Drbreen@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
I’ve had the same Win8 Pro key that I purchased for $40 when it released 12 years ago. I’ve used it for Win10 and 11. Is this saying if I format my drive and reinstall Win11 that I won’t be able to activate using this key anymore?
PotjiePig@lemmy.world 11 months ago
If I’m not mistaken your key is linked to your motherboard as well as your Microsoft account. So I think you should be fine
Drbreen@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
OEM keys are linked to motherboards I believe. Mine is a retail key and I’ve used it across many different builds over the years.
pjhenry1216@kbin.social 11 months ago
Keys are usually stored in the TPM chip and/or tied to Microsoft accounts if you use one. If you don't have an account, there's actually a limit to how often a key can activate new hardware. If there's no TPM, there's simply a limit within a certain timeframe that it can be used to activate on the same hardware.
Drbreen@sh.itjust.works 11 months ago
Right, I’m pretty sure this key is tied to my MS account.
tleb@lemmy.ca 11 months ago
Retail keys can also be linked to the hardware or Microsoft account
Capitao_Duarte@lemmy.eco.br 11 months ago
That on laptop or desktop? I had a laptop and always did like you said. For the first time I have a desktop and don’t know how things go now
PotjiePig@lemmy.world 11 months ago
Super late reply to your question, but when you add Windows and punch in the key it links to the motherboard of the PC (laptop or desktop, doesn’t matter). Once you sign in to your Microsoft account, the key and mobo serial gets stored there. If you bought a new PC and with it a new motherboard you can find your key in your account or use the one on the back of your old laptop and delink it from your old device so that you can reuse it on your new one. It moves with your account.