Computer Help and Support

ucrdem

(15,720 posts)

8. You can also authenticate Win 10 systems using Win 7 COA stickers.

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 05:39 PM

Jan 2021

I replaced a failing hard drive in an HP laptop this week and decided to reload Windows from a thumbdrive rather than try to clone it from a bad drive. This time I entered a 25-digit Win 7 Pro key from a sticker in the battery compartment and lo and behold, it authenticated. I'd gotten it from ebay and it was sold as "no operating system" so I'd skipped that step last time. So I decided to try the same trick on two other laptaps from ebay and voila, they now all three have authenticated Win 10 Pro systems, which aren't much different from before, but are slightly more customizable and don't have a "not authentic"
tattoo in the lower right corner.

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You can still upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 systems to Windows 10 for free [View all] douglas9 Jan 2021 OP

Thanks to your advice, I did this a year ago. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2021 #1

I'm trying to shift over to Ubuntu. Girard442 Jan 2021 #2

Hahaha! SheltieLover Jan 2021 #4

Switching to Linux Mint instead. 5X Jan 2021 #3

I'm sure they are SheltieLover Jan 2021 #5

Did it yesterday. Took me over 3 hours to complete upgrade. Sneederbunk Jan 2021 #6

You say that like it's a good thing. nt eppur_se_muova Jan 2021 #7

You can also authenticate Win 10 systems using Win 7 COA stickers. ucrdem Jan 2021 #8

I scored a brand new laptop recently on a job I was working on clearing out a hoarders home. kimbutgar Jan 2021 #9

Got my screen black with cursor cartobuy Jan 2021 #10