Windows 10 Activation Time Limit

[nenforcer]

I clean installed Windows 10 from DVD with no internet connection during installation.

Contral Panel -> System says Windows IS NOT activated.

Any idea how long it will last before a) requiring activation from a legitimate license key or b) possibly auto-activation if I add a Microsoft Account?

Normally Windows will tell you something like 30 days until activation but Windows 10 has no such prompt.

I have heard reports of pirated copies of Windows 7 / Windows 8 activation to Windows 10 and I know Microsoft wants to get this on as many devices as possible.....

 

[tidy]

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[Eug]

I can't upgrade my main desktop because we have specific VPN software that is not compatible with anything beyond Internet Explorer 10. So, right now I am using Windows 7 with IE 10. There is actually support from the company who makes the VPN software for IE 11, but our workplace refuses to use that version. I also get the impression they probably won't within the year.

If I upgrade to Win 10 on the desktop, make sure it's activated, and then revert back to Win 7, will that mean my desktop is activated on Win 10 forever? IOW, if I update to Win 10 and then revert back to Win 7, can I upgrade to Win 10 a year and a half later and still have my free Win 10 activation?

 

[mdram]

I can't upgrade my main desktop because we have specific VPN software that is not compatible with anything beyond Internet Explorer 10. So, right now I am using Windows 7 with IE 10. There is actually support from the company who makes the VPN software for IE 11, but our workplace refuses to use that version. I also get the impression they probably won't within the year.

If I upgrade to Win 10 on the desktop, make sure it's activated, and then revert back to Win 7, will that mean my desktop is activated on Win 10 forever? IOW, if I update to Win 10 and then revert back to Win 7, can I upgrade to Win 10 a year and a half later and still have my free Win 10 activation?

Beginning January 12, 2016, only the most current version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates. Please visit the Internet Explorer Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ here http://support.microsoft.com/gp/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer for list of supported operating systems and browser combinations.

 

[Eug]

Beginning January 12, 2016, only the most current version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive technical support and security updates. Please visit the Internet Explorer Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ here http://support.microsoft.com/gp/Microsoft-Internet-Explorer for list of supported operating systems and browser combinations.

I understand, but as far as my workplace is concerned, that's effectively irrelevant. I'm currently typing this message on an XP machine at my workplace. Support for XP ended last year.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I can't upgrade my main desktop because we have specific VPN software that is not compatible with anything beyond Internet Explorer 10. So, right now I am using Windows 7 with IE 10. There is actually support from the company who makes the VPN software for IE 11, but our workplace refuses to use that version. I also get the impression they probably won't within the year.

If I upgrade to Win 10 on the desktop, make sure it's activated, and then revert back to Win 7, will that mean my desktop is activated on Win 10 forever? IOW, if I update to Win 10 and then revert back to Win 7, can I upgrade to Win 10 a year and a half later and still have my free Win 10 activation?

Yes. I'd create an image of your Win7 (just so you don't have to redo everything), then upgrade to 10, activate it, then just go back to Win7 until your work gets with the times. You'll be able to reinstall Win10 any time you want on that PC then. You have a year to do this so don't feel rushed if you don't want to do that yet.

 

[Eug]

Yes. I'd create an image of your Win7 (just so you don't have to redo everything), then upgrade to 10, activate it, then just go back to Win7 until your work gets with the times. You'll be able to reinstall Win10 any time you want on that PC then. You have a year to do this so don't feel rushed if you don't want to do that yet.

Great, thx.

BTW, I'd create a Windows 7 image for backup, but even if you do upgrade it's easy to revert (unless you've deleted some files) so I'm not worried about the reverting part so much.

That said, I'm tempted to fresh install Windows 7 first since there has been so much crap I've installed and uninstalled on that computer over the years.

 

[Mushkins]

Great, thx.

BTW, I'd create a Windows 7 image for backup, but even if you do upgrade it's easy to revert (unless you've deleted some files) so I'm not worried about the reverting part so much.

That said, I'm tempted to fresh install Windows 7 first since there has been so much crap I've installed and uninstalled on that computer over the years.

Be careful when reverting and then going back to Windows 10 in the future. It looks like this free upgrade program is highly dependent on creating a unique hardware profile for activation instead of dealing too closely with product keys. Even with a clean install of Win 10 you need to upgrade first, then wipe it and when 10 asks for your key say "no" a bunch of times, then it activates based on your hardware profile when it first checks in.

Which means anyone who rolls back and then significantly changes their hardware is going to be in for some frustration when they finally decide to upgrade to 10. Hopefully it's just the standard call to the MS automated activation line, but we wont know until it happens to someone. And I'm sure you'd rather not be that first "someone" 😛

 

[Eug]

Be careful when reverting and then going back to Windows 10 in the future. It looks like this free upgrade program is highly dependent on creating a unique hardware profile for activation instead of dealing too closely with product keys. Even with a clean install of Win 10 you need to upgrade first, then wipe it and when 10 asks for your key say "no" a bunch of times, then it activates based on your hardware profile when it first checks in.

Which means anyone who rolls back and then significantly changes their hardware is going to be in for some frustration when they finally decide to upgrade to 10. Hopefully it's just the standard call to the MS automated activation line, but we wont know until it happens to someone. And I'm sure you'd rather not be that first "someone" 😛

This is a slim desktop, and these are the changes I've made from the original Win 7 install:

1) Added RAM
2) Swapped DVD+RW for Blu-ray burner
3) Added USB 3.0 card

After the above 3 changes, my Windows 7 install still reads as Activated.

I will also at some point change the hard drive to an SSD, but I'd do that before I upgrade to Windows 10. After that I wont be changing the hardware much, since it does everything I need it to do.

So, my plan is with in the next couple of months upgrade the machine to SSD, and after that update to Windows 10, and then revert back down to Windows 7, and stay there with the exact same hardware for at least a year.

 

[Whisper2]

Any idea how long it will last before a) requiring activation from a legitimate license key or b) possibly auto-activation if I add a Microsoft Account?

I installed the same way, added a couple of drivers and then connected to the internet. I checked under "Settings", "Activation" and it was already activated. I did not have to do anything nor did it ask for anything. I did, however, upgrade from 8.1 to 10 first. I wiped the drive and then the clean install.

If you do not upgrade first, it will never activate unless you buy a new license.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Be careful when reverting and then going back to Windows 10 in the future. It looks like this free upgrade program is highly dependent on creating a unique hardware profile for activation instead of dealing too closely with product keys. Even with a clean install of Win 10 you need to upgrade first, then wipe it and when 10 asks for your key say "no" a bunch of times, then it activates based on your hardware profile when it first checks in.

Which means anyone who rolls back and then significantly changes their hardware is going to be in for some frustration when they finally decide to upgrade to 10. Hopefully it's just the standard call to the MS automated activation line, but we wont know until it happens to someone. And I'm sure you'd rather not be that first "someone" 😛

If it is an OEM Windows copy then significantly changing hardware would always affect that anyway regardless. OEM has always been tied to hardware. If it is retail... well, yeah, MS needs to get with it and clarify how that whole thing works.

 

[Makaveli]

I can't upgrade my main desktop because we have specific VPN software that is not compatible with anything beyond Internet Explorer 10. So, right now I am using Windows 7 with IE 10. There is actually support from the company who makes the VPN software for IE 11, but our workplace refuses to use that version. I also get the impression they probably won't within the year.

If I upgrade to Win 10 on the desktop, make sure it's activated, and then revert back to Win 7, will that mean my desktop is activated on Win 10 forever? IOW, if I update to Win 10 and then revert back to Win 7, can I upgrade to Win 10 a year and a half later and still have my free Win 10 activation?

Why not just upgrade to 10 and install win 7 in a VM and do all your work stuff from that?

 

[Eug]

Why not just upgrade to 10 and install win 7 in a VM and do all your work stuff from that?

Well then I'd have to buy VM software and a Win 7 licence. One of the reasons I got the PC in the first place was to avoid having to deal with VMs and also they each come with a nearly free OEM licence.

 

[nenforcer]

So, my plan is with in the next couple of months upgrade the machine to SSD, and after that update to Windows 10, and then revert back down to Windows 7, and stay there with the exact same hardware for at least a year.

You've got nearly a full year, until July 29 2016, to do the free upgrade from 7 to 10. Why not just save yourself the trouble and wait to do the upgrade until next year?

I bought Windows 7 Family Edition 3-Pack for my Mom, Dad and Sister's computer. I've already updated my Sisters machine to 10 from 7 but I'm not sure how the other 2 are going to work if at all.

 

[nenforcer]

I installed the same way, added a couple of drivers and then connected to the internet. I checked under "Settings", "Activation" and it was already activated. I did not have to do anything nor did it ask for anything. I did, however, upgrade from 8.1 to 10 first. I wiped the drive and then the clean install.

If you do not upgrade first, it will never activate unless you buy a new license.

I didn't do the upgrade but instead the clean install. I'm curious to see how long this PC will last in this state. It seems fully functional. This will be my Mom's new Windows 10 PC next year and she has a Microsoft Account I can plug in - if it never activates I will reinstall Windows 7 Family 3-Pack and see if that will do the upgrade.

 

[Whisper2]

I'm curious to see how long this PC will last in this state.

Prior versions of Win allowed 30 days, and then, "lights out". When you are ready to upgrade, go to this site instead of the reservation route: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Then you will not have to wait. After you click on the 32 or 64 bit, the next screen will have a button to upgrade. I suspect this is the same page where you found the ISO to do the clean install.