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[ROSSInHD]

Hi Guys

Just updated my first ever build (I5-3470 and Asrock H77 Pro 4 to a I5-6600k and an Asus z170).

I completely forgot about windows being locked to a motherboard but it all booted fine apart from my Windows 10 Home is unactivated. I tried MIcrosoft support to unlock it but it is a no go.

Now I am reading on another forum I am going to be having all sorts of driver issues despite all seeming to be well.

I need to get a windows 10 key and my cheapest option by far is just to order a Windows 10 Home USB drive option due to me getting VAT off physical deliveries (£69.98) rather than a digital key from the Microsoft store (£99).

My question is, If I plug this thumbdrive in, set the pc to boot from this can I re install windows 10 and format my previous SSD which has windows on it and all the drivers, then choose the SSD as the Windows location and then change the boot option to boot from the SSD and hey presto will I have a fresh windows 10 install with no driver issues.

Thanks in advance and sorry for a dumb question.

 

[Method0ne]

It's possible that you'll have conflicts if you don't do a clean OS install after building a new rig, but it's not guaranteed. You are definitely better off with a fresh install though, regardless.

It seems that you're asking if you can boot from a USB device, format your SSD and install Windows on it. If that's the case, then yes, you can.

If you have a USB stick handy and a halfway decent internet connection, you can go ahead and get the media creation tool from Microsoft and have it make a bootable USB stick and do the reformat and re-install now.

You don't need to put in a product key during the install, it will ask (twice) but just click on the "Skip for now" option and it will install as normal, allowing you to get your entire system up and running.

Then, once your delivery arrives, go to the System properties in the Control Panel (WinKey+Pause/Break) and click the "Change product key" option in the lower right, put your new key in and Windows will activate itself in fairly short order.

 

[demonix]

It's unlikely that you'd have any driver issues as operating systems since around windows 7 have become pretty robust and can adapt to large changes in hardware rather easily and will replace drivers where needed instead of just throwing all it's toys out of the pram and blue screening.

If you want to save a bit of money on the replacement key you can try the microsoft software swap on reddit as you could get a copy of windows 10 pro for around £30 (I'm only guessing as the prices are in US dollars).