supplied windows 10 disc question.

[MJSWARLORD]

Regardless of copywrite/piracy issues am i right in thinking that a windows operating system disc can only be used on the pc it was first installed on. I seem to remember something in a magazine about a reader replaced his motherboard and his op sys disc would not load. ...... This is why i need to know as i am not sure if i have an incorrect code...... I think i have either trashed windows or the partitions by putting linux on other pc. To test my theory i tried to use the windows 10 disc that came with my pc specialist rig. I booted the disc from F8 but after putting in the 13 digit number code i was not told if the code was correct.... i just clicked ignore and on the next screen i could either choose install , advanced install or repair.... Whichever option i chose i was just told to turn pc off and put the disc back in..... Do i have a faulty code or am i right in thinking the disc is somehow linked to the pc specialist rig it was put on..

 

[Rakk]

Do i have a faulty code or am i right in thinking the disc is somehow linked to the pc specialist rig it was put on..

PCS sell OEM copies of Windows which means it is tied to the motherboard with which it was bought (OEM are cheaper than retail copies).
I have heard that you may be able to change it to tie it to a Microsoft account instead of a motherboard, but I can't confirm or deny this.

 

[MJSWARLORD]

thanks Rakk i suspected that was the case

 

[Oussebon]

I can't confirm whether the thing Rakk mentions works or not either, though I too have heard of it. Here's some reading on it: https://www.extremetech.com/computi...build-can-tie-licenses-to-your-online-account

 

[ubuysa]

It's not the DVD that's linked to the PC with OEM copies, it's only the license. You can use ANY copy of Windows 10 (as long as it's the right version; Home or Pro) and you will be able to activate it on your PC because the OEM license code is installed in the motherboard.

If you can't install Windows from the DVD provided by PCS you can download a clean copy of the latest version of Windows 10 (which may be more recent than the version on the DVD) by using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 and download the tool. When you run it be sure to select exactly the same version of Windows 10 that you have, ask it to get an ISO copy rather than upgrade in place, also tell it to burn the ISO file to either a DVD or a USB flash drive. The download is around 4GB so beware if you're on a pay-as-you-go Internet connection.

You will then be able to use that downloaded copy of Windows 10 to install Windows. When you try to activate it the activation service will use the OEM license code burned into your motherboard and as long as the version of Windows 10 you installed is the same as the one you bought it will activate.

 

[Tony1044]

I seem to recall that the version you can download directly from Microsoft isn't a specific version any more - when you type the license in, it detects from the key which version it should install.

I don't know for sure though - it's been a long time since I've downloaded it from there - mine usually come via some form of action pack or volume licensing.