But I cannot find a retail license anywhere! Does one exist? Is it an antiquated concept? What can one do if they build machines themselves but want to retain the freedom to move the Windows 8 license to a new machine down the line? Seeing as how Windows XP's lifetime is 10+ years, this isn't unreasonable at all.
Windows 8.1 Pro Full Retail
Download: https://urlgoal.com/2vDC44
Traditionally, there was a System Builder licence used by OEMs (typically smaller shops, since large manufacturers tend to have their own contracts). And then there was a full retail licence used by home users. What has been reported is that the removal of the retail licence, 'forcing' users to use the OEM licence with all its restrictions. This is incorrect.
Yes, the traditional 'retail licence' has been removed. Yes, home users must now buy a System Builder licence. No, that is not an OEM licence (practically speaking). Home users who purchase a copy of Windows 8 separate from their computer fall under the Personal Use section of the System Builder licence, which is more or less the same as the traditional 'retail' licence. It just got renamed and consolidated with the OEM licence into one package/price. You still have the same right to support from Microsoft and right to transfer the licence you would have had on the traditional retail licence.1
Now, on to the personal use licence. This is the equivalent of the traditional retail licence, both in terms and in spirit. There are several parts that were part of Windows 7's retail licence, but not OEM, that are in here:
The majority of consumers buying the retail license are looking to upgrade. For Windows 8, Microsoft will therefore only offer an upgrade version of Windows 8 through the retail channel. This is the license an end user would purchase who wants to upgrade their current PC from a prior version of Windows to Windows 8.
As previously announced, the lineup does not include a full package product (FPP) SKU for retail purchase. Instead, consumers will be allowed to buy the OEM product, install it on a new PC or in a virtual machine, and take advantage of the Personal Use Rights section of the OEM license. That represents a significant savings for consumers, who can pay $140 for a full license for Windows 8 Pro rather than $275 for the full retail package.
In 2015, Microsoft launched its latest version, Windows 10, offering the operating system to qualifying PCs and devices running Windows 7 or Windows 8 for free, for a limited time. Microsoft continues to provide Windows 10 as a full retail product for computers without a qualifying license or for people who build PCs.
We discussed these nuances in our Windows 10 editions article; with the release of Windows 10 November Update, 1511, Microsoft made modifications to the channel license. Previously, you could identify the channel from which, the license was derived by issuing a particular Windows command. The November Update now describes all licenses upgraded, whether full package or OEM, as retail. Even though your free upgrade to Windows 10 from an OEM Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 is now identified as retail, in spirit, it is still an OEM license.
To move a full Windows 10 license or the free upgrade from a retail version of Windows 7 or 8.1, the license can no longer be in active use on a PC. Windows 10 does not have a deactivation option. Instead, you have two choices:
Windows 10 setup will prompt you again for a product key during the Out of Box Experience, click Do this later if you are using a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key. If you have a full version Windows 10 license bought at a store, you can enter the product key.
Excellent description, just read carefully and slow. It means that OEM windows 7 versions can indeed be transferred to another computer as long as the license is removed (with slmgr.vbs /upk in admin mode) from the previous computer.
Actually no, OEM licenses are tied to the computer they preinstalled on or installed on first. OEM licenses upgraded to the free version appear as retail, but they still maintain their OEM status and restrictions.
As I noted, Windows under volume license is not a full license. So you cannot a spare key to perform a new installation. You would need a GGOK which is a full version volume license which permits clean install: -us/windows/genuine/business
I have already used my retail Windows 8 to 10 free upgrade. I am looking to build a new computer later on this year (Septermber-ish) and wanted to know what the process is to transfer my license across as it will most likely be after the upgrade offer ends (29th July 2016).
Telephone activation failed and so I moved onto chat. 40 minutes later they entered and activated a new OEM key. So my retail Win 8 Pro is now a device locked OEM Windows 10 Pro. The free upgrade is not a full licence it is only good for the lifetime of the device.
Hi, ive upgraded my retail cd version of win 8.1 pro to win 10 pro and is fully activated and functional. Ive also signed up for a microsoft account username and password. From what i heard is the win 10 pro key is tied with your ms account? So if you install on a new hard disk or system it will automatically activate your win 10 pro as soon as you sign in using the ms login. Is is true and will the possibility for end of support free upgrade program affect this auto activation process? Thanks.
Very good article and well written but I still have a little bit of confusion. I bought windows 8 pro dvd (retail license). Then I installed it on my pc. Then I upgraded to windows 8.1 pro. Then I upgraded it to windows 10 pro. However I am planning to buy a new pc that has windows 10 home preinstalled. Please tell the exact steps needed to transfer windows 10 pro license from old to new computer and replace the windows 10 home oem license ? Do I need to uninstall windows 10 pro key from old pc first and then use the easy upgrade feature from within windows 10 home on new pc?Will I be able to do it after July 29th this year? If old computer has 64 bit and new pc has 32 bit,is the transfer still possible?
I have the product key of the latest windows 10 Pro version (July) which is a retail version. I want to ask that if I want to transfer the license key to d new machine all I need to do is to uninstall the product key and write down d key whenever they demand during installation in the new laptop. Am I right Andre? Will it be activated automatically on my new machine since I have used d key of the latest version of d windows 10?
Hi, thanks for the informative article, i bought a windows 8.1 pro retail key and installe dthe same on my macbook air, afterwards i took the advantage of the free upgrade program and upgraded it to windows 10 pro, Now i am planning to upgrade by air with the latest macbook pro. Can you please, lemme know is it possible for me to use the windows 8.1 pro key that i received from microsoft store via email to activate windows 10 pro clean install on the macbook pro. If yes please lemme know the exact steps, right from deactivating the key on air to getting it activated on pro. Thanks in advance.
Great article. What about an Education key ? The 2 activations are linked to MS acct. I read a post/reply by you on microsoft.com confirming 2 per Ed key. Wish to deactivate 1 and reactive on another machine. Guessing I would go through the same steps as retail version?
I wish you were able to deactivate and reactivate online. like Office 365 for retail versions. I understand why this should not be allowed for OEM versions. If the activation is linked to your MS account, you can remove from your account but this does not deactivate it afaik.
I have a retail copy of Windows 8 Pro that I purchased and had it on my former MacBook through Bootcamp. I took advantage of the Windows 10 upgrade on that machine. I just purchased the new 2016 MacBook Pro.
While in settings and everywhere, it says windows is activated. I kept ignoring but message kept appearing. It got on my nerves and I reset my laptop and mistakenly formatted the recovery too. Now I have two questions:
I have used retail licence to activate windows 10 in virtual box. Now I want to transfer this licence to my new notebook. Unfortunately, currently, I do not have licence in hand. So, I have to find out from activated windows 10.
i pursashed windows 10 pro last september. weeks later unfortably the laptop died. last week i finnaly pursashed a new laptop, placed my old disk onto this new machine, formated it, and by mistake formated my backup flasdrive.
I have a new windows ultimate 7 disc and key, not used or activated yet, is it possible to use the same procedure as mentioned above to activate windows 10, if not is it possible to use the key for windows 10 with another method.
Also I have a Windows 7 Home Basic retail copy and a Windows 8 Pro digital license. Will this be of any use to regain my digital license for Win10? Please help. I am devasted now. I wanted to sell my desktop alone, not my WIN10 digital license also.
A computer bought some years ago with Windows 8 home, upgraded to Windows 10 home (free upgrade from Microsoft), and running now Windows 10 Pro. If I need downgrade again to Windows 10 Home. Did I lose the original licence after upgrade to windows 10 pro, or can I reinstall Windows 10 home and recover the original licence of the laptop?
That is true. The license has moved a few times. It was on a physical PC, then I virtualized my gaming PC and moved the license to the virtual machine. This week I decided to switch back to a physical PC, and that is when I discovered I could not transfer the digital license. I guess you can only transfer a retail digital license 1 time.
If you want to activate Windows without a KMS host available and outside of a volume-activation scenario (for example, you're trying to activate a retail version of Windows client), these keys will not work. You will need to use another method of activating Windows, such as using a MAK, or purchasing a retail license. Get help to find your Windows product key and learn about genuine versions of Windows. 2ff7e9595c
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