windows install help needed

amllradam · 23 Dec 2015 at 07:09

hello i am going to be changing my ssd to a bigger one but i have already upgrade my windows 7 to windows 10. i have had a look online and you can do a fresh reinstall without a key as your system is registered on the windows database but my worry is that i am changing the ssd so my system is changing my question is am i going to have to buy a new windows 10 key :confused:

Many thanks

Adam

amllradam · 23 Dec 2015 at 07:43

sorry have managed to solve problem i have spoke to a microsoft techie and he has said that you can reinstall but you have to reinstall your original windows so for me windows 7 then do all the updates again and just re-upgrade again. thought i would post this just incase anyone else is having the same issues

ED209 · 23 Dec 2015 at 07:59

you can do clean install of 10 if you are not changing your mobo just skip the stages where it asks for a product key during install

W10 activates by hardware ID once online so use the W10 USB tool and create a DVD\USB installer of W10.

amllradam · 23 Dec 2015 at 09:48

Sweet well that has saved me a lot of time thanks, I wonder why they didn't say that

kedge · 23 Dec 2015 at 10:59

ED209 said:
W10 activates by hardware ID.

Which hardware though? I am sure i read an official Microsoft EULA that states any Major changes such as Motherboard or hard drive will require a new purchase of Windows 10? the mainboard is an obvious one but not sure about the hard drive?

If you upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer and then made significant hardware changes to your device, such as replacing the motherboard, Windows 10 might no longer be activated.

Activation in Windows 10 - Windows Help

I tested the microsoft support when I made changes, I went through an automated system twice with the auto generated installation ID (which failed twice) then onto talking live to an actual human being who after 10 seconds cut me off.

amllradam · 23 Dec 2015 at 11:53

Ok maybe I won't try that lol I had an online chat with the Microsoft tech team and he sed that I would have reinstall windows 7 do all the updates and upgrade again so I got him to confirm a second time that I would be able to upgrade my copy of windows 7 for a second time and he sed yes

Orcvader · 23 Dec 2015 at 12:17

As long as you're using the Windows 10 TH2 ISO, you can activate it fine with the 7 key. I did a similar thing with my old laptop, it came with 8.1, but I swapped the HDD for a SSD and installed 10 on it, which detected the 8.1 key in the BIOS fine and activated instantly, without me needing to install 8.1 first for the upgrade.