Reformatting Windows 10 drive

Wahzy

Wahzy

Wahzy

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17 Apr 2012
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438
Hello everyone,

I am considering the current 8Pack deal for the 7700k bundle for £599.99 (great deal).

However I have a copy of Windows 10 that I migrated for free from Windows 7 when the opportunity was there.

If I want to perform a hard reformat on this drive. What with the new hardware on my system. How do I go about reinstalling Windows 10? I don't want to have to reinstall Windows 7 first then migrate again.

Thanks,
Alex.
 
Wahzy said:
However I have a copy of Windows 10 that I migrated for free from Windows 7 when the opportunity was there.

If I want to perform a hard reformat on this drive. What with the new hardware on my system. How do I go about reinstalling Windows 10? I don't want to have to reinstall Windows 7 first then migrate again.

Thanks,
Alex.
Click to expand...

Hi Alex,
Bad new I'm afraid. I upgraded my Mobo CPU + memory too.

I did the same as you wish to do, I installed Win 10 it refused to activate.
After which I installed Win 7 Pro & activated the same, after which I installed Win with Win 7 running activation then took place.

After which & out of curiosity, I did a clean install of Win 10 which then activated fine.
BTW my Win 7 is the retail version
 
You have a genuine W7 retail key?
You should be able to install W10 then input your W7 key
If you had W7 oem key i think you are out of luck as key is not transferable to other hardware i.e. another mobo
Maybe someone else can confirm this fore you
 
I have Windows 7 Pro on disc with serial.

However will this serial already be assigned to my current motherboard?
 
Other than with the initial install of Win 7 I didn't have to use a serial number at all to get Win 10 activated.

Beats me.
 
Yes but as long as you only use key once it `should` work
I mean either not use the old pc or uninstall W7 on it
 
Wahzy said:
Can I check if I have OEM version?
Click to expand...

I guess you can but I'm damned if I can remember how. :o

I got my OS from a large supermarket thus its retail, it didn't come via the computer supplier.

I'm sure someone can & will explain the whys & how's better than I.
 
create a Microsoft account (you'll get an outlook email address)

'register/associate' that with your current pc. download an iso image of windows 10 from here - windows 10 iso creation tool and save to a usb (the creation tool creates a bootable usb drive)

when you go to install windows10 on your new pc point the system to the usb as the 1st bootable option and follow the on screen instructions - where it asks for a key, ignore that and continue with the installation. once installed 'activate' windows with your Microsoft account.
if it fails to register the link that will appear and you'll end up with live chat support.

it's much easier now to move windows keys between systems.
 
if your ever unsure do a microsoft live chat

you will not be able to use the windows 10 you free upgraded on a new build, however you can reinstall your win 7 and get the free upgrade again i do believe
 
marco.da.man said:
if your ever unsure do a microsoft live chat

you will not be able to use the windows 10 you free upgraded on a new build, however you can reinstall your win 7 and get the free upgrade again i do believe
Click to expand...

No. See Thekwango's post and the link I provided for more details. The digital license carries through. What you can't do is continue to use the other computer with the same key as for the new one.
 
Danny75 said:
No. See Thekwango's post and the link I provided for more details. The digital license carries through. What you can't do is continue to use the other computer with the same key as for the new one.
Click to expand...

strange as when i spoke to live chat they never mentioned anything like this and said i cant use an upgraded free windows 10 on a new build and i would need to either reinstall windows 7 and free upgrade again or buy windows 10
 
marco.da.man said:
strange as when i spoke to live chat they never mentioned anything like this and said i cant use an upgraded free windows 10 on a new build and i would need to either reinstall windows 7 and free upgrade again or buy windows 10
Click to expand...

I'd imagine the person you spoke to didn't have a clue, or they were referring to a scenario where the user had not activated their digital license.
 
marco.da.man said:
strange as when i spoke to live chat they never mentioned anything like this and said i cant use an upgraded free windows 10 on a new build and i would need to either reinstall windows 7 and free upgrade again or buy windows 10
Click to expand...

Danny75 said:
I'd imagine the person you spoke to didn't have a clue, or they were referring to a scenario where the user had not activated their digital license.
Click to expand...

I'd go with not having a clue - some of their general live chat people are a tad 'special'!! it really is as easy as downloading the iso, booting from the usb to initiate the install then following instructions (remember not to put in your old win7 key at the point it prompts for a key) when installed set the default user account as the Microsoft account you previously created and hit the activation button. boom done, any issues click the button that appears when/if authentication fails. it will bring you to a live chat function - these folk tend to be more clued up - and you'll be up and running in no time
 
Danny75 said:
I'd imagine the person you spoke to didn't have a clue
Click to expand...

I spoke to clueless person from MS too, after a change of MB he said "Your digital licence for Windows 10 is now RIP with your previous MB" He was wrong. Install & activate Win 7 from within Windows 7 install Windows 10 activation takes place while updates are installing. Fortunately you need only follow this method once, Windows 10 will clean install & I assume activate itself thereafter.
 
You have to do the digital license thing before you put the new mobo in. You should do that and find out what your W10 product key is. AFAIK there's a program called ProduKey that will tell you, copy *all* of the product keys including for W10, IE, Edge, whatever. I didn't remember until I'd already swapped the entire system and I wasn't going to tear it down (W/C Loop) and start again. As soon as it detects the new mobo I think it wipes the license and possibly the product key as well.

I wasn't going to do a reinstall of W7, and my retail W7 key did not work with the existing W10 install (said it wasn't valid). I don't know if the free upgrade still works, I thought it finished months ago at least. MS support made me buy a replacement product key, which was £25. I haven't seen an official price/policy anywhere. TBH I was expecting them to tell me to buy a full retail copy for £200+ pounds so I was planning to chance one of the dodgy key resellers, so when they said £25 I was like ok whatever.

They did tell me to make a note of the key as apparently you get a digital license or a product key depending on how you acquired Windows 10 (https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/12440/windows-10-activation), so if I lose it I'll have to get another! Ironically when I went to save it in my locker where I keep these sorts of things...there was a spare Windows 10 product key in there already :@.
 
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