Noob (activation) question

banja · 21 Jun 2016 at 22:24

How do you deactivate a current Win 7 OS so you can go ahead and fresh install Win 10?

More specifically, I want to take advantage of the free Win 10 upgrade, but also want to do a fresh install onto a brand new SSD.

Sorry if it's a bit obvious and noobish. It's slightly complicated by the fact that I didn't have the activation key (bought the PC 2nd hand, already installed) so used a key finder to extract the Win 7 key from the registry.

AtreuS · 22 Jun 2016 at 13:19

Just download a new windows 10 ISO and install from fresh and input the windows 7 key you have. It will auto activate if you do it before the end of the month when the free upgrade runs out.

I have done this on several machines for customers.

banja · 24 Jun 2016 at 01:40

AtreuS said:
Just download a new windows 10 ISO and install from fresh and input the windows 7 key you have. It will auto activate if you do it before the end of the month when the free upgrade runs out.

I have done this on several machines for customers.

Thankyou

gord · 24 Jun 2016 at 11:05

AtreuS said:
Just download a new windows 10 ISO and install from fresh and input the windows 7 key you have. It will auto activate if you do it before the end of the month when the free upgrade runs out.

I have done this on several machines for customers.

Is this genuinely working? I'd love to avoid having to install Win 7 and go through the whole activation/upgrade palava.

this_is_gav · 24 Jun 2016 at 11:09

gord said:
Is this genuinely working? I'd love to avoid having to install Win 7 and go through the whole activation/upgrade palava.

So long as the ISO is after the November build (1511) then yes.

Obviously do a system image first in case it catches fire etc (but you should be doing that anyway

).

BuToNz · 24 Jun 2016 at 11:09

gord said:
Is this genuinely working? I'd love to avoid having to install Win 7 and go through the whole activation/upgrade palava.

Yes - all Windows 7 keys will work during the Windows 10 setup (Since the latest ISO/build).

gord · 24 Jun 2016 at 11:16

this_is_gav said:
So long as the ISO is after the November build (1511) then yes.

BuToNz said:
Yes - all Windows 7 keys will work during the Windows 10 setup (Since the latest ISO/build).

Genius! I assume using the media creation tool now uses the latest Win 10 build?

BuToNz · 24 Jun 2016 at 11:28

gord said:
Genius! I assume using the media creation tool now uses the latest Win 10 build?

Yupp!

For anyone wondering where to find that tool: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10