Microsoft OS Evaluation Downloads

[Moltuae]

Can all MS OS evaluation downloads be used to install a fully licensed version (assuming one has the appropriate licence key)?

In particular, I'm presently interested in Windows Embedded POSReady 7 Evaluation (64 bit):
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26558

I'm looking to use it to make a bootable USB pen drive for an on-site N&P job I gotta do soon. Got no installation media, but we do already have the licence key.

Possible?

Thanks.

 

[Markverhyden]

If I remember correctly as long as the OS being evaluated is being sold, not a Beta, then yes you can install and apply a key, The problem is that all of the Downloads are "Retail". If the machine shipped with the OS it most likely is an OEM key. I've not had much luck applying a OEM key to a Retail installation.

 

[Moltuae]

Ah, thanks very much for the super fast reply Mark.

I think it's a retail key ... you could certainly say it's a 'retail machine'; it's a cash register

Looking at the product ID, there's no 'OEM' in there. Am I right in saying that if it were an OEM key, the product ID would always contain the letters 'OEM'?

 

[Markverhyden]

I would come to the same conclusion Moltuae. And maybe they do not make that distinction with this product. By the way, not sure if you are aware but M$ has a tool, Volume Activation Management Tool, VMAT 2.0. You can plug in a key and it will tell you all about it. I've used it for regular W7 in the past.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11936

 

[Moltuae]

Brilliant, thanks. Didn't know about that.

Unfortunately it states that this particular product key is "not supported", so I'm none the wiser.

You know, I think it'd probably be easier to pirate Microsoft's bleedin' stuff than use it legitimately at times!

I'll pop it on a pen drive and give it a shot ....

 

[AndyM]

I thought I'd seen it in there......

If you have an Action Pack Subscription, you can download it from there...


Andy

 

[Markverhyden]

Your welcome. I guess the tool must be for the "mainline" stuff. Server and desktop/laptop OS's.

 

[Moltuae]

I thought I'd seen it in there......

If you have an Action Pack Subscription, you can download it from there...
Andy

Ah, thanks Andy.

I don't have an Action Pack Subscription unfortunately. Might consider buying one now though ...

I think I'll give the eval download a go first. Not the end of the world if it doesn't work; It's not urgent and I'll be returning to site a number of times soon if I need to try something else. I'll report back on the outcome.

 

[Moltuae]

For future reference, the Eval download worked fine with the retail key.

The purpose was to N&P a Windows Embedded POSReady 7 32 bit installation into a 64 bit installation (and replace the system HDD with an SSD).

• Recovered the key from the existing 32 bit installation of POSReady 7.
• Created a bootable POSReady 7 Eval USB (using Rufus).
• Dropped the new drive in and installed POSReady 7 64 bit, using the recovered key.

Activated without any issues.

 

[cje7388]

For future reference, the Eval download worked fine with the retail key.

The purpose was to N&P a Windows Embedded POSReady 7 32 bit installation into a 64 bit installation (and replace the system HDD with an SSD).

• Recovered the key from the existing 32 bit installation of POSReady 7.
• Created a bootable POSReady 7 Eval USB (using Rufus).
• Dropped the new drive in and installed POSReady 7 64 bit, using the recovered key.

Activated without any issues.

Hi Moltuae,

I know this is an old thread, but i am in the exact same situation,

Can you confirm that the eval with genuine key continued to work after the 180 days?

Windows is saying its activated but i have read elsewhere on the internet from someone else that even tho it stated it was activated it was not valid after the grace period was up.

Thank You

 

[Moltuae]

I believe so. There were no issues that I know of and the till (or 'cash register') is still in use today, as far as I'm aware.

The original installation was a retail version however, not OEM. I don't know if that makes any difference.