[Not working anymore] How to upgrade from W7/8.1 without going through the complete upgrade process

This method is only valid for win7 installation from oem laptops?

My asus came with win8 home, so doing a upgrade via ms or a fresh install win10 multiple edtions, only installs win10 home and stays digitaly activated.

So i just edit .iso file, add a ei.cfg, and then windows let me select now what version i want install, home or pro.

So, pro version, and finally says in def options, windows is not activated, use ms tool kit and done, fully activated.

 

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I've been getting rid of some old Windows 8 COA keys on new systems by installing Windows 10, skipping entering the key, then changing product key from desktop.
You can then perform a Reset, client still needs to go through OOBE but doesn't need to enter a key & it's already activated.

My windows 10 install by default already uses the Retail key. For about a week now the systems have activated themselves just by giving them internet access.
These are new systems. New components. No Slic. No OEM-DM key. Clean install without kms. They just activate! Has MS changed something on their end?
Has anyone else noticed this?

 

Not sure if I understand this. You clean install 10, change product key to your W8 COA, then clean install again, and it activates? That (should) make sense. When you change product key to W8 COA, and it activates, your hwid becomes activated @ MS.

 

No. I clean install, connect to internet - it activates.
It's activating without me doing anything. No genuine ticket, no slic, no changing keys, no msdm, nothing.
These are brand new systems. Different motherboards. All new...

 

Confused. New PC, clean install 10, and activation? As if W10 was free? Very strange..

 

Yes, Very strange. The 4 systems that activated were Win10 Home. Today I did a Win10 Pro & it did NOT activate.
I had to use the w8 Pro COA key...

 

Yes I know all that. I have 4 new systems I've built from new parts that have activated without all the above. I have not entered any keys...

 

Confused? What did you mean then when you posted:

"My windows 10 install by default already uses the Retail key."

 

Every install.wim, install.esd, install.swm already has a default product key. Every month I update my install.esd with the latest updates & integrate default product keys for OA3, COA & Retail (for upgrades).

 

Flipp3r, have you checked the product key that's activated on the machine(s). Is it a W8 key? Is it a generic W10 key (and activated via DE)? I'd be very surprised if the only key installed on the system is a W10 default key...

 

I'm sorry I even mentioned it. They are installed using the generic retail key 8HVX7. I have not entered the win8 keys. I have not generated ticket, etc...

 

Yes it is interesting. I recently replaced 3 machines that were stolen W10 Pro DE Licenced.

I first booted from my HDD and every machine activated online. Generic H81 MB and I will withhold the manufacturer.
I then restored the backups of the stolen machines to the new HDD x3 and every machine activated online.

So there is either a HW ID overlap with other activated MB (within tolerance) or the manufacturer has already pre-activated with DE (NOT Likely).

In another case using my same pre-installed Win10 Pro HDD I booted and Pre-activated a bunch of identical machines (Change PK to W8 Pro) as they were happy to stay at the current OS but wanted the DE Activation done for future upgrades.
When I got to the 3rd machine it activated without me having to insert the W8 Pro PK.
These machine had never seen anything but Win XP but the owner had bought Win8 Pro Upgrade keys.

I would just assume that the DE licence is a lot more HW tolerant than a Retail or OEM DM Win 10???

 

Last year my established HWID/DE's were gone when the onboard LAN died, not really much tolerance.

The only way i can think of that new systems get DE activated is by using the MSA and the linked HWID will be transfered to the new system.

 

No MSA account was used.

I have a couple of 2.5 drives preinstalled with dual boot.
Win8 Home + Win 10 Home 1511
Win8 Pro + Win 10 Pro 1511
etc...

If when migrating to new HW Win 10 activation reports the key is in use on another machine you simply reboot to the original OS for the PK and activate the machine. Reboot to Win 10 and use the PK and it will activate as the PK has been migrated to the new HW on the MS activation system

 

What key is reported in use? After establishing DE, windows gets the generic key (all global users get the same keys).
What is PK?

 

"original OS for the PK"
hence Win 7 or Win 8 legit keys.