How to do a fresh install of windows 10 with windows 7 key ?

P.B · 29 Sep 2015 at 18:59

Okay so all my pcs are valid for a windows 10 upgrade. my htpc and gaming pc currently have windows 7 with keys and eligible for an upgrade to the new software.

My question how can I do fresh a install do I just download a windows 10 disc...(if so which one ?)

and just put in my windows 7 key ??

Thanks for any help bit clueless here :confused:

pepp77 · 29 Sep 2015 at 19:01

You have to upgrade from within windows 7, this then activates the windows 10 install.

When you do the upgrade there is a choice to keep nothing, so it is basically a fresh install.

Alternatively, once you have completed the upgrade you can then do a fresh install and skip any page asking for a licence key, it will then auto activate on completion of the install.

Tute · 29 Sep 2015 at 19:20

Is it possible to do the upgrade without installing Windows 7 first? Like a webpage that takes your W7 code and gives you a W10 one for example?

ED209 · 29 Sep 2015 at 20:36

you must upgrade from a previous OS first before you can do a clean install of W10.

install W7 SP1 or w8.1, make sure its activated
Download ISO, click on setup.exe to upgrade to W10 once done make sure its activated.
download w10 tool, make a USB stick of W10 and do a clean install.

W10 will activate based on your hardware ID and you skip the stages where it asks for a key during install

P.B · 29 Sep 2015 at 21:03

But what happens if I upgrade my pc will I lose my copy

Quartz · 29 Sep 2015 at 22:06

When I was installing Windows 8 recently, almost immediately after plugging in the licence key I was offered the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10.

Disco_P · 30 Sep 2015 at 00:22

P.B said:
But what happens if I upgrade my pc will I lose my copy

Mobo yes, anything else no.

kristmace · 30 Sep 2015 at 08:14

Disco_P said:
Mobo yes, anything else no.

I've heard that it depends on the licence of your original OS. If it was retail then it should be transferrable.

Quartz · 30 Sep 2015 at 10:06

P.B said:
But what happens if I upgrade my pc will I lose my copy

There's a post elsewhere here noting that Windows 10 got deactivated after a BIOS update.

linktoinsanity · 30 Sep 2015 at 12:21

Tute said:
Is it possible to do the upgrade without installing Windows 7 first? Like a webpage that takes your W7 code and gives you a W10 one for example?

No, you must upgrade the system first.

I know other people have said the above, just really posted to say I love the picture part of your signature. Red Alert is my favourite game, ever.

P.B · 1 Oct 2015 at 16:52

so re format windows and as soon as its done it will upgrade to windows 10 ?

mrh2019 · 2 Oct 2015 at 23:03

I'm in the same boat, just about to change MB/Memory etc.
I have a retail version of Win7 Pro, and have the upgraded Win10 on my old PC.
Will i have to install Win7 in order to upgrade to Win10??
It's a shame really because I have a USB stick with Win10 ISO installed on it.

Kalsius · 3 Oct 2015 at 19:13

There is no way to get a 'Win10' key. You have to upgrade. I had the same issue. I had to change some components and had to do a clean 7.1 install to activate the new hardware profile and then did a Win10 upgrade.

deshepherd · 3 Oct 2015 at 23:34

I'm possibly going to be in the same boat soon (getting a PC with no OS as I have a win7 retail license to use on it). I'm already "resigned" to having to install win7 then upgrade to win10 before probably doing a clean install of win10. If I then decided that I preferred win7 can I then go back an do a fresh install of win7 using its license key or has the upgrade converted it into a win10 only license? Also, I've read that a retail win7 license uprades into an "oem" (i.e. tied to hardware) license - anyone know if this is really true?

Rab · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:30

sure i read u have something like 30 days for the rollback if don't like win 10.

kayomani · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:37

Yep, it just will likely delete the back up after 30 days nothing else special happens. Your original licence is never affected, the one generated by the upgrade is tied to your mobo unless you link it to a ms account and talk to support to allow for it to be transferred by deactivating the old install.

/\ndy · 4 Oct 2015 at 22:19

I have a similar issue. I used the upgrade tool and installed windows 10 about a month or so ago, but I recently replaced my SSD and did a fresh install by creating a usb drive with the media creation tool. Now for whatever reason windows won't activate automatically, I see the error saying it's been blocked by windows? I'll try the phone activation but befor I do any workaround?

Disco_P · 4 Oct 2015 at 23:50

/\ndy said:
I have a similar issue. I used the upgrade tool and installed windows 10 about a month or so ago, but I recently replaced my SSD and did a fresh install by creating a usb drive with the media creation tool. Now for whatever reason windows won't activate automatically, I see the error saying it's been blocked by windows? I'll try the phone activation but befor I do any workaround?

Try the info in this thread, though alter it for your circumstances.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18691737