Few would deny that Microsoft took the long road when it comes to the Windows 10 activation process. But the company finally is ready for some big changes on this front.
Some welcome new big changes.
Since Microsoft has made its latest OS, Windows 10, available as a free upgrade for those on Windows 7 and 8.1, the activation goes like this — users are first required to perform the direct upgrade and wait for it to be validated by Microsoft servers.
An automated process, this, but this is how Windows 10 were allowed to perform a clean install, as the product key was bound to the Microsoft account used and the existing hardware configuration too.
Anyway, long story short, this new system failed to work correctly for many users, and there were reports that some people which upgraded to Windows 10 even had to wait several days to get their copy of the operating system activated.
Partly due to some issues on their computers, and partly due to Microsoft servers being overwhelmed.
All that could soon be in the past, though, as early as November.
Microsoft has implemented a change in the preview builds, with the new system making the activation process a lot simpler allowing users to use the product keys that came with Windows 7 or 8.1.
Windows 10 build 10565 can be activated by simply using these keys:
“We have received a lot of feedback from Insiders on making it easier to activate Windows 10 on devices that take advantage of the free upgrade offer to genuine Windows by using existing Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product keys. If you install this build of the Windows 10 Insider Preview on a PC and it doesn’t automatically activate, you can enter the product key from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 used to activate the prior Windows version on the same device to activate Windows 10.”
Words of Gabriel Aul, the head of the Windows Insider Program above, in case you were wondering.
And since Threshold 2 will be the new default for users that upgrade or reset their PCs, and it will employ this system, this simpler activation process will certainly help prevent any problems with the activation system.
One thing Microsoft is yet to confirm is whether this new system will also be implemented for RTM users, but chances are that it will.
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