A description of a particular PC model says that the computer has Windows 10 Pro on it. Does this imply that Windows is already activated? I am asking because I have read that Windows 10 requires Internet connection for activation. For example, I have read various answers here:
www.quora.com | What is pre-installed Windows 10?
Some of them say that Windows is activated, some say that the Internet will be needed for activation.
What I have found is this:
The default product key is also known as the OEM master key, the OEM manufacturing key, the OEM setup key, or the OEM SLP key.
The default product key is edition-specific and cannot activate Windows. Instead, it instructs Windows to search for the injected OA 3.0 product key in the firmware.
And this:
The Windows activation system is designed to use the product key that's injected into the firmware of the computer during manufacturing. It automatically activates the device when the device first comes online.
(Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/deployment/validate-oem-activation-key)
And this:
OEM versions of Windows 10 are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:
OEM versions require an active internet connection that can reach the Microsoft network for product activation.
If your organization operates on a closed network, please contact your account team to discuss the benefits of a Volume Licensing (VLA) solution from Dell.
And this:
All HP computers and tablets shipped with Windows 10 will activate automatically when connected to the internet.
[...]
Activating using a Digital Product Key or OEM Activation 3.0 (OA3): Windows 10 is activated via the internet by validating a Digital Product Key (DPK) that was included in the BIOS.
[...]
If a system has a Digital Product Key that was injected into the system BIOS during the manufacturing process, Windows 10 will use that key to activate Windows 10 on that specific system. Activation is automatic when connected to the internet. All HP systems sold with Windows 10 will include a Digital Product Key in the BIOS.
(Source: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04640037)
And this page contains two seemingly contradictory statements:
If your ASUS computer is with the built-in Windows operating system when you purchased it, a digital license had been injected into the ASUS motherboard of your product, and Windows will be automatically activated after the computer connects to the internet.
[...]
For ASUS computer built-in Windows system, its Window has been activated.
(Source: https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1015074/#Win10)
I cannot understand what it means. Windows "will be automatically activated" or "has been activated"?
So my question is: if this PC will never be connected to the Internet and an end-user will not perform any actions to activate Windows (such as using the phone for activation, running a program etc.), will the pre-installed Windows 10 remain unactivated? Or maybe the answer depends on the model of a PC (i.e. some models are sold with pre-activated Windows, yet some models are sold with the assumption that the user will need to connect a PC to the Internet to activate the OS)?
UPDATE
I have found the following information:
Most OEM-provided devices designed to run Windows 8 or later will have a firmware-embedded key.
(Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/deploy-enterprise-licenses)
Firmware-embedded – never needs to be on internet connection, it can be in a deferred activation state and never watermark
[...]
Firmware-embedded activation key is the Windows OEM license (Digital Product Key (DPK) also known as Digital License) which comes embedded in the device firmware and reflects the version that the device was purchased with (Home or Pro).
(Source: https://moderneuc.com/windows-activation-evolution/)
But I cannot seem to find a comprehensive source describing what the "Deferred activation" state is. Is it automatically extended to last until a PC goes online? The only reliable source mentioning this state is the HP document (linked above). All other mentions of this state that I have found are in the context of Windows IoT/Embedded, which is not relevant for my question. For example, I have found the following information:
Do you know if deferred activation has some limitations, such as less access to windows settings, etc.?
Personalization settings will be blocked, but you can get around those with group policies and registry settings.
This may imply that the "Deferred activation" state is not a complete simulation of the "Activated" state, from the functionality point of view...