Need help with windows key, from laptop to pc

So I was thinking of just using my laptop windows key to just use windows on my pc. Few questions I have.

1. Can I take my windows key from laptop to pc? (I understand my laptop won't work in a sense after)

2. After I have my windows key, can I make a usb thumb drive or hdd, to install windows on my new pc?

3. Is this something that is reasonable or just plain silly lol?

4. Also if transferring keys from laptop to pc works, if my laptop is factory reset, would it take the key back from pc or cause issues?

Thanks in advance for help or any knowledge

Edited by hamluis, 30 June 2020 - 10:13 AM.
Moved from Bldg/Upgrading to Win 8 - Hamluis.

1.  Not legally.  Every laptop is probably bound by an OEM volume license...which is nontransferable and is directly tied to the use of that specific computer system.

2.  Your Windows key and your license...are the same thing.  See answer above.

3.  I have no idea what you are asking.

4.  The key/license is non-transferable.

Basic Info.

Louis

I assume we are talking about Windows 10 here.

1. You cannot take key as there is no one. However you may try to create Microsoft account on laptop, then install on desktop, log in on SAME Microsoft account, on activation troubleshooter and say "I made recent hardware change". It may work or may not.

2. You can use USB-drive to reinstall but once again, there is no "key".

3. Depends. If laptop is not "trash", I would not risk. If it is to be gone anyway, you may try. Again, it's not guaranteed to success.

4. You will at least have to use trick on step 1 and it's less likely to work when you do it again. Factory reset does not work, as there is still no key.

So in short: Licence MAY be transferable but you still cannot use same licence on two machines simultaneously. Key is not transferable as there is no key.

Sorry should have said that it's windows 8.1

Its a decent laptop but I'd rather have my computer up and running. I was just thinking that if it is possible to get windows 8.1 onto my pc, then I can run Linux on my laptop or sell it. If I sold it then I wouldn't want to run into the problem of someone resetting it if they are not okay with Linux.

What you are trying to accomplish is to have two Windows installations same time with same key. At least if you sell laptop and buyer tries to reset Windows 8.1 etc. And that is not going to work. Because it's Windows 8.1, there IS key that you might be able to transfer. But that is likely to work only that way: transfer, not copy.

For short term, you can legally use Windows 10 for 30 days without activation. After that you can use rearm trick for some time, but not so sure if that is legal...

Edited by Drillingmachine, 27 June 2020 - 02:03 PM.

Windows will often know if/when the key is an OEM manufacturer's key, and prevent it's use with another mainboard....

Nothing prevents simply running a newly downloaded installation simply 'not yet activated', however....(if you can live w/ the 'poor man's watermark advisory!)

It does not stink at all. MS sells the OEM license to manufacturers of computers on a non transferable basis and at a much cheaper price than if you bought a retail version. That is part of the licensing terms for selling it cheaply.  A retail version can be used on one computer but reused on another if removed from the first. When activated the details of the components of the computer is stored on MS activation computers and as such any re-install on that computer is recognised and automatically activated provided no major items have been changed.

No just take the key from laptop and have one installation on my pc

OK, it might work then. Just remember, key is on BIOS and you need special tool to retrieve it. But again, there is good chance it will work.

Windows will often know if/when the key is an OEM manufacturer's key, and prevent it's use with another mainboard....

 

Nothing prevents simply running a newly downloaded installation simply 'not yet activated', however....(if you can live w/ the 'poor man's watermark advisory!)

Microsoft knows that but usually doesn't care about that. Microsoft even said publicly that from following two choices:

1. User has pirated Windows

2. User has Linux

Microsoft rather take choice 1. And since OEM Windows >>> pirate Windows... Well.

It does not stink at all. MS sells the OEM license to manufacturers of computers on a non transferable basis and at a much cheaper price than if you bought a retail version. That is part of the licensing terms for selling it cheaply.  A retail version can be used on one computer but reused on another if removed from the first. When activated the details of the components of the computer is stored on MS activation computers and as such any re-install on that computer is recognised and automatically activated provided no major items have been changed.

Yeah but activation details are removed after some time and that allows transferring OEM licence into another machine. Provided key is not Volume key but unique OEM-key.

Also Microsoft allows transferring OEM-licence tied to Microsoft account into another machine. So this whole "OEM licence is not transferable" -thing is just "Microsoft says this way". I say how it practically works.

Edited by Drillingmachine, 28 June 2020 - 03:48 AM.

Then you may try to use that laptop key on desktop. That may work but as said many times, it's not guaranteed to work and it's pretty useless to contact Microsoft in case that isn't.

Edited by Drillingmachine, 28 June 2020 - 09:19 AM.

OEM keys are unique, volume keys are not.

That's very probably OEM key.

And you probably can still install Windows 10 using that key. Offer was supposed to expire years ago but it should still work.

Edited by Drillingmachine, 28 June 2020 - 10:37 AM.