I have the Windows 10 ISO on DVD ready to clean install. I have never upgraded or did a clean install as of yet. I am now running Windows 7 SP1. I read that I can now use my Windows 7 key to clean install 10. But what I want to do is upgrade my PC first with a new motherboard then install 10. Is this possible using my Windows 7 key. Thanks.
You need to make sure your Windows 7 SP1 is installed and activated in the new motherboardfirst.I have the Windows 10 ISO on DVD ready to clean install. I have never upgraded or did a clean install as of yet. I am now running Windows 7 SP1. I read that I can now use my Windows 7 key to clean install 10. But what I want to do is upgrade my PC first with a new motherboard then install 10. Is this possible using my Windows 7 key. Thanks.
Then you can either do upgrade install or clean install of Windows 10.
It is not required to install Windows 7 first on the new motherboard, but it is a good idea and the way that I would do it.
Windows 10 will activate on brand new hardware by manually entering a Windows 7 product key, but sometimes Microsoft will come back and say the Windows 7 product key is in use on another computer. The only way to fix that is to install Windows 7 on the new computer and activate it on the phone.
So my new computer a couple months ago I didn't take the chance. I just did a quick Windows 7 install and activation on it first. Neither SP1 or any Windows 7 updates are required before upgrading to Windows 10 from an ISO, that's the good news.
I used the gatherosstate.exe and genuineticket.xml file to activate Windows 10 on my new computer.
I have the OEM Windows 7, so I guess it will be tied to the motherboard I have now, so I'm not sure it would activate on a new motherboard.
If you have the time, it would never hurt to try.I have the OEM Windows 7, so I guess it will be tied to the motherboard I have now, so I'm not sure it would activate on a new motherboard.
But it would violate the End Users License Agreement to do so. An OEM license can only be transferred to a new device (motherboard) if it is an exact replacement for one that has failed, not an upgrade.If you have the time, it would never hurt to try.
I recently clean installed windows 10, using an 8.1 key and it did this ie complained about the old key being in use as well.It is not required to install Windows 7 first on the new motherboard, but it is a good idea and the way that I would do it.
Windows 10 will activate on brand new hardware by manually entering a Windows 7 product key, but sometimes Microsoft will come back and say the Windows 7 product key is in use on another computer. The only way to fix that is to install Windows 7 on the new computer and activate it on the phone.
So my new computer a couple months ago I didn't take the chance. I just did a quick Windows 7 install and activation on it first. Neither SP1 or any Windows 7 updates are required before upgrading to Windows 10 from an ISO, that's the good news.
I used the gatherosstate.exe and genuineticket.xml file to activate Windows 10 on my new computer.
Rather than messing around with installing windows 8, then reinstalling 10 again, and also I did not want to mess around creating a dual boot drive( messing around with partition resizing etc), I found easiest way was to create an 8.1 virtual hard drive.
Very easy to do (works for windows 7, 8 or even 10 Insiders) . Getting to command prompt may differ for windows 7 (cannot remember but rest is the same).
First create a directory to hold vhd e.g. c:vhd
Boot from a windows installation disk, select language etc.
Click next to get to install now page, and then press shift+f10 to get to command prompt and type
create vdisk file=c:vhdWindows.vhd maximum=50000 type=fixed --> (adjust drive, size name and path etc to suit your needs)
select vdisk file=c:vhdWindows.vhd
attach vdisk
exit
Then the virtual disk you just created will be listed as a drive from the installation menu, and you can install it.
It then updates boot menu giving a dual boot option.
Then you can run old version, telephone activate etc.
Then removing it is simply a case of deleting boot entry from msconfig, and deleting vhd.
Very cool cereberus! Thanks for that!
