I'm going through the free upgrade process. I've downloaded Win 10 and burned the iso to a DVD.
Is it possible to obtain a Win 10 license key after activation for subsequent clean installs of Win 10 as if wasn't an upgrade?
Is there a way to just covert your Win 7 license key to a Win 10 license key so that it's not an upgrade license key?
In general, I prefer clean installs and avoid repair installs, upgrade installs, etc...
Regards
Hi,
Do an upgrade install of W10 first, access the internet, windows will be activated and the machine will be added to Microsoft's database.
That is you upgrade from Windows 7 Ultimate or W8.x Pro to Win 10 Pro.
After that you can do as many clean installs as you like, no key needed and W10 will activate as before.
Cheers,
What if you change out some hardware such as the motherboard or cpu? I would think you would need a software key for an efficient subsequent clean install.
I have two OEM Win 7 Pro 64-bit distribution DVDs with keys. I'd like to convert one to a Win 10 Pro 64-bit key for hassle free clean installs if and when hardware changes.
Hello! You don't need to upgrade first. There is a method to get your computer qualified for the free upgrade by running a utility contained in Windows 10 installer, as described in this post. It generates a file GenuineTicket.xml which you can save in a USB flash drive. Then you just format your PC and clean-install Windows 10. When asked for a key, click Skip and select Home or Pro (depending on the previous Windows version). You can download the ISO from here. The only requirement is to install the proper version, Windows 10 Home or Pro, depending on your current Windows version, or it won't activate. After having successfully installed Windows 10 in your machine, copy the file to the appropriate folder (see the post above) and restart your computer to activate.
If you change some hardware components, boot your computer to see if Windows load and you can see the desktop. If they do, install drivers for the new hardware. Windows may have been inactivated, click on Settings -> Update and Security -> Activation and activate them again. In case that you changed too many components and Windows won't activate automatically, you can activate them by phone. If you get a BSOD and cannot load Windows, you may have to backup your data and clean-install them again. Then try to activate, if not do it by phone (see on screen instructions). No key needed for installing Windows 10, click skip when asked for it.
Thanks for the reply spapakons.
I've found a few utilities that display product keys. Do you know if that you install the Win 10 as you've indicated and use a license key utility on the Win 10 install, will it display a Win 10 license key that can be used for subsequent clean installs without copying the upgrade file to the appropriate folder?
Regards
One utility to see the Windows key (and any other key of your installed applications) is Aida64. Go to Operating System section for Windows, go to Software section for other keys. I don't remember if the unregistered version hides part of the key, otherwise you must register the program. This tool can also identify hardware before you install any drivers, so it is useful for finding which drivers to download. It can also monitor your temperatures and fan speeds among other things.
You can't convert keys.What if you change out some hardware such as the motherboard or cpu? I would think you would need a software key for an efficient subsequent clean install.
I have two OEM Win 7 Pro 64-bit distribution DVDs with keys. I'd like to convert one to a Win 10 Pro 64-bit key for hassle free clean installs if and when hardware changes.
The windows 10 keys are generic keys unless you buy a Box from a store. All upgrades generate the same key. See the sticky thread on this in the general discussion forum it will explain it all.
Didn't know that detail... Besides, as we already said, you don't need a key, just click Skip during Setup.
For the exchange of some hardware components:
Windows will still activate after you exchanged components. But there is one important exception: If you currently have an OEM licence, which you are upgrading to Windows 10, andif you then exchange the motherboard, Windows 10 will no longer activate. OEM licences are bound to the motherboard. Retail licences however can be used on another PC, and also on the original one after the motherboard has been changed.
That being said, there have been reports of people, who changed the motherboard in order to repair a PC, then phoned Microsoft, explained the situation and Microsoft then did activate their OEM licence on that system. Anyway, if Microsoft does that, it is purely good will on their site - they don't have to and if you're unlucky maybe they don't do that for you.
