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Can I upgrade to Windows 10 from previously used licenses?

H

hajime

macrumors G3
Original poster
Jul 23, 2007
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Hello, I got a few legal copies of Windows 7 and XP. I installed them on Mac bootcamp in older computers. I killed the hard drives of those computers but I did not deactivate the licenses. I know there are ways to upgrade to Windows 10 for free from PCs that already have Windows installed. How about my case? Since I did not deactivate those licenses, I guess MS considers those licenses are still installed on computers that do not actually exist.
 
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You can download and install Win 10 for free.
It's not a licensed install, so you can't modify the appearance of the desktop, or change customizing settings for the system.
But, even though not licensed, it's very usable, and does not expire after 30 days like older Windows versions have done in the past.
Some information here.
Microsoft still says to use the "Anniversary update", and not the most up to date "Creators update" for a Boot Camp install of Windows 10. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

If you want to pursue using an existing license, you could try calling the Windows activation support number, and see what you can do there.
There's some other information here... :D
 
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DeltaMac said:
You can download and install Win 10 for free.
It's not a licensed install, so you can't modify the appearance of the desktop, or change customizing settings for the system.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your info but I am a bit confused. Why I cannot modify the appearance of the desktop or change customizing settings? Can I change the system font size, background wallpaper, etc.?

I remember that about 17 years ago, I had to call Microsoft to tell them that I changed my computer. Then, they gave me another activation code via the phone to activate the same Windows license on a different computer. So, we don't need to do this anymore?


I have several Japanese version of Windows 7 and XP. I plan to install Windows 10 if I buy a new Mac laptop. I also plan to install Windows 10 on a self-made linux PC perhaps also running Mac OS. If there are lots of restrictions, maybe I need to buy 1 OEM Japanese version of Anniversary update for the Mac I may purchase and also 1 OEM Japanese version of Creators update for the self-made PC.

The problem is I will travel to Japan soon before I buy a new Mac or build a new PC. So, I cannot test if the approach you mention would work in my case. If I need to buy, this is the chance. Otherwise, I will have to get a new machine and test. If failed, ask somebody in Japan to buy Windows 10 on my behalf and send it to North America. It is a bit of a hassle. Is the approach your mentioned guaranteed to work for sure?
 
If you install Windows 10, and don't activate it --- Windows will fine for most uses, but you can't modify the appearance, such as wallpaper, graphics settings, some other system settings. But, if that's OK, you don't ever have to activate the system.
I don't care about changing wallpaper, or other settings, so Windows is good for me to use, even without activating.
A few years ago, the Windows system would stop working completely if you did not activate it within 30 days. That no longer happens, so you can continue to use the system. You just can't customize the appearance until you activate it. You would have to contact Microsoft directly, as you might have a working activation code for Win 7, which may let you use that activation code to also activate Windows 10.
You absolutely don't have to buy a Windows update (you can download that ISO, and install it, no cost, without entering a license) The only item that you probably need to purchase is a license to activate the system, should you want to do that. Again, you are not required to do that, if Windows 10 works well enough for you to use it without activating.
You can't modify the wallpaper, or other appearance settings until you activate Windows. It is not something that I need to do, but that might be important for you. :D
 
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Thanks. Didn't know with Windows 10, we can continue to use it without having to activate it within 30 days. I don't know about Windows 10 but for Windows XP and 7, if I want Japanese system (to run Japanese software, have Japaese GUI, etc.), I had to buy the Japanese version. How about Windows 10?
 
I don't know anything about Windows in other languages --- but, guessing...
If you download the ISO from the Microsoft web site, and is the correct language page (for your country, I suppose), then the language should be correct for the ISO download. Should still be a free download.
It seems possible that you won't be able to actually use third-party apps that are in other languages, as that may mean customizing the Windows system for that language --- but, again, I don't really know.
Try it out for yourself, with the software that you need to use. Remember, you can't do things as simple as changing the wallpaper until you activate, BUT you can test your own software...

I DO know that with WinXP or 7, you had 30 days to activate, then it would stop working.
Win10 does NOT have that time limit, but still leaves you with a restricted system --- usable, but not customizable.

And, your situation is different from mine. I do not have other Windows installs that MIGHT give a license that could be used to activate Win10. You do, particularly with Win7. That's worthwhile checking out, eh?
 
Thanks. I only have a MBP 2010 17" with me now. It has Windows 7 Bootcamp installed. So, a way to test it is to backup the current bootcamp Windows partition. Then, get Windows 10 ISO and install it on my computer. Then, use another Windows 7 license (not used but not deactivated before I destroyed the old HD) to try to activate Windows 10?
 
Or, just try to install Win10 to upgrade the existing Win7 installation. You may not need to do anything to activate Win10 on an already-activated Win7 install.
But, yes, backing up the existing Win7 partition first, is always a good plan :D
 
DeltaMac said:
Or, just try to install Win10 to upgrade the existing Win7 installation. You may not need to do anything to activate Win10 on an already-activated Win7 install.
But, yes, backing up the existing Win7 partition first, is always a good plan :D
Click to expand...

I guess I would keep the existing Windows 7 since I don't know if my old software will be compatible with Windows 10.
 
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