Originally Posted by BearZDefect
Originally Posted by OVERKILL
It's free still, it doesn't ask you for a key during the install, it just "works".
In my experience, this only works on computers that have digital product key embedded in the BIOS.
These are generally computers that came with Windows 8 or 8.1 from the OEM.
Originally Posted by OVERKILL
Also, you can still install 10 with a Windows 7 product key.
Yes, Windows 7 product keys have worked for me too.
I have a laptop where the product key sticker was worn off the bottom, I had to call Microsoft support and ask them to activate it. While that call was a bit time-consuming they did finally provide a secret activation code after asking questions and viewing the computer on a remote control session.
In the context of what was being discussed, which was to use the download tool to upgrade an existing Windows 7 install, there is no prompt for a key. I've done it on a pile of Windows 7 boxes, many of which were far too old to have an embedded key. If you are doing a fresh install? Then yes, you won't be prompted if it has an embedded key, and if it doesn't, and you have a Windows 7 COA, you can just use the key from that.