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windows product key issues

saintryan

saintryan

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2016
3
0
Hi,

I have installed windows on my mac for various reasons but i am having issues with the product key. I already have windows 10 on a pc in my house and thought i would be able to simply use the same product key for my mac version as i already have windows 10....

Am i able to do this? or do i need yet another windows 10 key? if so.. i might just uninstall it.
 
You need another Windows 10 key to activate.

So, you can just uninstall Windows 10 on your Mac.
 
why is that? even though i've already purchased a copy of windows 10?
 
Is it a prebuilt PC that comes with W10 or is it a custom build with W10 key purchased separately?
 
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Shirasaki said:
Then you cannot just use that key on your Mac.
You need to buy a new key to activate Windows on your Mac.
Click to expand...
Even if the license wasn't an OEM one, he cannot use his existing license if he was still using his PC. As you know, the OEM is not transferrable, as the other standard license is, but the standard license still dictates its for only a single computer.
 
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Fancuku said:
Yeah, you need to buy a new key.
The cheapest way that I know is buying a 32 bit W7 key on Amazon and use that key that install W10 on your Mac. It will work for 64 bit W10 installation too.
$42 https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Prof...65576028&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+7+32+bit+oem

I know it works because I have done it. And it's the Pro version too.
Click to expand...
Even that key will be locked to the Mac and not transferable to your next Mac etc as you have used the Upgrade path

Only a full Win10 key is transferable for life on any single installation at a time
 
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I dont think any W10 keys can be trasferred to a different machine. I think MS changed that policy with W10.
 
Fancuku said:
I dont think any W10 keys can be trasferred to a different machine. I think MS changed that policy with W10.
Click to expand...
No done it already officially, you have to have the full key from MS :) not an upgrade or a OEM

I took W10 off my rMB and put it on another and had to use MS Support to re reg
 
SteveJUAE said:
Even that key will be locked to the Mac and not transferable to your next Mac etc as you have used the Upgrade path

Only a full Win10 key is transferable for life on any single installation at a time
Click to expand...

It's not the upgrade path that's the problem. It's that it's an OEM key.
If you upgrade to W10 from a full retail W7 or W8 key then that version of W10 will be transferable just like it was on W7/W8.
 
Gjwilly said:
It's not the upgrade path that's the problem. It's that it's an OEM key.
If you upgrade to W10 from a full retail W7 or W8 key then that version of W10 will be transferable just like it was on W7/W8.
Click to expand...
I do not think so if you have upgraded a full retail W7 or W8 using the free upgrade path it will be Activated "Digital entitlement" to that PC/laptop

You just can’t move that free Windows 10 license to another PC after the first year is up and the free Windows 10 upgrade offer is over, you’ll have to buy a new copy of Windows 10 if you want to move it to an entirely different PC/laptop.

Until the free upgrade lasts with a full W7/W8 (Activated for win10) you are entitled to remove it from the PC/laptop it's installed on and re-install it on another PC/Laptop and upgrade to Win10 as you did previously, you may need customer support if you receive an activation error.

Only a full retail copy of windows 10 with a product key will allow you to swap from device to device post the free upgrade offer, providing you meet the terms of conditions.

If you do a significant hardware change (eg motherboard) on a device that has had a free upgrade to Win 10 (OEM or retail W7/W8) you will need to contact customer support and convince them this is what you have done before you can re-activate W10 post the free upgrade period.

IE The free Win10 is for life of the PC/Laptop whether it's OEM or Retail W7/8 & is not transferable
 
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SteveJUAE said:
I do not think so if you have upgraded a full retail W7 or W8 using the free upgrade path it will be Activated "Digital entitlement" to that PC/laptop
Click to expand...

What I posted was how I've seen it explained on multiple websites

Determine if your Windows 10 License can be Transferred
Find out what type of license you have installed

Microsoft describes the Windows 10 free upgrade as a full version, not a trial. Contrary to these statements, Windows 10 free upgrade does have some restrictions.

  • If you upgraded from a retail copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1, the Windows 10 license carries the retail rights from which it was derived.
  • If you upgraded from an OEM Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1 license, these are licenses that come preinstalled on a new computer from a manufacturer, and then your Windows 10 license maintains the OEM rights.
Click to expand...

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

Its only fair really.
If taking advantage of a "free" upgrade meant forfeiting rights already purchased then Microsoft would have some serious explaining to do.
 
Gjwilly said:
What I posted was how I've seen it explained on multiple websites



http://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

Its only fair really.
If taking advantage of a "free" upgrade meant forfeiting rights already purchased then Microsoft would have some serious explaining to do.
Click to expand...
I agree it's a bit grey as windows just says contact customer support and even when I swapped my Win10 I had to follow the routine shown in your link, but the CS agent asked specifically if I had a full windows 10 key then via link he entered the codes for me etc

I do not think you loose your rights on W7/W8 as you can always re-install that version on any other PC/Laptop as you have the product key, it's whether they will activate it as W10 or not after the upgrade period, as this has not occurred yet as the free upgrade is still available remains to be confirmed a 100%, but my understanding is not, lets hope I'm wrong :)
 
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