We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Windows 10 - To Clean Install or Not

13»

Comments

  • cookie365 wrote: »
    OK, thanks - so the product key is somehow embedded linked to the hardware? Wonder how you go about transferring the license to a new computer.


    you don,t , you install a new licenced copy of 7/8 then upgrade , OR buy a copy of win 10
  • spud17
    spud17 Posts: 4,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    you don,t , you install a new licenced copy of 7/8 then upgrade , OR buy a copy of win 10

    So what happens when you want to transfer your Retail copy?

    Total confusion it would seem.
    Thanks to HUKD thread.

    http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/software/operating-systems/1403707/windows-7-and-8-retail-users-cant-transfer-windows-10-after-a

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/windows-7-pro-retail-upgrade-to-windows-10/e73a407a-2e2b-44ad-b773-8b175474d473?auth=1
    Move along, nothing to see.
  • Jivesinger
    Jivesinger Posts: 1,221 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    cookie365 wrote: »
    OK, thanks - so the product key is somehow embedded linked to the hardware?
    I think it 'phones home' with a code which is a hashed description of your hardware, and stores it on the Microsoft Activation servers. Next time you clean install, if it recognises your hardware, it activates.
    cookie365 wrote: »
    Wonder how you go about transferring the license to a new computer.
    This is indeed a good question. I've not seen an official answer from Microsoft (as opposed to 'community' members on that MS Answers thread).
  • cookie365
    cookie365 Posts: 1,809 Forumite
    It's clear as a brick, isn't it?
  • esuhl
    esuhl Posts: 9,409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    cookie365 wrote: »
    OK, thanks - so the product key is somehow embedded linked to the hardware? Wonder how you go about transferring the license to a new computer.

    As I understand it, when you upgrade to Windows 10, you (essentially) send Microsoft a hardware hash and your product key.

    If you reinstall Windows 10, the computer will check the product key and hardware hash against the ones in the MS database and either permit or deny an activation request (or tell you to discuss the licensing with MS).

    So, if the product key relates to a retail copy and you should be able to reactivate Windows 10 on a new PC.

    (But I'm pretty confused about the whole process to be honest... :-/)
  • jbainbridge
    jbainbridge Posts: 2,029 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I presume a retail copy will have a real live printed key allowing you to reinstall on new hardware.
  • cookie365
    cookie365 Posts: 1,809 Forumite
    I presume a retail copy will have a real live printed key allowing you to reinstall on new hardware.
    We're talking about a retail copy of W7 that's been updated to W10.
  • Richie-from-the-Boro
    Richie-from-the-Boro Posts: 6,945 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 3 September 2015 at 1:05PM
    Unlike Richie not been around for months ... Hows it going RftB?

    Going good my friend, hope you, your family and the cat is well. Its just my old spyware gripe. Here MicroSoft are giving away for free an entire upgrade to Win10 and people just don't get it - its SpyWare folks if you get it free you ....... and your every keystroke are for sale - you become the product :

    - see
    - see
    - see

    What Win10 needs to accomplish for Microsoft is a whole big load of money and by having one billion devices running Win10 spyware by 2018 it will do just that, that way you the original purchaser become the product. Securing the private users internet experience not just from criminals and rogue nation-states, but from our own governments should not happen but it does [Google & Android].

    Microsoft with all its warts used to be a world leader fighting for users’ privacy, not just because they understand that people will not use their products and services now they are joining the tyranny that is facebook google and android. Microsoft made $3.6 billion from search engine advertising last year, they’re not selling our data, but they’re certainly making use of it Microsoft’s data collection systems are turned on by default but the new to Win10 Cortana takes it to a whole different level of collection. Win10 is weaponised, the pay once, use forever software we have all previously bought is now a crude and clanky 3GB keylogger that makes you pay pay and pay again forever. DRM in Win10, the spy in your system [software-based DRM] is bad enough but shortly we won't even be able to upgrade our [harware-based DRM] hardware let alone our windows software. PlayReady 3.0

    . If you don’t want Microsoft in your personal life to this degree don't accept the free upgrade and avoid becoming the product for sale.

    windows_keep_calm_mug_648.jpg?x=648&y=429&crop=1

    Go here for Win 7 and Win 8
    Disclaimer : Everything I write on this forum is my opinion. I try to be an even-handed poster and accept that you at times may not agree with these opinions or how I choose to express them, this is not my problem. The Disabled : If years cannot be added to their lives, at least life can be added to their years - Alf Morris - ℜ
  • has bill gates been watching the "kingsman"


    1421942609-e0d3a9527f278506fa6eedcb9a987ba3-600x400.jpg
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.5K Life & Family
  • 259K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.