The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    License or OEM?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by dakome, Jun 6, 2018.

  1. dakome

    dakome Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    I like to do a full-on re-install of Windows from time to time... e.g. completely wipe the drive. On my current laptop I can do that and it somehow recognizes that I have a valid license...

    How does that work? Will it still be the case if I buy a new laptop without the extra fee for a license key?
     
    dakome, Jun 6, 2018
    #1
  2. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,879
    Messages:
    8,923
    Likes Received:
    4,701
    Trophy Points:
    431
    The "CD key" for your current Windows license is embedded in the BIOS, which is why Windows automatically recognizes and activates it. This is true of most laptops, the exceptions being Clevo and a few barebones systems based on chassis from MSI.
     
    saturnotaku, Jun 6, 2018
    #2
  3. dakome

    dakome Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Oh - so I'm looking to get a Clevo via HIDevolution... there's the $30 (no product key) or $130 w/ product key (windows 10 pro)
     
    dakome, Jun 6, 2018
    #3
    Vasudev likes this.
  4. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,879
    Messages:
    8,923
    Likes Received:
    4,701
    Trophy Points:
    431
    The $30 version is installation media and the OS installed but you have to provide your own activation key. The $130 one has that plus said key. You cannot transfer licenses between machines unless you have a retail copy.
     
    saturnotaku, Jun 6, 2018
    #4
    Vasudev, Spartan@HIDevolution and dakome like this.
  5. dakome

    dakome Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Ahhh okay so I need to go for the full purchase, thanks!
     
    dakome, Jun 6, 2018
    #5
  6. senso

    senso Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    560
    Messages:
    1,645
    Likes Received:
    788
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Asus keys where wonderfull, I have activated the same Windows 8.1 Pro key in 10 different systems already, also used lots of Win 7 keys to upgrade various Asus, HP's and Acer laptops to Windows 10.
     
    senso, Jun 6, 2018
    #5
  7. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    579
    Messages:
    3,537
    Likes Received:
    488
    Trophy Points:
    151
    What kinda laptop is it and with O/S does it come with? If this was a OEM laptop you can order the USB or DVD recovery media to restore back to factory install. But if you do a complete self install from the factory aka Home to Professional the Product Key that came with the laptop will not work and you will need to buy the Pro Key to install and if UEFI Product key this will be alot harder to change. There are ways to do it on the internet but you will have to do some reading on it.
     
    StormJumper, Jun 9, 2018
    #6
  8. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    12,035
    Messages:
    11,277
    Likes Received:
    8,814
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Probably Win8.1
     
    Vasudev, Jun 9, 2018
    #7
    dakome likes this.