s about Windows activation (apologies if this isn't the right area)
s about Windows activation (apologies if this isn't the right area)
Hi, this is a weird question but here me out. About 6 Years Ago I used the windows 7-10 free upgrade for my pc. At the moment i noticed it has been really slow and now that i wanted to use it again i wanted to replace the old HDD with a SSD and in the process replace the Windows 10 install on the drive. Problem Is i heard Microsoft shut down the free upgrade late last year, and since i had used it will reinstalling windows 10 revoke the activation or since i had already upgraded will it be okay. I appreciate all help with this, but i have to be certain no educated guesses. Regards
I believe it should work fine, though if the key isn't recognized the system won't be too strict. This could also assist – see the link provided.
It's okay too, even after a new setup. I didn't need a Microsoft account since I didn't use my own with Windows.
You're right, it seems the Microsoft account feature isn't necessary unless you're unsure. The login bypass option is also less obvious now.
Windows 11 simply refuses to acknowledge it. The feature isn't available.
I usually stick to custom ISO settings, so that's not an issue for me.
It's wise to retain the existing drive with the older Windows version in case the activation fails. If needed, you can clone the old drive to the new one and reset it accordingly. This approach helps maintain your original setup.
It's definitely the top choice to retain the prior installation for safety. And yes, using Rufus to create a Windows installer should support using your local account as the default.