Windows 10 Upgrade Key Question?

BigBig5 · July 30, 2015

If I upgrade to Windows 10 from a Windows 7/8 retail and then extract the Windows 10 key. Would the Windows 10 key work to reinstall Windows 10 on a new computer if I deactivate the old one?

DEDRICK · July 30, 2015

There are too many unknowns on this route, but here is what we do know.

- When you upgrade, your PC's motherboard is HardwareID activated with Microsoft and registered with your Microsoft account.

- The key they give you is generic, everyone has the exact same key for whatever version of Windows 10 they are running.

- When you reinstall on the SAME machine, you do not need a CD key. You can skip the CD-key pages and your windows will activate once you are online.

How do you deactivate your license and install on another PC when the CD-Key they give you is not valid? We don't know yet. My assumption is you will have to phone Microsoft to transfer your activation to a new PC BEFORE you reformat, they may even give you a legitimate CD-key