Microsoft have finally followed most of my and many others feedback regarding Windows installation media.

Windows 10 OEM Licenses

Windows 10 TH2 has a proper Digital Deployment. See Download Windows 10 TH2 (OEM and Retail) for more details. Windows 10 TH2 installation media accepts Windows 10 OEM product keys which are embedded in the UEFI BIOS.

(A) For Windows 10 OEM the Windows 10 TH2 installation media will automatically input your UEFI BIOS Embeddd System Locked Preinstallation Key during installation provided you have the correct Edition selected.

Win10OEMCorrect

(B) If you are installing the wrong Edition you will be asked for a key….

Win10OEMWrong

For Dell Systems sold with Windows 10 TH2 or later there may also be a Downloadable Dell Customised Image. See Dell Recovery Image of Microsoft Windows.

The following stickers are affixed to Windows 10 OEM systems.

Windows 10 Home Editions:

Win10Home

  • Windows 10 Home Most Common
  • Windows 10 Single Language Common
  • Windows 10 Home N Rare

Windows 10 Pro Editions:

win10Pro

  • Windows 10 Pro Most Common
  • Windows 10 ProN Rare

Windows 8.x OEM Licenses

Windows 10 TH2 has a proper Digital Deployment. See Download Windows 10 TH2 (OEM and Retail) for more details.

look-for-this-sticker-if-you-want-a-new-windows-10-pc-right-now-486011-2

Windows 10 TH2 installation media accepts Windows 8.x OEM product keys which are embedded in the UEFI BIOS.

(A) For Windows 10 OEM the Windows 10 TH2 installation media will automatically input your UEFI BIOS Embedded System Locked Preinstallation Key during installation provided you have the correct Edition selected.

Win10OEMCorrect

(B) If you are installing the wrong Edition you will be asked for a key….

Win10OEMWrong

One may also Download Windows 8.1 OEM from Microsoft providing that they don't have a "with Bing" OEM edition*. See Download Windows 8.1 with Update 2 (OEM and Retail) .iso. Windows 8.1 with Update 2 installation media will also automatically input a Windows 8.x product key during installation provided the correct Edition matches.

* Use Windows 10 TH2 Installation Media for "with Bing" OEM Editions.

The following stickers are affixed to Windows 8.x OEM systems.

Windows 8.x Home Editions:

Win8Home Win8Bing

  • Windows 10 Home Most Common
  • Windows 10 Single Language Common
  • Windows 10 Home N Rare

Note for Windows 10

  • Windows 10 Home = Windows 8.1 (Home) with Bing = Windows 8.1 (Home)
  • Windows 10 Home Single Language = Windows 8.1 (Home) Single Language with Bing = Windows 8.1 Single Language (Home)
  • Windows 10 HomeN = Windows 8.1N (Home)

Windows 8.x Pro Editions:

Win8Pro

  • Windows 10 Pro Most Common
  • Windows 10 ProN Rare

Note for Windows 10

  • Windows 10 Pro = Windows 8.1 Pro
  • Windows 10 ProN = Windows 8.1 ProN

Windows 7 OEM Licenses

Windows 10 TH2 has a proper Digital Deployment. See Download Windows 10 TH2 (OEM and Retail) for more details.

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Moreover Windows 10 TH2 installation media accepts Windows 7 OEM. For Windows 7 you will need to input the 25 digit product key on the Code of Authenticity (COA) which should be affixed to your system.

Windows 7 COA

To prevent the COA from fading the COA is likely residing in the battery compartment of Laptops and inside the computer cover of Desktops. Use your smartphone to take a picture of it before installation.

Laptop COA

If the key on this COA is faded and your Windows installation works upgrade to Windows 10 TH2 via the Windows 7 Desktop see Upgrading to Windows 10 TH2. If the key on this COA is faded and your Windows installation doesn't work install Windows 10130 and then upgrade to Windows 10 TH2 via the Windows 10130 Desktop see the Unofficial Windows 10130 Upgrade Path. Both upgrade paths register your systems hardware with a Microsoft Product Activation server which means you can later clean install by skipping entry of a product key.

Windows Vista OEM License

Windows Vista is at End of Mainstream Support and all systems sold with Windows Vista OEM have expired warranty hence this OS has no support from Microsoft or Dell.

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There is no official free upgrade path to Windows 10 for these two versions of Windows. However you may install Windows 10130 and then upgrade to Windows 10 TH2 via the Windows 10130 Desktop for free see the Unofficial Windows 10130 Upgrade Path. Both upgrade paths register your systems hardware with a Microsoft Product Activation server which means you can later clean install by skipping entry of a product key. Dell systems with Windows XP OEM require capable hardware. All Dell systems sold with Windows Vista OEM should be capable.

Windows XP OEM

Windows XP is at End of Life and all systems sold with Windows XP OEM have expired warranty hence this OS has no support from Microsoft or Dell.

There is no official free upgrade path to Windows 10 for these two versions of Windows. However you may install Windows 10130 and then upgrade to Windows 10 TH2 via the Windows 10130 Desktop for free see the Unofficial Windows 10130 Upgrade Path. Both upgrade paths register your systems hardware with a Microsoft Product Activation server which means you can later clean install by skipping entry of a product key. Dell systems with Windows XP OEM require capable hardware.