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Windows 10 licence for new build


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Hi folks,

 

 

I'm looking to replace the main OS SSD, CPU, mobo, RAM on my current rig which is running Win 8.1 (OEM as I bought original from PC Specialist) on an old Intel 520 SSD.

 

 

I already have a spare Samsung 850 EVO 250GB that used to be my DCS drive, which I recently replaced with a 1TB 860. I want that as my new main OS drive running Windows 10.

 

 

For the new build, does anyone know if I can clean install Windows 10 (using USB download) to the 850 EVO using the Win 8 key I have?

 

 

Or do I need to purchase a new Win 10 key?

 

 

If so, where do you recommend as Amazon offerings look rather dodgy - £6 for Win 10 Pro? Too good to be true?

Fractal Define R4 Case | Core i7-9700K @ 4.9GHz| 64GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz | Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi | Gigabyte RTX3080 Gaming OC 12GB | 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD (OS) | 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (DCS) | 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (Steam library) | 1TB WD Caviar Black HDD | Corsair 750W Gold PSU | Corsair H60 Hydro Series CPU Cooler | [TrackIR 5 unused] | Meta Quest Pro | TM HOTAS Warthog | Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals | Win 10 Home 64-bit | Asus PG348Q 34" 3440x1440 Monitor | Bose Companion 3 2.1 Sound

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If you want to keep your current lic you need to tie it to a MS account so you can transfer it to new hardware. In order to do that you need to install 10 on the current rig before you take it apart and use a MS account with MS Email to log in, which is what 10 will try to push you to anyway.

If you do not have a Hotmail account, create one NOW and install 10 and use it for login.

 

Then when you reinstall 10 on the new hardware it wont activate at first, go to troubleshoot and click " I changed my hardware " and you should see your "old" rig with the 10 lic. The rest is self-explaining.

 

IF, for some reason it wont do it, go to ebay and search for Win10 Pro Key and get one for sub 10€, thats what I did for the last MS lics I needed. They all worked, 10, Office 2019, Server, User CALs etc..

 

Here's an example link: https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1311.R1.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xwin10.TRS0&_nkw=win+10+pro+key&_sacat=0

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If so, where do you recommend as Amazon offerings look rather dodgy - £6 for Win 10 Pro? Too good to be true?

 

 

Absolutely trust on those, but better to look on eBay as stated by the previous colleague -even more cheap - have been using these keys for years on multiple rigs (for personal use, not professional) and no problem at all.

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I can confirm that using 2 EUR windows 10 pro licence for a few months, not issues.

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Thanks for advice guys!

 

 

Can't help thinking there's a catch with those ebay licences - are the really genuine?

Fractal Define R4 Case | Core i7-9700K @ 4.9GHz| 64GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz | Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi | Gigabyte RTX3080 Gaming OC 12GB | 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD (OS) | 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (DCS) | 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (Steam library) | 1TB WD Caviar Black HDD | Corsair 750W Gold PSU | Corsair H60 Hydro Series CPU Cooler | [TrackIR 5 unused] | Meta Quest Pro | TM HOTAS Warthog | Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals | Win 10 Home 64-bit | Asus PG348Q 34" 3440x1440 Monitor | Bose Companion 3 2.1 Sound

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For the new build, does anyone know if I can clean install Windows 10 (using USB download) to the 850 EVO using the Win 8 key I have?

 

 

Yes, you can ... the only catch is that you have to use the same version of Windows 10; so if you have a key of Windows 8 Home, you have to use it with a Windows 10 Home install.

 

 

https://www.howtogeek.com/266072/you-can-still-get-windows-10-for-free-with-a-windows-7-8-or-8.1-key/

 

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Rudel, that's awesome! Thanks for that - not a problem for me to use Win 10 Home, I don't need any of the Pro features on this machine.

 

 

I assume that the process is to download the media creation tool here

 

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

 

 

and enter my Win 8 key off the CD cover, and it will only unlock Home level features and activate?

 

 

I understand the Win 10 from that site is a single universal installer for all versions and 32/64 bit, the key determines Home or Pro

Fractal Define R4 Case | Core i7-9700K @ 4.9GHz| 64GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz | Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi | Gigabyte RTX3080 Gaming OC 12GB | 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD (OS) | 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (DCS) | 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (Steam library) | 1TB WD Caviar Black HDD | Corsair 750W Gold PSU | Corsair H60 Hydro Series CPU Cooler | [TrackIR 5 unused] | Meta Quest Pro | TM HOTAS Warthog | Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals | Win 10 Home 64-bit | Asus PG348Q 34" 3440x1440 Monitor | Bose Companion 3 2.1 Sound

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I assume that the process is to download the media creation tool here

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

 

and enter my Win 8 key off the CD cover, and it will only unlock Home level features and activate?

 

I understand the Win 10 from that site is a single universal installer for all versions and 32/64 bit, the key determines Home or Pro

 

Yes, that is correct .. that's how I installed my current Windows 10 .. I loved Windows 8.1, but Oculus forced me to update a couple of months ago :( ... damn forced obsolescence.

 

Edit: Remember to deactivate any DCS Module that still uses DRM copy protection, you can recognize them by the DRM button on the Module Manager (they are A-10C, BS2 and FC3 if i recall correctly)

 

For work: iMac mid-2010 of 27" - Core i7 870 - 6 GB DDR3 1333 MHz - ATI HD5670 - SSD 256 GB - HDD 2 TB - macOS High Sierra

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Mobile: iPad Pro 12.9" of 256 GB

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I highly recommend 10 Pro over 10 ( home ).

 

Many reasons but maybe the most important is Group Policy editing. You will stumble across one or the other tip in forums that use the GP with gpedit.msc .... and you need 10 Pro to follow that tweak.

 

If it comes more or less free, grab the Pro, trust me.

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food for thought:

 

1. you can use a win 7 key for win 10. I just did this with my recent build. I would try the win 8 key and see what happens. If it doesn't, see point 2.

 

2. Win10 can be used without a license, you just lose some (no big deal) features. If that doesn't suit you, see point 3.

 

3. You can do an upgrade from 8 to 10 via accessibility

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food for thought:

 

1. you can use a win 7 key for win 10. I just did this with my recent build. I would try the win 8 key and see what happens. If it doesn't, see point 2.

 

2. Win10 can be used without a license, you just lose some (no big deal) features. If that doesn't suit you, see point 3.

 

3. You can do an upgrade from 8 to 10 via accessibility

 

Number 1 is what I did, used the Win 7 Ult key and updated to Win10 pro, then after my motherboard failed and I had to rebuild a complete new system I installed a clean Win10 pro 64bit and activated it using the old Win 7 Ult key no problems.

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Clan Cameron

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Just FYI, bought 5 x Office 2019 Pro Plus for less than 5€ each. Downloaded directly from MS with a run.bat batchfile ( MS style ) and activated right away.

 

It seems strange but that is how you save TONS of license fees.

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Just FYI, bought 5 x Office 2019 Pro Plus for less than 5€ each. Downloaded directly from MS with a run.bat batchfile ( MS style ) and activated right away.

 

It seems strange but that is how you save TONS of license fees.

 

 

That's a good deal for sure. I just went with family O365 plan. 5 PCs, and 5 mobile/tablet installs and all five PC users get 1TB each of OneDrive storage. All for $95 a year.

 

If you have a student in the family, it can be much cheaper. $8 a month is far more expensive that the 5€ but when you throw in the 5TBs of storage, it's not too bad.

hsb

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Hi folks, just to say I was able to use my Win 8.1 product key with a fresh Win 10 install, using the media creator to make an install flash USB drive and entering in the key when asked. All good here.

Fractal Define R4 Case | Core i7-9700K @ 4.9GHz| 64GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz | Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi | Gigabyte RTX3080 Gaming OC 12GB | 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD (OS) | 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (DCS) | 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (Steam library) | 1TB WD Caviar Black HDD | Corsair 750W Gold PSU | Corsair H60 Hydro Series CPU Cooler | [TrackIR 5 unused] | Meta Quest Pro | TM HOTAS Warthog | Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals | Win 10 Home 64-bit | Asus PG348Q 34" 3440x1440 Monitor | Bose Companion 3 2.1 Sound

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Hi folks, just to say I was able to use my Win 8.1 product key with a fresh Win 10 install, using the media creator to make an install flash USB drive and entering in the key when asked. All good here.

Confirm. I did exactly the same thing with my sons second hand system upgraded Win7 to Win10 without paying a penny. :D

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Microsoft will take your money if you shell out the full $140 for a retail license, and you do get the benefit of a license that's not tied to hardware, but it's a total waste. The 'suspicious' licenses are grey market - they're supposed to be sold with hardware, but MS gives out huge banks of them without any verification from the reseller that they're only going out with qualifying hardware. 100% legit licenses. The reseller could 'theoretically' get in trouble for selling them in violation of the tying agreement, but never the end user.

 

'Theoretically' because MS would never do this. They'd give Windows away to consumers if they could get away with it from an anti-trust perspective. Once you're invested in Windows, you're assimilated.

 

Not a dig on MS - I've used their products and been in their ecosystem since DOS 3.1.

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Hi folks, just to say I was able to use my Win 8.1 product key with a fresh Win 10 install, using the media creator to make an install flash USB drive and entering in the key when asked. All good here.

 

interesting. I could use win7, but can't use my win 8. Though it was on a tablet, so it was OEM. Maybe that is the difference.

Ryzen 5 3600 | 5700 XT | 32gb | NVME

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My Win 8 was OEM, supplied with computer when I bought it. As I never bothered with free upgrade offer, it was still ok to use for Win 10

 

 

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Fractal Define R4 Case | Core i7-9700K @ 4.9GHz| 64GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200MHz | Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi | Gigabyte RTX3080 Gaming OC 12GB | 250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD (OS) | 1TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (DCS) | 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD (Steam library) | 1TB WD Caviar Black HDD | Corsair 750W Gold PSU | Corsair H60 Hydro Series CPU Cooler | [TrackIR 5 unused] | Meta Quest Pro | TM HOTAS Warthog | Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals | Win 10 Home 64-bit | Asus PG348Q 34" 3440x1440 Monitor | Bose Companion 3 2.1 Sound

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Microsoft will take your money if you shell out the full $140 for a retail license, and you do get the benefit of a license that's not tied to hardware, but it's a total waste. The 'suspicious' licenses are grey market - they're supposed to be sold with hardware, but MS gives out huge banks of them without any verification from the reseller that they're only going out with qualifying hardware. 100% legit licenses. The reseller could 'theoretically' get in trouble for selling them in violation of the tying agreement, but never the end user.

 

'Theoretically' because MS would never do this. They'd give Windows away to consumers if they could get away with it from an anti-trust perspective. Once you're invested in Windows, you're assimilated.

 

Not a dig on MS - I've used their products and been in their ecosystem since DOS 3.1.

 

 

Maybe in the US and other Nations, in Germany this is 100% legal. In Germany, our highest court decided back in ( iirc ) 2001 that you can even reuse your OEM lic on any other hardware and even resell it.

Gigabyte Aorus X570S Master - Ryzen 5900X - Gskill 64GB 3200/CL14@3600/CL14 - Asus 1080ti EK-waterblock - 4x Samsung 980Pro 1TB - 1x Samsung 870 Evo 1TB - 1x SanDisc 120GB SSD - Heatkiller IV - MoRa3-360LT@9x120mm Noctua F12 - Corsair AXi-1200 - TiR5-Pro - Warthog Hotas - Saitek Combat Pedals - Asus PG278Q 27" QHD Gsync 144Hz - Corsair K70 RGB Pro - Win11 Pro/Linux - Phanteks Evolv-X 

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interesting. I could use win7, but can't use my win 8. Though it was on a tablet, so it was OEM. Maybe that is the difference.

 

The Windows on tablets are usually built in on a ROM, they cant be updated.

 

For work: iMac mid-2010 of 27" - Core i7 870 - 6 GB DDR3 1333 MHz - ATI HD5670 - SSD 256 GB - HDD 2 TB - macOS High Sierra

For Gaming: 34" Monitor - Ryzen 3600X - 32 GB DDR4 2400 - nVidia GTX1070ti - SSD 1.25 TB - HDD 10 TB - Win10 Pro - TM HOTAS Cougar - Oculus Rift CV1

Mobile: iPad Pro 12.9" of 256 GB

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