Speculation On How Windows 10 Activation Will Work

My theory is whenever windows 10 activates, it can 'phone home' on the activation servers with information about the hardware signature in the activated computer, and which edition has activated.

Every time you install windows 10 and yes it wants to make an effort to activate, it's going to also 'phone home' while using current hardware signature to inquire about the activation servers if hardware is really a recognised device, and what edition it absolutely was running. If so, it can automatically activate while using recognised edition, without getting a key, and even there will never be a specific product key as we'd comprehend it.

So some scenarios are:

1. When Windows 10 is upgraded over Windows 7/8.x, it is going to perhaps be sure the key around the running method is valid for 7/8.x, and activate Windows 10 while using corresponding edition for your hardware



2. When Windows 10 RTM is clean-installed on new hardware, it is going to check for a vital on the motherboard, or it's hardware which has activated before, or being a last resort ask for an integral to be entered from the user, then activate



3. When Windows 10 RTM is installed to be a paid-for buy for a box running an issue that is not Windows 7/8.x/10 , it is going to check be it hardware containing activated before, or ask for a Product Key after which activate



4. When Windows 10 Preview is clean-installed (presumably requiring an existing Microsoft Account), it is going to just activate, although I otherwise this could happen behaviour stop on or before 29 July



5. When you install a 'Pro Pack' (assuming nevertheless exists) to upgrade in one version of 10 to a different, you are going to type in the awesome product key and also the information about the new edition plus the hardware is going to be passed towards the activation servers
   
   

So this behaviour which Mystere has observed would fit with all the above (assuming Windows 10 had already activated on that hardware), and in addition suggest that 10147 is often a release candidate or near to one, as well as perhaps that the activation servers are ready to go for Windows 10.

This was odd. I decided to re-install clean, and following your installation, Windows 10147 is activated... Odd.

It includes that some devices would activate that has a generic product key (just like the one in 10 Preview), but there after point this is the hardware signature that matters, not the merchandise key.

The scenario I don'thave a fantastic theory on is the place you change hardware. In some cases I imagine there will probably be some tolerance if mostcomponents are the same as hardware that's activated before, then still it activates because same device. But if you create major changes I'm unclear how it is going to work in particular when, by way of example, you clean-installed 10 Preview and do not actually have your own personal product critical for give to a support person whenever you call Microsoft?

This might additionally be exactly what the 'supported lifetime with the device' thing for your free upgrade from 7/8.x is around - in the event the hardware itself is effectively the item key, then if you create big changes for the hardware perhaps it will no longer be treated as valid, so you won't possess a Windows 10 product factor to give Microsoft if you phone them. If it is still 'supported' then this OEM will be able to sort you out having a new key if necessary after you replace/fix components.

Probably over-simplistic (it could be that Microsoft Accounts access the rules too) that is my 2 cents...

Reading this back nearly eight weeks later... I don't think I was much off, in the info that's known way back in June !

I'm still unsure whether Windows 10 OEM machines (ie NOT upgraded from Windows 7/8.x) will still possess a product key about the motherboard like Windows 8 though (component of my point (2) above? Anyone seen a true Windows 10 OEM machine to ensure or otherwise?