I have a Thinkpad now running Windows 10 which a Lenovo tech says needs a fresh install. After checking the BIOS OS note he says it shows Windows 8 as the original OS so to do a fresh install he will send me Win 8.1 recovery disks which I must first install after which I should upgrade the machine to W10 otherwise the W10 upgrade won't recognise the W8 activation key. Is this right? It's rather long winded. If just make a W10 installation DVD is there a way to activate it directly from my W8 key?
No.After checking the BIOS OS note he says it shows Windows 8 as the original OS so to do a fresh install he will send me Win 8.1 recovery disks which I must first install after which I should upgrade the machine to W10 otherwise the W10 upgrade won't recognise the W8 activation key. Is this right?If you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key, the Windows 10 installer should automatically detect product key from UEFI firmware and you will be taken straight to the License Agreement screen. When installation is finished, Windows 10 will be activated automatically.If just make a W10 installation DVD is there a way to activate it directly from my W8 key?
Just install Windows 10, no need to go back to Windows 8 first. Windows 10 should read the Windows 8 product key in bios and not even ask you for a product key or which version you want to install.
You might want to export your drivers first if you have hardware that Microsoft does not have drivers for directly from Windows 10 or Windows update. Create a folder on a USB flash drive (it can be the Windows 10 USB flash drive if you make a flash drive), or any USB flash drive. For example if you create a folder with the name Drivers, from a Command Prompt (Admin) [Right click start icon], enter:
dism /online /export-driver /destination:E:Driver
The path in red will be drive letter and folder on USB flash drive that you create.
Windows 10 reads and uses the Windows 8.0 OEM embedded key in my laptop. As mentioned, no need to install 8 or 8.1 and upgrade.
Thank you all for the information. Just before I head off on this adventure can I ask:
1. How can I check that there is an embedded key in the laptop. It's a Thinkpad 540p?
2. Are there instructions on here to guide me making the W10 installation DVD? I have found pointers on the web but I trust this forum more!
This utility will show if there is an embedded key and what version its for, Showkey
The Media Creation Tool will create install media for you, Use the Download Tool Now option.
Installation Tutorials are here,
Wow. Thank you all so much.
