Fresh install of Windows 10, on a machine upgraded from Windows 8.1 -> 10? (Don't have Windows 10 ke

NeilF · 30 May 2016 at 22:06

So my son's laptop hard drive is dying I believe.

What I'd like to do it simply pop in an SSD in its place and then do a fresh install of Windows 10.

The laptop came with Windows 8.1 and was upgrade to 10 at Christmas. However, stupidly I didn't make a note of its Windows 10 (upgrade) key. My bad!

Am I right in saying:-
- I can just download a Windows 10 installation (USB or ISO)
- Do a fresh Windows 10 installation onto the laptop (onto the new SSD)
- No activition key will be required, as Microsoft will recognise the laptop and know know it's registered

Thanks...

flowrider99 · 30 May 2016 at 22:07

You are correct.

NeilF · 30 May 2016 at 22:14

flowrider99 said:
You are correct.

Phew! That's a relief!

Thanks!

gareth170 · 30 May 2016 at 23:51

your key is the 8.1 key..

Tute · 31 May 2016 at 00:35

Yep, just use the old key.

NeilF · 31 May 2016 at 07:36

Tute said:
Yep, just use the old key.

Hmmm... I'll have to dig through boxes to find it I think!?

I'll swear I read Microsoft know your laptop has already been upgraded to Windows 10, so you can just "skip" the entry of the Windows 10 key, and it'll just work!?

linktoinsanity · 31 May 2016 at 09:34

NeilFawcett said:
Hmmm... I'll have to dig through boxes to find it I think!?

I'll swear I read Microsoft know your laptop has already been upgraded to Windows 10, so you can just "skip" the entry of the Windows 10 key, and it'll just work!?

Yes, you should just be able to skip it. What Tute means is that you can also input your Windows 8.1 key during setup.

@Tute, love the sig, RA1 is awesome...

OverDrive · 31 May 2016 at 12:02

You should just skip the key entry and continue with the clean install. Windows will then activate automatically once the installation is complete - assuming that you've activated Windows 10 previously on that computer or as Microsoft would say 'device'. You won't need the original Windows 8.1 key that you upgraded.

NeilF · 31 May 2016 at 14:16

Yep... It seems to be working simply choosing "SKIP"

That said, a number of times after the initial install of Windows 10 on the new SSD, it hanged during boot up (with spinning dots just locked). And I had to turn off and try...

Seems OK now though!