I don't know a whole lot about a Local Account. *Sad