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Question
Monday, October 30, 2017 8:20 AM
Hey,
So that's a fact - despite free upgrade to Win10 ended a year ago, you can still activate Windows 10 using Windows 7 key.
I tested it myself by deploying Windows 10 onto machine with Windows 7 OEM key. Machine was never upgraded to Win10 before. Activation is successful and status says it's a "Digital license".
Many articles on the web confirm that as well, however, I haven't found any official statement from Microsoft.
My question is - is this activation method allowed by MS licensing terms?
All replies (4)
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 7:12 AM
Hi,
I'm afraid this is illegal. It is against the upgrade offer and licensing. Windows 7 should not be used to activate Windows 10 as it is not applicable. According to the official website said, the free upgrade time is over. We can keep using your Windows 7 on the new build or we can buy a Windows 10 key to use Windows 10. but you can no longer upgrade to Windows 10 for free. So no your Windows 7 key won't activate Windows 10.
Previously called Digital Entitlement, when a computer is upgraded from a previous version of Windows; it receives a unique signature of the computer, which is stored on Microsoft Activation Servers. The Windows 7 or Windows 8 genuine license your system was previously running is exchanged for a diagnostics key. With Digital License, there is no need to know your product key or purchase another product key if you lose it. Anytime you need to reinstall Windows 10 on the same computer, just proceed to do so using any of the available options. Windows 10 will automatically reactivate without asking questions.
There's no official documentation to explain the problem. I suggest that you could feedback it.
Hope it will be helpful to you
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Thursday, November 2, 2017 1:15 PM
Hi,
Haven't received your message a few days, was your issue resolved?
I am proposing previous helpful replies as "Answered". Please feel free to try it and let me know the result. If the reply is helpful, please remember to mark it as answer which can help other community members who have same questions and find the helpful reply quickly.
Best regards,
Carl
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help.
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Thursday, November 2, 2017 11:51 PM
Hey,
So that's a fact - despite free upgrade to Win10 ended a year ago, you can still activate Windows 10 using Windows 7 key.
I tested it myself by deploying Windows 10 onto machine with Windows 7 OEM key. Machine was never upgraded to Win10 before. Activation is successful and status says it's a "Digital license".
Many articles on the web confirm that as well, however, I haven't found any official statement from Microsoft.
My question is - is this activation method allowed by MS licensing terms?
In this OP post states 'I tested it myself by deploying Windows 10 onto machine with Windows 7 OEM key. Machine was never upgraded to Win10 before. Activation is successful and status says it's a "Digital license". ' so I do not think the reply answers this question and Windows 10 can be activated with a Windows 7 key.
Can you add any link to the show this is against the license? Or a place in the license this is not allowed?
Friday, November 3, 2017 1:54 AM | 2 votes
Hi,
Because I didn't find the official website explaining the problem. This is my own idea for OP reference only.
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