Question Remove Windows 10 from computer ?

[Objektor]

I have an old, retired device with a retail licence key, currently running Windows 10 (through an upgrade path from v.7, v.8). The key is now being used on a new PC build, to authenticate v.11.

Not sure how to remove the OS from the old device, or what the best outcome would be. If I install a Linux OS, would it allow a complete overwrite of Windows ? I have no previous experience with Linux.

Do I need to contact Microsoft to advise of the transfer ?

Concerned about being flagged as breaking their ToS, I haven't connected the old device to the internet since using the key for my new computer.

 

[Math Geek]

if it is already activated on another machine, then all you need to do is format the drive and use it for whatever its next purpose will be.

delete every partition on it and then create a single new partition and it'll be good to go.

 

[Colif]

Yeah, installing linux on it is best move.

You shouldn't need to do anything, its auto

The old licence has been converted to win 11 and if you look on your account online - https://account.microsoft.com/?refd=account.microsoft.com - it should show any currently registered PC under Devices. You should only have the new one under there.

If the old one does show there, you could click show details and there should be an option in top right called Remove this device - unlink from your account. It should already be gone.

I don't know if windows would try to reactivate a PC that has had its licence moved onto a new PC. Logically the operation should cancel the activation on old PC.

 

[Objektor]

@Math Geek @Colif

Thanks for your responses.

Have now successfully installed Linux Mint (Xfce) to the local drive, and it seems to have completely overwritten Windows. Quite pleased at the ease in which this was done, from the point of view of a newbie who has never even seen a BIOS screen until a week ago !

For the benefit of future readers who might come across this thread and need help, I'll outline the process as best as possible.

1. Download the Mint ISO
2. Download Etcher, a tool to create bootable media on a USB
3. Follow the simple three steps in Etcher to get the USB drive ready
4. in BIOS, change the boot priority to look for USB first (instead of local drive)
5. Restart, with the USB plugged in, and follow the prompts

From here, the Mint desktop is now displayed, but I wasn't sure if it was operating directly from the USB. As there's a desktop icon called "Install Linux", I selected this icon, and the computer then went through a more lengthy install. After another restart, with the USB removed, it's now 100% running from the local HDD.

All said, it took about 30 minutes from "I have no no idea" to "ready to use", which included reading the instructions on the Mint website, downloading the assets, preparing the USB and following the steps above. All with a super-slow ancient computer that takes several minutes to shut down & reboot each time.

 

[USAFRet]

After another restart, with the USB removed, it's now 100% running from the local HDD.

 

[Objektor]

The old licence has been converted to win 11 and if you look on your account online - https://account.microsoft.com/?refd=account.microsoft.com - it should show any currently registered PC under Devices. You should only have the new one under there.

If the old one does show there, you could click show details and there should be an option in top right called Remove this device - unlink from your account. It should already be gone.

I don't know if windows would try to reactivate a PC that has had its licence moved onto a new PC. Logically the operation should cancel the activation on old PC.

I'll address your post as a separate reply to the install process outlined above.

The computer was not registered, so I had either removed it previously or never went through those steps. Have also done multiple WinOS installs in the past. So the registration is not automatic.

It WOULD have been interesting to register it and see what happens, since the new build is registered there (with the old computer's licence). But i didn't want risk any potential issues of ToS violations that might render the new PC inoperable.

Surely there must be some sort of background authentication beyond the registration though, otherwise people would be using the same key across multiple machines.

 

[USAFRet]

Surely there must be some sort of background authentication beyond the registration though, otherwise people would be using the same key across multiple machines.

The activation server farm at Microsoft knows.

Both the PC details and the MS account involved.

 

[Colif]

The computer was not registered, so I had either removed it previously or never went through those steps.

Are you talking about old PC?
If its not showing on the MS site, it means the transfer of license process is completed.

It WOULD have been interesting to register it and see what happens, since the new build is registered there (with the old computer's licence).

if you talking old PC, it wouldn't work if the licence is now showing against the new PC. At least it shouldn't but I don't know if I would risk it asif it did work, you would then you need to contact Microsoft and explain what you were doing. They are only people who can fix activation problems.

if you use license/activation on more than 2 PC, one of them will deactivate. Activation servers know what is free to use. And what isn't.

 

[Objektor]

Are you talking about old PC?
If its not showing on the MS site, it means the transfer of license process is completed.

Yes, the old computer. It was never showing as registered on the MS site - even prior to using the key for another computer. And it had been online several times since the last time I reset the OS.

That said - this was a Windows 10 install. Windows 11 seems to require more information from users, and I don't think a proper, authorized install can even be done without registration against a Microsoft user profile.

if you talking old PC, it wouldn't work if the licence is now showing against the new PC. At least it shouldn't but I don't know if I would risk it asif it did work, you would then you need to contact Microsoft and explain what you were doing. They are only people who can fix activation problems.

I've considered trying it, to see what happens - but not interested in the hassle if/when a ToS violation is identified.

And...well... it's just a waste of my time. I'm not the sightest bit interested in running Windows on that device again.

Linux OS should be fine for the few tasks I'll use the old computer for - music player, docs/spreadsheets, torrent client.

if you use license/activation on more than 2 PC, one of them will deactivate. Activation servers know what is free to use. And what isn't.

Perhaps you meant to write 'more than ONE' ? There's nothing I can find that indicates a key can be used on two devices.

 

[Colif]

Perhaps you meant to write 'more than ONE' ?

yeah, i did.