As long as it has not been over 180 days since it was online you can reinstall onto a new hard drive on the same machine and it will work. When you get to the part where it asks for a key check the box that says I do not have a key. Once you get online it will be activated. The key is stored online with the microsoft servers. Its specific to that machine. There are no more permanent activation's.
1. The windows 7 pro key is stuck on the top of the machine. My question is if I reformat the C: and download a Windows 10 image from the Microsoft website, Can i use the windows 7 product key?
2. The primary hard drive is failing and needs to be replaced or reformatted.
1. Yes
2. I suggest a SSD ... a 240gb one is cheap now-days. Even on an older machine ... it will add all-around speed.
I see, how does Microsoft identity my machine, is it by MAC address or by the hardware specs? If I upgrade the Graphics card and hard drive to SSD , is it still considered the "same machine"
So I have multiple options here:
1) Use the Win "7" key which is marked on my machine for Windows 10 installation, this will work yes?
2) I click the box "skip activation" and when windows loads it will detect my machine and automatically assign the same activation key -- am i correct
Lastly, If incase 1 & 2 fails, where in my windows 10 can i obtain the Product KEY?
I will test the above options in a couple of days and report back
Noted that the motherboard is the key identifier. I am only replacing the GPU & Storage Drive, so I shouldn't have a problem.
Is it possible to obtain my win 10 Certificate Of Authenticity KEY from the machine just incase? I have looked in the control panel but am unable to find it. Am I allowed to have it if it was a upgrade?
I believe the Win 10 Product Key will be different from the Win 7 COA sticker on my machine, since it was a free upgrade from Microsoft.
Windows uses a hardware Hash to activate. If you replace motherboard it will deactivate. The COA KEY and Windows 10 key are one and the same. You cannot use this key on machine after machine. Its for one PC. If it dies and you replace motherboard EVEN THE SAME MODEL it will be deactivated.
Windows 10 1803 is the current version. I suggest you start there.
The biggest change of all is that the Windows 10 activation status for a device is stored online. After you successfully activate Windows 10 for the first time, that device will activate automatically in the future, with no product key required.
Microsoft does not let the user know what the actual key is. Its in windows but its encrypted. Users do not have access to the actual key.
The install Keys are Generic and show the same key on all machines to the user. The Media is also the same meaning there isnt a separate DVD for home and pro or usb flash drive for home and pro.
I will perform the change to SDD within 1 week and reinstall windows using the media creation tool as you suggested, hopefully windows 10 will pick up the same KEY used on my Dell Machine after setup.
Side question if I may : My Optiplex 980 MT has how many SATA 3 6Gb/s port? It is a 2011 model, still works beautifully as my main workstation.
I see one blue, one white and 2 black SATA ports on the mother board.
Since I have 2 SSD capable of 6Gb/s speeds which ports should i connect them too?
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
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July 11th, 2018 02:00
As long as it has not been over 180 days since it was online you can reinstall onto a new hard drive on the same machine and it will work. When you get to the part where it asks for a key check the box that says I do not have a key. Once you get online it will be activated. The key is stored online with the microsoft servers. Its specific to that machine. There are no more permanent activation's.
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-500GB-Internal-MZ-76E500B-AM/dp/B0781Z7Y3S/
https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Ultra-2-5-Inch-Height-SDSSDHII-240G-G25/dp/B00M8ABEIM/
DELL-Jesse L
Moderator
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17.9K Posts
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July 10th, 2018 04:00
rishiuttam,
Yes, you should be able to download Windows 10 from Microsoft if you registered your system with Microsoft.
Download Windows 10
rishiuttam
7 Posts
0
July 10th, 2018 04:00
Thanks, can i use my WIN 7 key which i marked on my optiplex system?
Or Since i upgraded to Win 10, how do i find out my windows 10 key?
Thanks.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.4K Posts
0
July 10th, 2018 13:00
1. Yes
2. I suggest a SSD ... a 240gb one is cheap now-days. Even on an older machine ... it will add all-around speed.
rishiuttam
7 Posts
0
July 11th, 2018 02:00
Thanks Diamond.
I see, how does Microsoft identity my machine, is it by MAC address or by the hardware specs? If I upgrade the Graphics card and hard drive to SSD , is it still considered the "same machine"
So I have multiple options here:
1) Use the Win "7" key which is marked on my machine for Windows 10 installation, this will work yes?
2) I click the box "skip activation" and when windows loads it will detect my machine and automatically assign the same activation key -- am i correct
Lastly, If incase 1 & 2 fails, where in my windows 10 can i obtain the Product KEY?
I will test the above options in a couple of days and report back
Thanks.
Rishi
rishiuttam
7 Posts
0
July 11th, 2018 02:00
Noted that the motherboard is the key identifier. I am only replacing the GPU & Storage Drive, so I shouldn't have a problem.
Is it possible to obtain my win 10 Certificate Of Authenticity KEY from the machine just incase? I have looked in the control panel but am unable to find it. Am I allowed to have it if it was a upgrade?
I believe the Win 10 Product Key will be different from the Win 7 COA sticker on my machine, since it was a free upgrade from Microsoft.
I will post my findings. Thanks so much!
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
July 11th, 2018 02:00
Windows uses a hardware Hash to activate. If you replace motherboard it will deactivate. The COA KEY and Windows 10 key are one and the same. You cannot use this key on machine after machine. Its for one PC. If it dies and you replace motherboard EVEN THE SAME MODEL it will be deactivated.
Windows 10 1803 is the current version. I suggest you start there.
The biggest change of all is that the Windows 10 activation status for a device is stored online. After you successfully activate Windows 10 for the first time, that device will activate automatically in the future, with no product key required.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-quietly-rewrites-its-activation-rules-for-windows-10/
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
July 12th, 2018 09:00
Microsoft does not let the user know what the actual key is. Its in windows but its encrypted. Users do not have access to the actual key.
The install Keys are Generic and show the same key on all machines to the user. The Media is also the same meaning there isnt a separate DVD for home and pro or usb flash drive for home and pro.
XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH (Windows 8 Pro)
RR3BN-3YY9P-9D7FC-7J4YF-QGJXW (Windows 8 Pro MCE)
FB4WR-32NVD-4RW79-XQFWH-CYQG3 (Windows 8 Home)
XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB (Windows 8.1 Pro)
GBFNG-2X3TC-8R27F-RMKYB-JK7QT (Windows 8.1 Pro MCE)
334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT (Windows 8.1 Home)
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T (Windows 10 Pro)
YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7 (Windows 10 Home multi)
BT79Q-G7N6G-PGBYW-4YWX6-6F4BT (Windows 10 Home single)
rishiuttam
7 Posts
0
July 12th, 2018 16:00
Thank you again.
I will perform the change to SDD within 1 week and reinstall windows using the media creation tool as you suggested, hopefully windows 10 will pick up the same KEY used on my Dell Machine after setup.
Side question if I may : My Optiplex 980 MT has how many SATA 3 6Gb/s port? It is a 2011 model, still works beautifully as my main workstation.
I see one blue, one white and 2 black SATA ports on the mother board.
Since I have 2 SSD capable of 6Gb/s speeds which ports should i connect them too?
Thanks
speedstep
9 Legend
•
47K Posts
0
July 13th, 2018 05:00
Do one drive at a time. Start with boot drive on the BLUE connector SATA 0.
https://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/optiplex-980-tech-guide.pdf
Orange sata cable is 2nd port BLACK and goes to the optical drive.