Windows OEM clean install question

[Just_Ice]

My laptop came preinstalled with an OEM version of windows 7 which was subsequently upgraded to windows 10.

I want to replace the hard drive in my laptop with an SSD while also doing a fresh install of windows 10 rather than cloning my current drive.

Can I simply use the product key on my current installation to activate? Will this work? Or would I be better off cloning my hard drive?

 

[Mr Scratch]

My laptop came preinstalled with an OEM version of windows 7 which was subsequently upgraded to windows 10.

I want to replace the hard drive in my laptop with an SSD while also doing a fresh install of windows 10 rather than cloning my current drive.

Can I simply use the product key on my current installation to activate? Will this work? Or would I be better off cloning my hard drive?

Do that. Also note $MS "assigns" the license to your device via HWID and can link it to your $MS account if you sign into the device with it.

 

[sajunky]

My laptop came preinstalled with an OEM version of windows 7 which was subsequently upgraded to windows 10.

Can I simply use the product key on my current installation to activate? Will this work? Or would I be better off cloning my hard drive?

Depends on what product key was before upgrading. Microsoft do not accept Win 7 OEM key for new installation (only retail keys). However because your computer came already through the upgrade process, Microsoft registered your motherboard on their servers. When you do clean installation without key, it should activate automatically, no matter it was linked to your MS account or not.

 

[Mr Scratch]

Or

Use ProduKey to extract the key from the OS.

 

[Just_Ice]

Do that. Also note $MS "assigns" the license to your device via HWID and can link it to your $MS account if you sign into the device with it.

Do I need to do anything in order to make sure it is assigned? If it is assigned, do I just need to log into my MS account and the activation will take place automatically?

Depends on what product key was before upgrading. Microsoft do not accept Win 7 OEM key for new installation (only retail keys). However because your computer came already through the upgrade process, Microsoft registered your motherboard on their servers. When you do clean installation without key, it should activate automatically, no matter it was linked to your MS account or not.

Yea, my laptop came preinstalled with windows and went through the upgrade process. So again, it would just be a matter of downloading a copy of windows 10 and signing in to my MS account if it has already been assigned to my motherboard and other specs as per the above quote?

Or Use ProduKey to extract the key from the OS.

I assume this key would be the same as the one on the sticker at the bottom of my laptop?

 

[Mr Scratch]

Do I need to do anything in order to make sure it is assigned, or can I then download a fresh copy of Windows 10 and reinstall with the key stuck to the bottom of my laptop?


Yea, my laptop came preinstalled with windows and went through the upgrade process. So again, it would just be a matter of downloading a copy of windows 10 and signing in to my MS account if it has already been assigned to my motherboard and other specs as per the above quote?

I assume this key would be the same as the one on the sticker at the bottom of my laptop?

1. Yes, under Settings in the Activations submenu it will tell you that the product is linked to your account. If it doesn't, you arent signed into your $MS account.

2. No, the key at the bottom will be for Win7, so use ProduKey to extract the Win10 key.

 

[Just_Ice]

1. Yes, under Settings in the Activations submenu it will tell you that the product is linked to your account. If it doesn't, you arent signed into your $MS account.

2. No, the key at the bottom will be for Win7, so use ProduKey to extract the Win10 key.

Thanks, will do!

 

[agentrfr]

When doing the install it will either extract the key from the mobo or you simply select "I dont have a key" during install and the first time it goes online it will get the key from MS and apply it for you

 

[Mr Scratch]

When doing the install it will either extract the key from the mobo or you simply select "I dont have a key" during install and the first time it goes online it will get the key from MS and apply it for you

Do it yourself beforehand to be sure. Don't ever trust software.

 

[sajunky]

Yea, my laptop came preinstalled with windows and went through the upgrade process. So again, it would just be a matter of downloading a copy of windows 10 and signing in to my MS account if it has already been assigned to my motherboard and other specs as per the above quote?

1. Downloading.
2. Clean installation with answer "I have no key". Using local login or your Microsoft account, no matter (both will activate).
3. ativating online.

If you are using Microsoft account, consider switching to local login. It is less heavy on data usage, one-drive and other bu$3it. Probably all of "icons disappearing" incidents are related to using Microsoft account.

 

[Stormer12]

dont have to extract the key at all. it will activate; easy.

As long as you install the correct Windows 10 version.

You get two versions: Single Langauge or Home/Pro

*Home/Pro should be for yours.

 

[Mr Scratch]

dont have to extract the key at all. it will activate; easy.

As long as you install the correct Windows 10 version.

You get two versions: Single Langauge or Home/Pro

*Home/Pro should be for yours.

NEVER trust software. It takes 1 minute to extract the key and you have absolute surity that you have your key.

 

[Stormer12]

NEVER trust software. It takes 1 minute to extract the key and you have absolute surity that you have your key.

ive never had an issue. always works for me. I think Microsoft did one thing correct tho.

Maybe im lucky

 

[Just_Ice]

When doing the install it will either extract the key from the mobo or you simply select "I dont have a key" during install and the first time it goes online it will get the key from MS and apply it for you

Got it.

Do it yourself beforehand to be sure. Don't ever trust software.

Downloading Produkey at the moment.

If you are using Microsoft account, consider switching to local login. It is less heavy on data usage, one-drive and other bu$3it. Probably all of "icons disappearing" incidents are related to using Microsoft account.

I am not too worried about data usage, but out of interest, how do I switch? I can see in my control panel that activation is based on a digital license linked to my account. Are you saying theres a way to change it to a local log in and activation?

As long as you install the correct Windows 10 version. You get two versions: Single Langauge or Home/Pro
*Home/Pro should be for yours.

Mine says "Windows 10 Home Single Language"?

 

[Mr Scratch]

Got it.

Downloading Produkey at the moment.

I am not too worried about data usage, but out of interest, how do I switch? I can see in my control panel that activation is based on a digital license linked to my account. Are you saying theres a way to change it to a local log in and activation?


Mine says "Windows 10 Home Single Language"?

Post installation, add a new local user account, login to that, remove the $MS account.

 

[Stormer12]

Post installation, add a new local user account, login to that, remove the $MS account.

you made it sound way to complicated than what it really is

You made the poor guy think what the

 

[Stormer12]

Mine says "Windows 10 Home Single Language"?

Then use windows 10 single language. Weired tho; cause you upgraded from windows 7 it shoud've been Windows 10 Home or Pro

What windows 7 did you have?

 

[Arthur]

Here's the simple fact:

All Windows 10 licences are valid for the life of that device.

If you've previously activated Windows 10 on that device (which you have), then you need do nothing further as your device will have a digital licence. You can reinstall as many times as you like and will not need to enter an activation key.

Speaking horse.

 

[Mr Scratch]

Here's the simple fact:

All Windows 10 licences are valid for the life of that device.

If you've previously activated Windows 10 on that device (which you have), then you need do nothing further as your device will have a digital licence. You can reinstall as many times as you like and will not need to enter an activation key.

Speaking horse.

This is unless any major hardware change is detected by the $MS detection servers. It's ALWAYS a good idea to keep a safe, external backup of your OS key.

 

[vic777]

This is unless any major hardware change is detected by the $MS detection servers. It's ALWAYS a good idea to keep a safe, external backup of your OS key.

+1

I've never had an issue re-installing Win 10 but I always make sure I have multiple backups of the key in many different places, it can't hurt.

I had one laptop that failed to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 in the free upgrade period. Microsoft support activated it for me with a remote assistance session. I asked for the Windows 10 key, which the support guy pasted in Notepad. Then reformatted and reinstalled with that key since the remote assistance session makes one a bit paranoid.