Yep! Well sort of. If you have a Legit Win 8.1 key you have to go through the process of the upgrade using their tool. It will stealthily issue you a Windows 10 key. You can then locate this key, write it down, and presto you can fresh install Windows 10 without using your 8.1 key again.
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It can be transferred if your original 7/8/8.1 allowed it (Retail, not OEM). Retail keys generate Retail ed Win 10, OEM generate non-transferable OEM.(It can be transferred if your original 7/8/8.1 allowed it (Retail, not OEM). Retail keys generate Retail ed Win 10, OEM generate non-transferable OEM Scroll down to the Matrix
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That's not what MS support told me:
1) Retail Windows 7/8/8.1 will continue to work as is and can be continued to use on another computer
2) If hardware changes Win 10 activation will be void
3) You can install W7/8/8.1 to changed hardware and use free upgrade
4) After 12 months you can't use free upgrade for changed hardware
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I'm just basing it on this (and the rest of the segment I snipped it from from the official MS page.)
What happens if I change my motherboard? [IE New Computer]
As it pertains to the OEM license this will invalidate the Windows 10 upgrade license because it will no longer have a previous base qualifying license which is required for the free upgrade. You will then have to purchase a full retail Windows 10 license. If the base qualifying license (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) was a full retail version, then yes, you can transfer it.
Since you will have a Retail derived Win 10 edition key (once extracted) you should be able to use it because that license maintains the transferability of the base 7 or 8 license.
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Hmm, then I am indeed mistaken or confused. It mentions transferring is okie dokie as long as you are not coming off of OEM, but if it isn't unique.. and is hardware id bound, then that kind of invalidates what they said about maintaining all retail edition perks. Time will tell I guess!
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Same. I might just upgrade my 7 and hold off on my 8. That way I can transfer the 8 and unlock 10 assuming I rebuild before July 26,2016.
(My 8 is Pro, 7 is only Home Prem)
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This is the way I understand it.
You are technically upgrading your Windows 7/8 install, but it is free only in this first calendar year. So, if you upgrade your PC in 15 months you will be able to install Windows 7/8 onto it from your original key, but you will have to purchase Windows 10 if you wish to have that as your OS.
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Good to know. Are you sure that you can use this code the second time? Also you wrote about Win 8.1. I think the same is going with Win 7, isn't it?
Edit: I already saw your another comment.
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if microsoft wants to see my pr0n stash so bad they only have to ask.
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I am still with Windows 9, I just came to view this alternative universe!
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Upgraded an older laptop earlier from 7 to 10. Works great. In process of upgrading another newer laptop to 10. I am keeping my main PC Windows 7 though. At least until I have used 10 for a while longer to see if I like it. But so far it is decent.
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I can activate my windows 10 with windows 8.1 cd key?
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