Jump to content

Hey guys,

 

I know that when you upgrade to Windows 10 you don't actually get a product key, but it registers your hardware on Microsoft's servers. So even if you did a clean install of Windows 10, as soon as you connect to the internet it would detect your computer as already registered and automatically activate. So, how does it register my computer? What hardware, or is it a piece of information unique to my computer?

 

I am wondering this because I plan to upgrade everything on my computer real soon. So much so that I won't be able to call it the same computer. I will only be keeping my SSD and HDD and using them in my new rig, but I'll probably buy another bigger SSD and use that as my OS drive. So most likely when I go to clean install Windows 10, to Microsoft's servers this will be an entirely new computer and won't activate correct? If I used my Windows 8.1 key and upgraded to Windows 10 like I did for this PC, will that work? Or will it not because I already upgraded once on a different computer with the same key and it'll detect that?

 

Do we have any information at this time with how this will work? Just wondering if I'm going to have to buy an actual key or not.

 

Thanks!

Link to comment
https://linustechtips.com/topic/423428-windows-10-activation-question/
Share on other sites

Link to post
Share on other sites

just grab your w10 key on your pc and use it later after your fresh isntall on new ssd.

 

You do not get a unique Windows 10 key with the upgrade.

 

That command also does not show your product key...  I don't know why people think it does...

Link to post
Share on other sites

to find your windows 10 key in 3 seconds:

 

First, press Windows Key on your keyboard + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)". Type the following command: slmgr.vbs /ato and press Enter.

 

That activates, or tries to activate, the key. It doesn't really show it.

|  The United Empire of Earth Wants You | The Stormborn (ongoing build; 90% done)  |  Skyrim Mods Recommendations  LTT Blue Forum Theme! | Learning Russian! Blog |
|"They got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.”Tupac Shakur  | "Half of writing history is hiding the truth"Captain Malcolm Reynolds | "Museums are racist."Michelle Obama | "Slap a word like "racist" or "nazi" on it and you'll have an army at your back."MSM Logic | "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another"Jesus Christ | "I love the Union and the Constitution, but I would rather leave the Union with the Constitution than remain in the Union without it."Jefferson Davis |

Link to post
Share on other sites

that doesn't actually work for windows 10 upgrade. It pops out a product key thats like super weird and not the usual 5 blocks of 5 that were used to. as for the OPs question it should be the motherboard as its the easiest for the software to pull any sort of serial number off of.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey guys,

 

I know that when you upgrade to Windows 10 you don't actually get a product key, but it registers your hardware on Microsoft's servers. So even if you did a clean install of Windows 10, as soon as you connect to the internet it would detect your computer as already registered and automatically activate. So, how does it register my computer? What hardware, or is it a piece of information unique to my computer?

 

I am wondering this because I plan to upgrade everything on my computer real soon. So much so that I won't be able to call it the same computer. I will only be keeping my SSD and HDD and using them in my new rig, but I'll probably buy another bigger SSD and use that as my OS drive. So most likely when I go to clean install Windows 10, to Microsoft's servers this will be an entirely new computer and won't activate correct? If I used my Windows 8.1 key and upgraded to Windows 10 like I did for this PC, will that work? Or will it not because I already upgraded once on a different computer with the same key and it'll detect that?

 

Do we have any information at this time with how this will work? Just wondering if I'm going to have to buy an actual key or not.

 

Thanks!

 

You do not get a unique Windows 10 key with the upgrade.

 

That command also does not show your product key...  I don't know why people think it does...

 

that doesn't actually work for windows 10 upgrade. It pops out a product key thats like super weird and not the usual 5 blocks of 5 that were used to. as for the OPs question it should be the motherboard as its the easiest for the software to pull any sort of serial number off of.

 

how about this?

 

4pQ6kXK.png

Link to post
Share on other sites

how about this?

 

4pQ6kXK.png

 

I mean yea that shows the product key but it still won't help him, Windows 10 upgrades all get generic non-unique product keys

 

His only real option is to try to activate his windows 8 license on his new computer and upgrade.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Give a call to Microsoft and explain to them. They will help

| CPU: Intel Core i5 8400 | Motherboard: MSI Z370 PC Pro | CPU Cooler: CM Hyper 212 PLUS | GPU: Zotac GeForce GTX 1070 AMP! Edition | RAM: G.Skill Aegis 16GB DDR4 2400 MHz | PSU: Corsair VS650 | SSD: SanDisk SSD Plus 120GB | HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB | Monitor: Dell S2240L | OS: Windows 10 Pro x64 |

Link to post
Share on other sites

how about this?

 

4pQ6kXK.png

Lol you need to do a better job of hiding that key. I know what it is, either you do the entire bottom or the entire top never the middle or else people can figure it out.

NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER STOP LEARNING. DONT LET THE PAST HURT YOU. YOU CAN DOOOOO IT

Link to post
Share on other sites

Lol you need to do a better job of hiding that key. I know what it is, either you do the entire bottom or the entire top never the middle or else people can figure it out.

 

 tell me the key bc you don't know it. lets see if you got it right.

Link to post
Share on other sites

F4uK6qO.png

 

Oh, I stand corrected. I just performed that command this morning and it only said "product activated successfully", didn't list my product key at all.

|  The United Empire of Earth Wants You | The Stormborn (ongoing build; 90% done)  |  Skyrim Mods Recommendations  LTT Blue Forum Theme! | Learning Russian! Blog |
|"They got a war on drugs so the police can bother me.”Tupac Shakur  | "Half of writing history is hiding the truth"Captain Malcolm Reynolds | "Museums are racist."Michelle Obama | "Slap a word like "racist" or "nazi" on it and you'll have an army at your back."MSM Logic | "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another"Jesus Christ | "I love the Union and the Constitution, but I would rather leave the Union with the Constitution than remain in the Union without it."Jefferson Davis |

Link to post
Share on other sites

@apav, I think what your going to have to do is do a upgarde from 8.1 to 10 gain ( activate 8.1 before upgrade ) on ur new rig to get 10 again, should be free if u did the free upgrade already. 

THE PIT VIPER SPECS

4790k @ 4.7ghz  (EVGA CLC 360MM) | 32GB Patriot Viper Extreme @2133 mhz | Asus Z97-DELUXE Cooler Master H500M.| EVGA RTX 2080 Ti FTW3

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×