Hmm, no, that shouldn't do it. I guess it doesn't matter tho. ... I mean, if it ever says it isn't activated, use the key?
But you could try something like PassFab or something to get key that it's using now.
... I got my key from Kinguin (oops -- HRK rather ... Kinguin has some artificial price floor that is way too high) as well, the non-OEM version. I think they used to charge $15 for it ... just abusing some university programs where kids get them for free. I had to actually put this key in to activate Windows, but, just sayin' .. no issues with it.
ed: i had windows XP legit version, and windows 7 upgrade legit -- at one point I had to reinstall and just got tired of whole upgrade process .. I never use 'microsoft account', so I didn't know it could sync like that. oh well, whatever (the store, windows defender, and all this stuff I disable after win 10 install. windows defender anti-virus stuff esp slows your hdd down big time. you turn all that stuff off and you get better hdd bench like @ https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/20608376 jaja)
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It can actually attempt to activate the key during the installation process for Windows 10. If I remember correctly, there may be a "don't do this right now, I'll activate it later" option during the process, but it's an opt-out. But hey, if you're seeing your new key and it's activated, then AFAIK you're all good to go.
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I believe he was saying that the key was already active on someone elses pc.
In that case, try contacting M$ support over it.
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Ah, thanks. I misinterpreted that.
Yes, in that case, you need to call Microsoft. BTW...where did you get the key? You didn't do the get-a-shady-key-from-eBay-for-$10 thing, did you? Because, if so, that may be a pirated key that got resold. I've seen that happen to way too many people. But if you know the key is legit, a call to Microsoft will clear it up.
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In settings, it shows "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account"
Also shows permanently activated :v https://prnt.sc/pscni7
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Not 100% sure if this works with W10, but in the past you could've used NirSofts produkey
to find the license key associated with your account. I do recall in the past there being rumors that a pirated copy of W7 can be upgraded to a legitimate one, but W10 was being offered as a free upgrade at the time so it wasn't that big of a deal, now that the free upgrade "window" has been closed, its probably a more interesting option if you want W10.
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I definitely don't have much experience on win10, but I know that it has some time-limited licenses. I believe some keys might work for an year, some for less and some for more, so maybe they just gives a limited key to each new installation, that may expire in a month or so, to give the opportunity to get used to it, install everything you need, so that once you get used and your key expires, you'd want to stay there and will purchase a legit key.
But that's just a guess. There might be a tool to know when your actual key will expire (probably some pirate tool :) ).
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Just checked using cmd command and it shows permanently activated :V
https://prnt.sc/pscni7
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It's funny that you use "M$" while on the other side you are stealing from them for years ("used both win7 and 8 pirate iso").
If you used a MAK or KMS Key on the stolen one (might be the case for the pirated version) your machine ID is still connected to this Key.
The right think to do would be to change the product key in the settings option of windows 10.
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It's very common where I live. Here Only company uses paid license, and everyone else uses pirate copies xD
I'll wait and see if it expires or not.
https://prnt.sc/pscni7
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While you activate Windows (7-8-..-10) on your PC product key will be put in BIOS. This is done to save user's time. So you already got key in BIOS and Win 10 was able to get it (it doesn't matter which version you had (7, 8,...) - key will activate Win 10).
If you want to check what keys you have in BIOS check this tool
Also if you use Microsoft account to login - key will be link to your account.
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Recently I got a Win 10 Pro Retail Key. So I decided to do a clean setup and activate Win 10 using that key, as I was previously using pirate version. Downloaded Win 10 using media creation tool from M$ website. And did a clean installation on my pc and logged in into my M$ account.
And when I went to activate Win 10 using my new key it shows, Windows is already activated. But I've never activated win 10 using a legit key before!
So why it says Win 10 is activated?
Edit:
I mean I didn't even input the new key. Just after clean os installation, it shows Win 10 is activated right after logging into my M$ account without activated any paid license!
https://prnt.sc/pscni7
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