Why do all of the computers I am setting up have the SAME "Device ID" as well as the SAME "Product ID"?

Yes on the deactivation for the new cloned machines. It deactivated immediately on startup. The O.S apparently recognized that it was a different computer (as it should).

When I clone the backup onto another machine, the new setup is no longer activated from the start. Once the key is changed, it is then activated through Microsoft Servers (wherever they may be) with a Digital License and the machine is happy again. :)

I have been doing this for many years with Windows 10 AND Windows 7. All I have ever had to do was input the proper COA key for the newly cloned computer and everything changed as it should. For some reason, this Windows 10 version is being uncooperative in that the IDs are not changing on activation with the new key. In my younger days, I would have started rooting around in the registry, and anything else that I could get in to, to figure problems out. Now, it is easier to just ask for help from younger people who are not old and sleepy all the time. :)

No matter. I am now setting some up on Windows 7 Professional (still my favorite O.S.) and some on Windows 10 with a complete reinstall. With the complete install of 10, the IDs are all fixed to that particular machine as they should be.

All the keys that I am using are Official COA Windows 7 Professional keys. I do not install pirated software and have never condoned it by anyone else. As long as Microsoft allows this activation, it is indeed helping a lot of people, who can not afford a new machine, to become acquainted with Windows 10.

I love windows 7, but I am hoping that Microsoft keeps improving Windows 10 and fixes it so that we can update it when we want to instead of by THEIR schedule. If that ever happens, I will put my OWN Windows 10 backups back on MY four machines. :)

In the meantime, I have solved my own problem simply by installing from scratch instead of the clone I was using. It takes a bit more time, but things are as they should be now.

We were told recently to stop advising that the Windows 7/8/8.1 Product Keys can be used to activate Windows 10 under the free Upgrade extended grace period. Are you saying this is happening, that WIndows 7 keys are activating freshly from a deactivated state and achieving a Digital License showing the Generic Product Key?

http://winaero.com/blog/generic-key-to-install-...

Hi CB. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

If the cloned PC activates anew with the separate retail Product Key, and you confirm it is what's now read by a keyfinder like ProducKey: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey-x64.zip, then you've done all you need to do and having the Product ID remain the same is just a fluke that should have no consequence and may even change and rectify itself going forward.

This is similar to Security ID (SID) or PC Name staying the same - with PC name the only one you can affect, while SID was the major factor that blocked all previous editions of WIndows OS from being able to adapt to new hardware without adaptive software.

But it's worth watching and if I can find out what this means in future contacts with Windows 10 team via MVP channels I will update the thread. Please do the same if you find it matters in some way.

If you want to report this to Microsoft you can also use the Feedback Hub app in Start Menu where developers are tasked to process consumer feedback. They will not even see it here. This is a tech forums staffed mostly by volunteers trying to help others with your problems.

If you want to post back a Share link from your Feedback here others who see this thread can vote it up and add to it. I will also track the issue for you.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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I have checked three of the machines, and all three of them have the same Windows key - which is apparently the key from the backup I am using.

This is not good. I can see chaos on the horizon when several of the kids are on their machines at the same time and Microsoft mysteriously checks them and deactivates them because they all have the same key - which they shouldn't.

I activated each machine with its own individual key from the COA sticker, but I used the same backup on every one of them. I have done this with Windows 7 for years once I changed the COA numbers, everything showed up as it was supposed to. This is the first time I have ever done it with (EDIT) "THIS" version of Windows 10. It seems that it will be the LAST time I do it with this Windows 10. (EDIT) Other versions worked with this key changing solution, for whatever reason.

I am getting a little freaked out here. I am setting these things up for FREE for students. For "FREE" is the key word here.

It will be extremely time consuming to have to go back and install Windows 10 from scratch on each of them just to get the correct key to show up.

Do you, or anyone else, know of any way to fix this? Or should I just get started wiping the drives. :(

I appreciate the response. I will check a few of them and get back to you.