Switching to Windows 10 from Linux

[VictorBun]

Hi, I have been using linux for a couple of months now and I have decided it’s not really for me (not saying it’s bad though), and I want to switch to windows 10 and I want to activate it with a windows 7 key that came with my pre-built PC (the PC is like 6-8 years old and I’ve put a new GPU and PSU in it semi recently, CPU is still somewhat decent, at least for my standards) which i recently discovered using the linux terminal (sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM). I’ve heard that windows 7 keys still work for windows 10 and I was wondering if the switch to linux has affected the process and has voided the key. 

[Alex Atkin UK]

12 minutes ago, VictorBun said:

Hi, I have been using linux for a couple of months now and I have decided it’s not really for me (not saying it’s bad though), and I want to switch to windows 10 and I want to activate it with a windows 7 key that came with my pre-built PC (the PC is like 6-8 years old and I’ve put a new GPU and PSU in it semi recently, CPU is still somewhat decent, at least for my standards) which i recently discovered using the linux terminal (sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM). I’ve heard that windows 7 keys still work for windows 10 and I was wondering if the switch to linux has affected the process and has voided the key. 

Switching to Linux should make zero difference to how this works as they key should simply be accepted by the Windows 10 setup.

I will certainly be interested in your experience though, as I find going from Linux to Windows 10 hugely frustrating as I miss a ton of functionality from Linux.  Then again, I'm using KDE/Plasma as the UI which is much closer to Windows but better IMO.  Have you tried a different window manager like that to see if it improves your opinion of Linux?

[emosun]

8 minutes ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

Have you tried a different window manager like that to see if it improves your opinion of Linux?

i dont think i blame them for switching

[VictorBun]

13 minutes ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

Switching to Linux should make zero difference to how this works as they key should simply be accepted by the Windows 10 setup.

I will certainly be interested in your experience though, as I find going from Linux to Windows 10 hugely frustrating as I miss a ton of functionality from Linux.  Then again, I'm using KDE/Plasma as the UI which is much closer to Windows but better IMO.  Have you tried a different window manager like that to see if it improves your opinion of Linux?

It’s mostly the game support I’m missing from windows (despite linux gaming getting somewhat better) and the familiarity of it, linux is a very good platform, it’s free and robust and is perfectly fine for many, but it personally isn’t for me, at least right now. I may try linux again in the future though.

[Alex Atkin UK]

41 minutes ago, VictorBun said:

It’s mostly the game support I’m missing from windows (despite linux gaming getting somewhat better) and the familiarity of it, linux is a very good platform, it’s free and robust and is perfectly fine for many, but it personally isn’t for me, at least right now. I may try linux again in the future though.

Gaming on Linux is a joke sadly, its the only reason I still dual-boot to Windows 10.  Just getting Steam to work on Linux these days can be a chore since most Linux distros have ditched the 32bit support it needs.  But for most other things, Linux performs better.

[VictorBun]

17 hours ago, Alex Atkin UK said: But for most other things, Linux performs better.

Yeah definitely, like server hosting.

[Shinon214]

19 hours ago, VictorBun said:

Hi, I have been using linux for a couple of months now and I have decided it’s not really for me (not saying it’s bad though), and I want to switch to windows 10 and I want to activate it with a windows 7 key that came with my pre-built PC (the PC is like 6-8 years old and I’ve put a new GPU and PSU in it semi recently, CPU is still somewhat decent, at least for my standards) which i recently discovered using the linux terminal (sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM). I’ve heard that windows 7 keys still work for windows 10 and I was wondering if the switch to linux has affected the process and has voided the key. 

short answer yes, your windows 7 to windows 10 will still work. but you have to do literally upgrade from windows 7 to windows 10. "upgrade this pc now" option something like that, once its upgraded to windows 10 it should register your MOBO with legit key. you can now reformat and install windows 10 again directly from USB for cleaner setup. just backup before doing this.

if you have slow internet and rocking the boot drive in HDD it will take ages...

[VictorBun]

33 minutes ago, Shinon214 said:

short answer yes, your windows 7 to windows 10 will still work. but you have to do literally upgrade from windows 7 to windows 10. "upgrade this pc now" option something like that, once its upgraded to windows 10 it should register your MOBO with legit key. you can now reformat and install windows 10 again directly from USB for cleaner setup. just backup before doing this.

if you have slow internet and rocking the boot drive in HDD it will take ages...

You sure I can’t just enter in the key when I get to the activation screen during setup? 

[Shinon214]

29 minutes ago, VictorBun said:

You sure I can’t just enter in the key when I get to the activation screen during setup? 

NOPE, it needed to be that way for LEGIT FREE windows 10 license from windows 7.

there are other methods but it isn't allowed here.

[Alex Atkin UK]

On 9/20/2020 at 4:32 PM, Shinon214 said:

NOPE, it needed to be that way for LEGIT FREE windows 10 license from windows 7.

there are other methods but it isn't allowed here.

I believe it depends.  If your Win 7 is OEM (provided with the computer) then you have to upgrade, if its a retail key then you can install 10 directly.

[VictorBun]

On 9/22/2020 at 3:36 AM, Alex Atkin UK said:

I believe it depends.  If your Win 7 is OEM (provided with the computer) then you have to upgrade, if its a retail key then you can install 10 directly.

a bit late but: how would i determine if my windows key is retail or OEM?

[jagdtigger]

Run "slmgr -dli" in cmd, it should tell you which "channel" the os is on (retail/oem/volume). Or look at the PC/laptop, see if you can find any sort of sticker with windows written on it. (Win7 will have the key on it, win8 and upwards its just a small-ish sticker with windows written on it, the key is baked into the FW of the mobo.)

[Shinon214]

3 hours ago, lexusgamer05 said:

Putting a Windows 7 key in the 10 installer worked for me, was an OEM key too

nice to know that

[VictorBun]

13 hours ago, jagdtigger said:

Run "slmgr -dli" in cmd, it should tell you which "channel" the os is on (retail/oem/volume). Or look at the PC/laptop, see if you can find any sort of sticker with windows written on it. (Win7 will have the key on it, win8 and upwards its just a small-ish sticker with windows written on it, the key is baked into the FW of the mobo.)

yeah the key is stored in the firmware, so it’s an oem.