Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop
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I had another thread on this and thanks to @JaredBusch found out that I could upgrade my old Windows 7 Pro license on this laptop to Windows 10 without needing to get Windows 7 reinstalled first. Thank goodness as the laptop is going to be freshly installed with Windows 10 in a few weeks, but is not ready yet but we do not want it locked to Windows 7 by missing the deadline for the update. So what's the answer? Install Windows 10 in a VM on VirtualBox on top of Linux Mint 17.3 and upgrade the OEM license there so that we are ready for the reinstallation in a week or two.
This process assumes that you have access to the original license key, such as what would be found on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop.
Linux Mint has Oracle's VirtualBox in the software repository, you can install it directly with the software management utility, there is no need to download it or find it. Once installed, you are nearly ready.
You need to download Windows 10's ISO from Microsoft. That is available here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO
Once that download is complete, we are ready to begin...
And there we are. Follow the prompts and put in the License Key from your laptop! Tested on an HP Folio 13-2000 originally with Windows 7 Pro and current with Linux Mint 17.3
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Your problem here is that you may not auto activate on Windows 10. The upgrade is supposedly tied to a hash created by Windows related to certain aspects of the hardware. I would assume that the hash would be different when you go to install it on the actual hardware.
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@JaredBusch said in Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop:
Your problem here is that you may not auto activate on Windows 10. The upgrade is supposedly tied to a hash created by Windows related to certain aspects of the hardware. I would assume that the hash would be different when you go to install it on the actual hardware.
Argh
Even with the license key being typed in? Wouldn't that cause problems even if some of the hardware changed, though? -
At least I have the ISO ready so I can just stick it on a USB stick and do the local install. Argh.
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I think @JaredBusch is right from what this page says:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
NoteIf you’ve already successful activated Windows 10 on this PC, including if you upgraded by taking advantage of the free upgrade offer you won't need to enter a Windows 10 product key. You can skip the product key page by selecting the Skip button. Your PC will automatically activate later.
If I had to take a guess from previous versions, if one of three main components changes it will go ahead, and anything else will requires a phone activation or something. I have a Windows 7 machine with 32 bit windows on it and decided to test this theory. That was 18 hours ago and it's at 99% now... To be fair, this is on a 2.2GHz Core 2 Duo.
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@Mike-Davis discovered there is a documented problem where if you don't disable automatic updates, this can happen.
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@Mike-Davis said in Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop:
@Mike-Davis discovered there is a documented problem where if you don't disable automatic updates, this can happen.
Facepalm.
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I did basically the same thing, and am hoping it works. I used XS instead of VirtualBox, though.
I had a fresh Windows 8 FPP key.
I did a fresh install of Windows 10, and used this Windows 8 key, and it activated.
I later tried reusing the key, and it said it was used on another PC.
So I am assuming (assuming, assuming) it worked.
I understand I will have to use the phone option down the road, but hopefully this key is activated in Windows 10.
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BTW, I called Microsoft, and these keys, while allowing for a valid install of Windows 10, do not show as activated under Windows 10.
So I really have no idea what is going to happen after Friday.
I'm not so sure Microsoft knows, either. Or at least their chat people set up to deal with activation issues.
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This will be all new for them, too.
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I wonder if ANY of the upgraded machines have their keys "registered" under Windows 10.
This is mainly a FPP discussion, but say I bought Windows 7 FPP. I upgrade to 10. I want to but a new machine and install it there. I don't have a Windows 10 key. Will the 7 key be registered that it was used for 10? I wonder...
All mainly under the discussion of getting Windows 10 for free.
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Maybe it is just a scare tactic and everyone is getting Windows 10 no matter what.
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@Reid-Cooper said in Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop:
Maybe it is just a scare tactic and everyone is getting Windows 10 no matter what.
Wouldn't that be something.
Of course, knowing how money hungry MS is, I bet not.
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@BRRABill said in Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop:
@Reid-Cooper said in Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop:
Maybe it is just a scare tactic and everyone is getting Windows 10 no matter what.
Wouldn't that be something.
Of course, knowing how money hungry MS is, I bet not.
Actually it would make sense. They make money from being people on Windows 10, they lose a fortune from people staying behind on old versions. So if they were money hungry, cutting people off wouldn't make sense.
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I heard that the Win10 Enterprise is going to have a subscription model (did I get that off of SW somewhere?)...
Is that going to filter down to the Home version as well?
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@dafyre said in Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop:
I heard that the Win10 Enterprise is going to have a subscription model (did I get that off of SW somewhere?)...
Is that going to filter down to the Home version as well?
I really doubt that. That would be the end of Windows. No home user is going to pay for that. Windows has always been included with their PCs, they've never paid for an OS before and they hate Windows 10. Making them pay for it now would go totally against everything that Microsoft has been doing and would totally undermine their adoption efforts. It would take them right back to where they were a year ago and undo all the ground that they just covered.
It's possible, but I'd put it at "no realistic chance" unless Ballmer returns to the helm just to throw his fortunes away.
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I upgraded 7 32bit to 10 and then wiped the machine and installed 64 bit Windows 10 and it prompted for the original Windows 7 key and installed and activated.
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For my other 7 machines I think I'm going to take a spare SSD and install 10 on them and then put my 7 drive back in once it has activated.
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@Mike-Davis said in Getting Windows 10 License Upgrade on Linux Mint Laptop:
I upgraded 7 32bit to 10 and then wiped the machine and installed 64 bit Windows 10 and it prompted for the original Windows 7 key and installed and activated.
Once you have the media you don't need to upgrade first. Just slap the win7 key into the 10 installer and away you go.
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@MattSpeller said
Once you have the media you don't need to upgrade first. Just slap the win7 key into the 10 installer and away you go.
After the free period is the concern, I think.
