CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71)Applications and SoftwareMedium
A technician is setting up a new Windows 10 workstation and needs to ensure that the operating system is properly activated. Which of the following methods is MOST commonly used for licensing and activating individual consumer versions of Windows?
- AMAK (Multiple Activation Key)
- BKMS (Key Management Service)
- CDigital License (formerly Digital Entitlement)
- DOEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) key entered manually
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Digital License (formerly Digital Entitlement)
For individual consumer versions of Windows 10/11, a digital license linked to the Microsoft account or hardware is the most common and often automatic activation method.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. MAK is also for volume licensing in organizations, allowing a fixed number of activations, not typically used by individual consumers.
- B. KMS is primarily used in large enterprise environments for volume licensing, not individual consumer machines.
- D. While OEM keys exist, they are typically pre-injected into the BIOS/UEFI and activate automatically. Manual entry of a generic OEM key by a user is less common than digital license activation for consumer systems.
Windows Digital License
A method of Windows activation that links the license to a user's Microsoft account or the unique hardware signature of a device, eliminating the need for a product key.
- Introduced with Windows 10 as 'Digital Entitlement'.
- Activates automatically when reinstalling Windows on the same hardware.
- Can be linked to a Microsoft account for easier re-activation after major hardware changes.
Memory trick: Remember the different keys and how they lock in Windows.