SourceWith Windows 10, Microsoft is changing its operating system from the ground up and now it seems that the company is working to introduce a new activation system that would help give up on the traditional product keys.
Apps spotted in the Windows Store recently by Russian site OneTile.ru indicate that Microsoft is indeed planning some changes for the way Windows 10 upgrades and activation are performed, but obviously, most of the details are missing for now and what we have is pure speculation.
The two apps are called Windows 10 Core and Windows 10 Pro and can only be accessed from Windows 10 build 10147, which got leaked to the web recently.
Waving goodbye to product keys
The Russian site claims that this is a way to abandon the traditional product key activation system and perform the whole activation process all automatically. Once you install one of these apps, obviously depending on the version of Windows 10 you run, your copy of the OS is automatically activated (if you previously upgraded from a genuine copy of Windows 7 or 8.1). The activation is then tied to your account, just as Microsoft suggested recently.
If this is the case, it’s yet unknown what exactly happens with clean Windows 10 installs that are purchased after launch and how they are activated if users do not have a Microsoft account.
“We’re introducing new infrastructure in Windows Update to help us deliver new builds more effectively to Windows Insiders, and ensure that we’re flighting builds to people who have registered and opted in to the program. Connecting your MSA also allows seamless access to Windows Insider-only functionality in the Windows Feedback app and Insider Hub too,” Microsoft explained.
Obviously, there are many unknown details at this point, but some speculate that these apps could also be used to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Professional through a store purchase.
Speculation is nothing new to the 10 blog. . .
Fun times are guaranteed for all.
This is nothing new. Microsoft Office 2013 and the current preview 2016 activate via your account that shows how many activations you currently have! Seems like those people who do not currently have a Microsoft account will have to obtain one! That is the case for upcoming previews of the Windows 10 builds, if I understand correctly.Fun times are guaranteed for all.
As long as it doesn't mean I must setup my system under a MS account versus a local account, I don't care what they do. If it means I must setup under a MS account then I'll be super pizzed.
You can activate Office 2013 with a product key, not sure if that applies to 2016.Microsoft Office 2013 and the current preview 2016 activate via your account that shows how many activations you currently have!
Hi thereYou can activate Office 2013 with a product key, not sure if that applies to 2016.
Office 2016 (or at least the preview) can activate via the Product key. You don't need to have a 365 Office account or run it under an Ms account -- at the moment - but in future who knows.
When you activate Office 2016 just activate via Product key rather than activate over the Internet.
Cheers
jimbo
Lots of speculation really? More like a big blind guess, IMHO. Although, it wouldn't be hard to take a hardware hash of your system, store it, and flag it as Windows 10 Home, or Windows 10 Pro authorized. Like they say though, how do you keep track of clean installs? With no product code to enter, what would stop you from using the same DVD over and over and over? There would have to be a marker on the DVD to stop that, that means each DVD needs to be unique. They aren't going to do that. Too expensive. There is till going to be a product code or something similar, a proof of ownership at least to do the first install with.
