Windows 10 ISO install - Product key mystery

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MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

#177426 2-Aug-2015 11:23

Downloaded Windows 10 ISO to a USB stick, and upgraded my two desktop computers from Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit to Windows 10 Pro 64bit. Only a few minor problems that were easily fixed.
Both computers were activated without any problems with the upgrade.

Decided to get/write down the product keys for each computer in case I needed them in the future.
The mystery is that both computers have the same product key! Can anyone explain why?
You dont have to have a separate ISO build for every computer you upgrade to Windows 10 do you? (so they get a separate product key?)

toejam316

1466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1357042 2-Aug-2015 11:27

AFAIK, Win 10 upgrades take your HWID and then store it online, and then activate any Win10 install matching the HWID in the cloud. You can install Win10 keyless now on those computers, unless you change the Motherboard out.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1357045 2-Aug-2015 11:33

just don't worry about it. Windows will automatically activate on that hardware again.

When you upgrade a digital entitlement certificate is injected into the machine so that after the Windows 10 upgrade, a device based entitlement for that machine is stored away in the cloud for you

nzkiwiman

2585 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1357559 3-Aug-2015 09:56

So basically, no product keys unless you purchase the full "physical' media

- if you upgrade, no product key
- if you by hardware with it installed, no product keys

If you change core components of the system then you might not be able to activate, but calling the 0800 should see you right