1. "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE" CONVERTS "PRODUCT KEY" TO A "DIGITAL LICENSE" FOR "WINDOWS 10"

2. Web location for this presentation:
Click on “Meeting Notes” 2

3. SUMMARY
If you purchased and used a "Windows 10 Product Key" to activate a copy of "Windows 10 Home" or "Windows 10 Pro" prior to August 2, 2016, the mandatory "Anniversary Update" will convert your "Product Key" license to a "Digital License" but the "Digital License" record up in Microsoft's activation server will store a copy of your original 25-character "Product Key". 3

4. Details of "Product Key" Activation
TOPICS
Details of "Product Key" Activation
"Anniversary Update" Converts "Product Key" to "Digital License"
Screen Shots of the "Anniversary Update" Process For A Copy of "Windows 10" That Was Originally Activated With A "Windows 10 Product Key" 4

5. DETAILS OF "PRODUCT KEY" ACTIVATION
"Product Key" activation is the original method of activating "Windows.." .
A 25-character "Windows 10 Product Key" is provided inside each retail copy of "Windows 10.." that you purchase. 5

6. DETAILS OF "PRODUCT KEY" ACTIVATION (continued)
"Product Key" activation occurs when purchase and install a retail copy of "Windows 10" and you use a "Windows 10 Product Key" to activate a copy of "Windows 10" 6

7. DETAILS OF "PRODUCT KEY" ACTIVATION (continued)
"Product Key" activation does NOT occur when you activate "Windows 10" with a Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 product key !! When activate "Windows 10" with a Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 product key, you get a "Digital License" instead !! 7

8. DETAILS OF "PRODUCT KEY" ACTIVATION (continued)
When you purchase a copy of "Windows 10" and you use it to either upgrade from any prior version of "Windows.." OR to install into a blank hard drive, Microsoft's activation servers actually store : UUID of the motherboard, the edition of Windows 10 (Home or Pro), the status (full, trial, or "Insider Preview" (trial = time limited), AND the "Windows 10" 25-character product key 8

9. " PRODUCT KEY" ACTIVATION
Microsoft's Activation Servers
UUID of motherboard, edition (Home or Pro), status (trial, full, or "Insider Preview")
25-character product key,
Internet Connection
Activated "Windows 10" 9

10. " PRODUCT KEY" ACTIVATION
Microsoft's Activation Servers
UUID of motherboard, edition (Home or Pro), status (trial, full, or "Insider Preview")
25-character product key, 10

11. "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE" CONVERTS "PRODUCT KEY" TO "DIGITAL LICENSE"
If a copy of "Windows 10" has a been upgraded to or beyond the "Anniversary Update" (= "Version 1607" of "Windows 10" ) and your copy of "Windows" had a "Windows 10 Product Key" activation before you upgraded to the "Anniversary Update", the process of installing the "Anniversary Update" will convert your "Windows 10 Product Key" activation to a "Digital License" activation. 11

12. "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE" CONVERTS "PRODUCT KEY" TO "DIGITAL LICENSE" (continued)
In other words, the process of installing the "Anniversary Update" converts a "Product Key" activation to a "Digital License", if "Windows 10" was activated with a "Product Key" originally: 12

13. "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE" CONVERTS "PRODUCT KEY" TO "DIGITAL LICENSE" (continued)
If prior to August 2, 2016, your copy of "Windows 10" was activated with a "Windows 10 Product Key", then, after the "Anniversary Update" occurs, your "Activation" screen in "Settings" will now state that "Windows is activated with a digital license". However, your original "Windows 10 Product Key" will still be stored inside the Windows "registry" inside your computer. 13

14. "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE" CONVERTS "PRODUCT KEY" TO "DIGITAL LICENSE" (continued)
However, the "Anniversary Update" does not delete the original "Windows 10 Product Key" from the activation record up in Microsoft's activation servers: If your hard drive fails and you put in a new one and then you use "Installation Media" to do a "fresh install", you can either skip activation OR put in the original "Product Key" that you purchased. 14

15. "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE" CONVERTS "PRODUCT KEY" TO "DIGITAL LICENSE" (continued)
Whether you elect to "Skip activation" or you type in your "Windows 10 Product Key", your fresh install will still activate and the "Activation" screen in "Settings" will state that "Windows is activated with a Digital License", when you complete the installation process. 15

16. "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE" CONVERTS "PRODUCT KEY" TO "DIGITAL LICENSE" (continued)
The "Anniversary Update" apparently converts a "Product Key" activation into a "hybrid digital license" which has the both all of the features of a "Digital License" and all of the features of a "Product Key" activation: 16

17. Activation Servers Operated by Microsoft:
(HYBRID) DIGITAL LICENSE AFTER A "PRODUCT KEY" ACTIVATION WAS CONVERTED BY THE "ANNIVERSARY UPDATE"
Activation Servers Operated by Microsoft:
UUID of motherboard, edition (Home or Pro), status (trial, full, or "Insider Preview")
"Windows 10 Product Key"
and
your Microsoft account's address if you have linked your "Microsoft Account"
to the digital license 17

18. Screen Shots of the "Anniversary Update" Process For A Copy of "Windows 10" That Was Originally Activated With A "Windows 10 Product Key": 18

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21. Step 2: Click on the "Settings" icon:
WHICH METHOD OF ACTIVATION WAS USED IN MY "WINDOWS 10" COMPUTER? (continued)
Step 2: Click on the "Settings" icon: 21

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24. Step 3: Click on "Update & Security":
WHICH METHOD OF ACTIVATION WAS USED IN MY "WINDOWS 10" COMPUTER? (continued)
Step 3: Click on "Update & Security": 24

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27. Step 4: Click on "Activation":
WHICH METHOD OF ACTIVATION WAS USED IN MY "WINDOWS 10" COMPUTER? (continued)
Step 4: Click on "Activation": 27

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30. WHICH METHOD OF ACTIVATION WAS USED IN MY "WINDOWS 10" COMPUTER
WHICH METHOD OF ACTIVATION WAS USED IN MY "WINDOWS 10" COMPUTER? (continued)
If Windows 10 has been activated with a "digital license", the "Activation" screen in "Settings" will state Activation: Windows is activated with a digital license and there will be no "Product Key:" line: 30

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33. WHICH METHOD OF ACTIVATION WAS USED IN MY "WINDOWS 10" COMPUTER
WHICH METHOD OF ACTIVATION WAS USED IN MY "WINDOWS 10" COMPUTER? (continued)
If Windows 10 has been activated with a "Windows 10 Product Key", the "Activation" screen in "Settings" will state Activation: Windows is activated and Product Key: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx like this: 33

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52. after the update to the "anniversary update", your computer will still show that it has a "product key" license: 52

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55. however after the next reboot, your computer will then start showing that it has a "digital license": 55

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58. However, the free "belarc advisor" program will indicate that the original "windows 10 product key" (that you purchased originally) is stilled stored in the windows registry: 58

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