Windows 10 Technical Preview - Insider Program

[reactor_sa]

Any one upgraded a 7 Starter yet? I have a couple of them I need to visit and upgrade. Problem is they were activated with the "Windows 7 Activator" which essentially looks at the hardware in your machine and then injects a OEM VLK into the OS based on your platform, and Windows appears to be activated. For example if you have a Gigabyte system board it will use a Gigabyte key. So I do hope they will pass off as legit Windows 7 installs.

Msdn uploaded the windows 10 multiple editions isos late yesterday. Why you battling with activation upgrade nonsense??

 

[Arthur]

Guess I'll have to remove it from starting up with CCleaner.

Oy, that's not advisable. Leave these "reg cleaner utilities" alone - almost inevitably they end up messing with your system. I used them in the Win2K and XP days. But wouldn't touch 'em with a bargepole now.

 

[Rouxenator]

Oy, that's not advisable. Leave these "reg cleaner utilities" alone - almost inevitably they end up messing with your system. I used them in the Win2K and XP days. But wouldn't touch 'em with a bargepole now.

I have been using them since Windows 7, works fine for me. Especially to disabled things that climb into your start up, task scheduler, context menus and so on.

Windows 10 multiple editions ISOs is not available for download on my subscription.

 

[NeoNarchy]

Did a upgrade on 8Pro - 10Pro, ran clean install after without entering key, loaded nic drivers windows activated. NO need for key, so it seems that activation is HW related

 

[Rouxenator]

Yes, I just read up on that. Apparently when you activate your upgrade it remembers you PC so you do not need to enter the key ever again.

Thankfully I have a boat load of keys available under my MSDN subscription should I need to install on new hardware

 

[Agent_Smith]

Did a upgrade on 8Pro - 10Pro, ran clean install after without entering key, loaded nic drivers windows activated. NO need for key, so it seems that activation is HW related

I think if it's an OEM version of Windows as opposed to Retail, the cd key is embedded in the BIOS, meaning no need to enter a key.

I had Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit and last night, downloaded the ISO for Windows 10 Home 64 Bit. Booted from the ISO and when it came to entering the cd key, it wouldn't accept my (authentic) Windows 7 cd key. It was already late so I didn't bother trying anything else, but I found it weird. Might have done somerthing wrong in either the installation process, or during the creation of the ISO though...

 

[AthenianOwl]

Did a upgrade on 8Pro - 10Pro, ran clean install after without entering key, loaded nic drivers windows activated. NO need for key, so it seems that activation is HW related

Exactly. After upgrading to win10, your hwid (unique for each device) gets whitelisted. No win10 key is needed.

 

[Agent_Smith]

Exactly. After upgrading to win10, your hwid (unique for each device) gets whitelisted. No win10 key is needed.

Ok, this is what I want clarity on. Is there a difference between upgrading (or updating) versus booting off a dvd containing the ISO? I installed via the second option last night and it's asking me for a cd key. Some of you evidently aren't getting this issue. I did go from Windows 7 to Windows 10 though and not 8 (or 8.1).

 

[Rouxenator]

You FIRST need to upgrade and activate - then the computer gets white listed. Then you can format and clean install.

 

[Agent_Smith]

You FIRST need to upgrade and activate - then the computer gets white listed. Then you can format and clean install.

Oh, this makes more sense. Darn, so I have to start the process again I assume.

 

[Rouxenator]

Yep, although I am quite happy with my upgrades. I keep my windows clean, not clutter or crap installed, nothing logging errors or warning in the event logs. So my upgrades were based on a stable instance.

 

[techead]

Oh, this makes more sense. Darn, so I have to start the process again I assume.

****

 

[gregmcc]

You FIRST need to upgrade and activate - then the computer gets white listed. Then you can format and clean install.

Hmm interesting. Not so sure if I want to try it and rebuild though

 

[Rouxenator]

Just upgrade. They have come a long way and the end result is a solid OS with all your stuff still in place.

 

[Necuno]

You FIRST need to upgrade and activate - then the computer gets white listed. Then you can format and clean install.

If you reserved you can clean install directly afaik. What I did in essence...

 

[AthenianOwl]

Ok, this is what I want clarity on. Is there a difference between upgrading (or updating) versus booting off a dvd containing the ISO? I installed via the second option last night and it's asking me for a cd key. Some of you evidently aren't getting this issue. I did go from Windows 7 to Windows 10 though and not 8 (or 8.1).

No differences as long as in the 2nd method you select Upgrade option(mount the iso and run the setup program - clean install option requires booting from USB). After selecting Upgrade option, it doesn't prompt you to input a win10 key, atleast in my case.

When its done and your hwid gets whitelisted, you can do a clean win10 install without inputting any key. Just skip the enter product key prompt.

 

[Agent_Smith]

If you reserved you can clean install directly afaik. What I did in essence...

When you reserved, did you have to provide any info? Like an existing product key?

 

[techead]

If you reserved you can clean install directly afaik. What I did in essence...

I think doing a clean install has nothing to do with reserving. Even if you didnt reserve there is nothing stopping you from doing a clean install from an ISO but then you will have product key issues.

I have windows 8.1 installed and auto-activated. Now I am going to put in my Windows 10 DVD and select upgrade. My hope is that in the process it will see that my 8.1 is legal and activated and whitelist my prioduct key (note, itt a laptop so probably OEM). Then I will format and do a FRESH install from the DVD.

Will this work?

 

[AthenianOwl]

When you reserved, did you have to provide any info? Like an existing product key?

No. GWX program (white win logo in the systray) validates your win7/8 install and generates an unique hwid to be uploaded later when you upgrade to win10. If upgrading from pirated 7/8.1, you will not get whitelisted.

 

[Stickfigure]

RSAT for Windows 10? Can only find the technical preview tools from Microsoft website and they don't work.