I have upgraded from windows 7 Ultimate to windows 10 pro. It all upgraded without problems & shows its activated. Now I want to make a ISO of the media so I can do a fresh install from scratch but I have a problem, I can't seem to find out what my new Product key is. I googled around & they suggest using a 3rd party key finder but to be honest I don't like using tools like that.
From reading pre release news & articles from microsoft & so on. We can download the ISO to install fresh but we need to upgrade first to enable to key. What key? I have tried to use my original Windows 7 key but it wont accept it so I presume on upgrading we are issued with a new unique product key for future installations of windows 10, but where & how do we obtain it?
You should be able to clean install and skip the step to enter a key and Windows will activate automatically.
So how will Microsoft know its me? What if I have 2 systems with identical hardware, how will MS know which is which?
Do I have to create a ISO from the system I want it to be installed on? Because I created a DVD ISO from the ms download link from my main system & I upgraded my laptop 8.1 to windows 10. How do I do a fresh install on the laptop as I tried using the 8.1 key but it wont accept. I wiped the HDD on the laptop so how can I do a fresh install without a product key linked to the laptop from where I originally upgraded & then wiped?
This all a bit confusing as I would of thought MS would of presented you with a key during the upgrade or activation process but nothing.
The same way they knew when 8 was reinstalled on the same hardware.So how will Microsoft know its me? What if I have 2 systems with identical hardware, how will MS know which is which?
It makes no sense to me because I loaded the windows 10 DVD I got from the microsoft media creation tool & it wont let me beyond the enter key screen! The next button isn't highlighted!
From Microsoft site Windows 10
If you will be installing the operating system for the first time, you will need your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx).
I understood that the key is the original Win 7, 8 or 8.1 key
But I wouldn't be installing windows for the first time. I have already upgraded & now I want to install windows 10 on my new SSD for the laptop for which I waited for windows 10 to be released rather than installing my windows 7 pro to then upgrade & have to mess with conversion problems. I would rather install fresh & have everything from the start. So how can I do this if after upgrading from 7 to 10 & my original windows 7 key wont allow me to progress on a fresh install!From Microsoft site Windows 10
If you will be installing the operating system for the first time, you will need your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx).
I understood that the key is the original Win 7, 8 or 8.1 key
Because 10 won't accept a 7 key. It's been stated numerous times you clean install on the exact same hardware. Not a clean install after installing a new drive and trying to enter a product key for a different OS.
Ok, So what if I upgrade & then do a clean install & then later down the road my HDD dies on me. How to a re install my windows 10? It wouldn't have the same hardware so how would this happen because I don't want to find out I can't install windows 10 anymore because of a hardware failure!
I was thinking that it would allow a hard drive replacement, i don't know what hardware Microsoft is looking at to determine if it has already been activated but not allowing hard drive swap outs would be a big flaw.
I could possibly put a new hard drive in a test machine at work to test this next week if i get chance, it will be good to know.
I have a test machine with windows 10 upgraded / activated so i would just need to throw a new hard drive in and do a clean install to test.
