Whats the best way to work on a new computer without activating the license?

[westrock2000]

I want to add some additional hardware to a premade factory computer before I give it to someone. But I want them to be able to activate the Windows 10 license to their account.

Do I need to make an offline account, make the changes, and then set up the first time boot experience? I don't remember what that process is called, but it's where you go through the initial welcome screen and create your account.

I dont want to reset the operating system, I want the drivers and stuff I installed to stay, I just want the person receiving the computer to be able to add their account and then have Windows activate to that account, and not the one I used temporarily.

Actually, thinking about it, with a premade computer will it automagically activate without me entering anything? Usually you have to type in the license key. This is a PowerSpec PC, which I think is Microcenter house brand.

Or is it possible they already did what I'm doing and the license has already been assigned to the hardware? Do factory computers still have to activate like a normal consumer license of Windows does?

Thanks!

 

[Dreamerbydesign]

I would install the hardware on a offline account. Do not connect to the internet, and install the hardware drivers off a usb stick.

the user could logout of the offline account, create or login to an existing MS account, connect the internet and then initiate the activation process.

 

[Legendary Gamer]

I want to add some additional hardware to a premade factory computer before I give it to someone. But I want them to be able to activate the Windows 10 license to their account.

Do I need to make an offline account, make the changes, and then set up the first time boot experience? I don't remember what that process is called, but it's where you go through the initial welcome screen and create your account.

I dont want to reset the operating system, I want the drivers and stuff I installed to stay, I just want the person receiving the computer to be able to add their account and then have Windows activate to that account, and not the one I used temporarily.

Actually, thinking about it, with a premade computer will it automagically activate without me entering anything? Usually you have to type in the license key. This is a PowerSpec PC, which I think is Microcenter house brand.

Or is it possible they already did what I'm doing and the license has already been assigned to the hardware? Do factory computers still have to activate like a normal consumer license of Windows does?

Thanks!

You should nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure.

Just make sure you build the user account while the system is not connected to an active internet connection. That should solve most of your issues for generating that local log in profile (assuming I recalled that correcttly... ass-u-me...damn Benny Hill).

Pretty sure you are right on the activation, since the license keys and their acceptance have been pretty much hardwired into their DNA. Factory computers (like Dell ones, specifically) generally already have a hard coded license tied to their OS. In recent years (the past 7) I have never had to register an activation of a Windows OS with Microsoft on a Dell System. Not sure about all the rest, however, I have even encountered something similar on a Lenovo laptop as well. I would suspect you should be golden so long as the version of the OS you are using is supported by the manufacturer on that model (Like many older business models tend to support Windows 8/8.1 & Windows 10 or others supported 7 and 8, while others supported Vista and 7, etc) and it corresponds with the software type (Pro / Home).

 

[rhansen5_99]

You can also use susprep when your done to reset it to factory.