Weird results. I upgraded a Windows 8.1 Professional Dell 131L laptop which had a KMS product key from 2.5.1. When I upgraded to Windows 10 with 10261 and went thru the TH1 Windows 10 updates the laptop was configured for Windows 10. The weird situation was the laptop was looking for the new activation and it didn’t like any of the keys either from Windows 8 or Windows 10. The error message I kept getting was in didn’t like the KMS activation from 2.5.1. So I brought up the 2.5.1 KMS and did a “REARM” command which forced the laptop to be restarted. If I run my AID64 Engineering software and ckeck the product key for the 131L laptop it shows a valid key. So the weird thing about this is when I restarted my 131L with all the current updates from Windows 10, and doing a REARM, I now have activated Windows 10 laptop. Any comments on what happened?
Did you skip the key install at setup? It's absolutely not needed. The legit Fresh Install will use generic Retail Key and activate online automatically. Seems you disturbed the process.
I honestly don't remember if I skipped the key install setup. If I did place a key in the install from 10162 ISO, it would have been a legitimate Windows 7 or 8 key. So that brings me back to another question. If the device is a legitimate Windows 10 Product Key with activation and you backup the device with say Acorns Backup, then restore the same backup to another device of the same, will the activations be the same for Windows 10 activation?
If I remember correctly, Windows will detect new hardware and either un validate key if OEM or ask to validate account if retail.
Win 10 doesn't accept any older Windows keys. It consumes the key and bundles with HWIDs to an 'fingerprint' of your system during the Upgrade and sends the info to MS Activation Server. Job done. No Keys involved at all so far. Only generic ones, that only activate legit installs online!!!
Really nothing to it..install VL Windows, Activate with KMSPico and then upgrade with 10240 and you will be activated..no MSA to worry about or anything..guessing MS will turn a blind eye to almost anything to get everybody on W10 as soon as they can.
Please supply links for VL Windows and KMSPico so I can test these two on one of my Dell Laptops. If what you say above is true, then I should be able to backup and restore to multiple Dell similar devices and the activations will work for all of them on W10.
What I said is true for the one test I made. All of my machines are legitimate so I had nothing else to test it with.
LTSB and regular Enterprise on different machines. All activated. Patience was the key that helped me