So I currently have digital license from windows 7 to windows 10 upgrade. Installation is in CSM Boot mode right now. Will windows automatically activate if I reinstall windows in UEFI mode when I connect to the internet like it does now that is in CSM boot mode? What advantages does UEFI bring for a laptop? Faster boot time? What else? Also how do I know that I am booting my installation from usb in UEFI mode? Quick search on the web: - set in bios setup UEFI mode and secure boot - Prepare the usb device in Rufus. Select GPT for UEFI only. Select FAT32. UEFI specs define FAT32 as mandatory. Is that all or I am missing something?
No advantages afaik (uefi can have more than 4 primary partitions, would be the only "advantage" i can think of). The HWID is not UEFI or Legacy BIOS dependent. No need for rufus, just format the usb FAT32 in explorer and extract the iso to it's root, it will be able to boot both, UEFI and Legacy BIOS. But win 7 will need CSM to be able to install/run in UEFI mode.
But what about Security? Say, Latest UEFI combined with secure boot Windows 10, isn't it very secure compared to MBR? Also let's say, I have upgraded to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 7 Professional, with Microsoft account, then I format, install Windows 10 Enterprise with KMSPico, not use Micro account, would it mess with HWID, would I be able to install Windows 10 Pro activated, ever again, if I wish to?
Iirc the "security" of UEFI is broken a long time ago, but everyone should decide for themselves what boot to choose
Hwid is established for a particular win 10 version on a specific hardware.If you install another version then it has no effect on already established hwid on that hardware for a different version.You can even have multiple hwid for different versions of win 10 on same hardware(e.g.home hwid by way of preinstalled win 10 on laptop & pro hwid by way of free upgrade from 7/8.1 on same laptop).
Correct me if I'm wrong. It's my understanding that you need UEFI, and 64 bit Windows to boot from a partition 3tb or larger. It might have been over 2TB. So depending on the drive you want to install Windows to that might be a pro for UEFI.
just linked your hwid key to microsoft account. And then everytime you install windows just open microsoft account.
No need for that. as long as the hardware is not changed (Mobo/LAN) you can simply reinstall windows and it will be instantly activated when it connects to the nets.
Yep, but i would not advise to use a 2+TB hdd/ssd as systemdrive, the chance you loose data when windows crashes will be much higher then. UEFI has a few advantages: Format drives >2TB as one partition (GPT) Can handle 124 primary partitions per drive Imho drives over 1TB shouldn't be used as system disks, better yet, i would advise to use a small ssd (240-256GB) drive as system disk and all >1TB as storage/work drive.
Yep, but if your hardware goes down, and you don't have digital activation linked to your Microsoft Account you are SOL. Always best to link to Microsoft Account for safety. Safety First is how I roll!
Then we simply establish a new HWID I just said that for simple reinstalls you don't need to run the activation troubleshooter or use the MSA with linked HWID.
Do you want to post a link to that? But, it is easy, is not trouble, plus saves problems in the future. All my digital activations are linked to my Microsoft Account, and I have many!
It's only needed when the hardware has significantly changed and you need to transfer the digital license, not for every simple reinstall on the same hardware, then you don't have to run the activation troubleshooter every time.