Dual boot W10/W10 with HWID activation

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by nuhuh, Dec 8, 2020.

  1. nuhuh

    nuhuh MDL Novice

    Oct 10, 2013
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    I want two separate Windows 10 installations on the same PC, each installed on its own drive. They wouldn't "see" each other's main drive, but they'd share a third drive.

    Could both be activated with the same HWID activation (by connecting to the MS server) or would I run into problems?
    I read somewhere that officially the license allows for only one install on one computer.

    If I wanted to avoid any possible problems, what alternative activation could I use on the second W10 installation?
    I want at least the first W10 installation to be HWID activated and to "just work".
     
  2. officially yes. unofficially it will work even if they would see each other’s main drive.
     
  3. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
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    The HWID will work for all installations on the same Hardware (same physical PC) if installed on different HDD's! I used that config several times already with no problems. And if I was even placed one of those HDD's in another PC, which already had its own HWID, it simply updated some Drivers/Settings and started normally and activate too! Digital Licenses for Windows 10 are bound to the Hardware used on which Windows 10 was initially used and activated the first time, only the level of Windows 10 matters to run later on different HDD's.
     
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  4. nuhuh

    nuhuh MDL Novice

    Oct 10, 2013
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    Thanks, guys! And if anyone has some other experiences, let me know.

    What do you mean, exactly? Different editions (Home, Pro, Ent...) or something else?
    I plan on using the same edition for both, but I might update them at a different pace (like 1909 on one and 20H2 on the other).
     
  5. pt1158

    pt1158 MDL Novice

    Oct 4, 2010
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    My advice:
    Turn off fast-starup on both installations.
    Don't be tempted to hibernate one Win10 and then try booting into the other Win 10 if you value your data on the shared drive.
    Always reboot or shut down, before booting into the other Win10