this post was submitted on 28 Sep 2023
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[–] PotjiePig@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

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. I just formatted my drive yesterday and it didn't even ask me to type it in, I skipped that step and it verified once I logged in.

[–] Drbreen@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

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 3 points 1 year ago

Right, I'm pretty sure this key is tied to my MS account.

[–] tleb@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago

Retail keys can also be linked to the hardware or Microsoft account

[–] Capitao_Duarte@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 1 year 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