Installing Windows 10 on a computer with a pre‐loaded Windows version.

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As pointed out in my previous posts, I was annoyed with a application. I decided it was easier and better in the long run to wipe and re-partition the new computer’s SSD drive and load Windows 10 downloaded from MS using a USB thumb drive

During the installation I was surprised that the installer didn’t ask for the license key !

Why did that happen?

 

Mike

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Mike wrote:

During the installation I was surprised that the installer didn’t ask for the license key !

The license key is “saved” on your motherboard.

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doriel

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Probably OEM license, its bundled with HW.

Dell Latitude 3420, Intel Core i7 @ 2.8 GHz, 16GB RAM, W10 22H2 Enterprise

HAL3000, AMD Athlon 200GE @ 3,4 GHz, 8GB RAM, Fedora 29

PRUSA i3 MK3S+

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This is completely normal. After you install Windows 10 once or if you upgrade from Windows 7 you are granted what Microsoft calls an Entitlement to Windows 10. It’s not necessary to enter a license key.

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In Windows 10 version 1511, it was called a “digital entitlement” but in versions 1607 & greater, that was changed to “digital license”.

The only time Win10 setup asks for a license key is if the preloaded Windows version in question was not fully activated and will prompt for a key. If the preloaded Windows version was already activated, then Win10 setup will not ask for a license key.

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All should be fine but if you deserve Windows 10 Pro check in winver that it is what installed.

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