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This is getting a tad O/T, since we're talking about activation of a non- |
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Gentoo OS, but here it goes: |
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On Tuesday, 7 January 2020 00:39:19 GMT Mark Knecht wrote: |
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> I'm going to let the machine sit overnight and see if it activates |
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> automatically. |
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It should activate as long as it is connected to the Internet, but there are |
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two different ways of activating Windows 10 manually, should you not do so |
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during the installation procedure. |
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1. Using a product key and entering this when you try to activate it. This is |
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the conventional way of activating the installation when you buy a Windows 10 |
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from a retailer. To check the activation status go to Start > Settings > |
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Update & Security > Activation. |
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NOTE: A Windows 10 installation is linked to the UUID of the MoBo, which is |
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stored on the Windows Activation Servers and mapped against your Product key. |
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If you change the hardware you will need to re-enter the Product key to |
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activate the upgraded hardware. |
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2. Using your Microsoft account credentials, which must be linked to the |
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Windows 10 installation's "Digital License". This is a relatively new way and |
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allows you to install Windows 10 on different PCs (one at a time), change the |
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MoBo, etc., but each time you (re)install it you must use the same edition of |
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Windows 10 and sign in to your Microsoft account linked to the original |
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digital license. |
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Since your existing installation is already activated, you may be able to link |
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its Digital License to your Microsoft account - but this depends how it was |
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activate (Product Key or Digital License). If the activation status shows: |
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"Windows is activated with a digital license", then your Microsoft account is |
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not yet linked to this installation. In this case, follow instructions to |
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"Add an account". |
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"Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft |
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account", then you are good to install afresh on a different disk/PC and add |
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your Microsoft account credentials when asked. |
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> If it doesn't I'll go back to the old drive and if needed |
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> will do a new reinstall with the right version. If I can get away with this |
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> path I will. If not I'll go with something like Mick suggested. |
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> |
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> thanks, |
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> Mark |
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Partition UUIDs are important if you are restoring Windows from an old |
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installation, but for a different reason. The Windows boot loader uses the |
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partition UUIDs to boot the OS. If you have created a new C:\ partition and |
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transferred all the OS files in there, the boot loader will fail to boot it |
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because the new partition's UUID will be different. |
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PS. The above is just a summary of my understanding. I am not an experienced |
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MSWindows user, so I may well have got some details wrong. You should search |
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the https://support.microsoft.com/ website for reinstallation steps. |
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PPS. As far as I know you can use Windows 10 without activating it, but there |
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is no guarantee Microsoft won't stop Windows Updates for installations which |
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have not been activated some day in the future and future upgrades to later OS |
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releases may be blocked. As far as I know a non-activated installation is not |
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crippleware. Perhaps some 3rd party proprietary applications will refuse to |
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install on a non-activated MSWindows installation, but I haven't come across |
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any in my very limited experience with this OS. |
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-- |
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Regards, |
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Mick |
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