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Reinstalling Windows 10 after upgrade

We understand that you may have some questions regarding what to do if you have to reinstall Windows 10 at some point after you take advantage of the free upgrade.  Here are some basic questions and answers regarding the free upgrade offer:

Q: After doing a free upgrade to Windows 10, how do I clean install Windows 10 subsequently?

A: Once your device upgrades to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer and activates online automatically, you will be able to clean install (i.e. boot from media and install Windows 10) the same edition of Windows 10 that you upgraded to on the same device during and after the free upgrade offer. You will not be required to purchase Windows 10 or go back to your prior down-level version of Windows. 

Windows 10 FAQ covers which edition of Windows you'll get upgraded to depending on the edition of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 that you start from (Refer to the question "What edition of Windows will I get as part of this free upgrade?"). More information on Windows 10 editions was published last month.

To enable clean installation of Windows 10 on devices that upgraded and activated online using the free upgrade offer

  1. You will be able to download and create installation media on a USB drive or DVD for the appropriate Windows 10 Edition 
  2. You will be able to skip entering the product key during Windows 10 Setup. Windows 10 will activate online automatically on such devices. The skip option is only available when booting from media and launching setup

The automatic online activation will occur seamlessly after clean installing Windows 10 if the device had previously upgraded and activated online the same Edition of Windows 10. No product keys are required.

 

Q: What happens if I change the hardware configuration of my Windows 10 device?

A: If the hardware configuration of your Windows 10 device changes significantly (e.g. motherboard change) Windows may require re-activation on the device. This is the same experience as prior versions of Windows (e.g. Windows 7 and Windows 8.1).   The free upgrade offer will not apply to activation of Windows 10 in such scenarios where hardware changes reset Activation.

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Windows 10 mediacreationtool.exe:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Pro or Home, 32-bit or 64-bit or both, ISO or Flash Drive

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Thanks Paul, just edited my post above. Seems that when you try to access that tool from a Vista PC it just redirects you straight to the ISO files. Can see it now on my 7 PC.

It's great that the tool will create both 32 and 64-bit in one ISO. Wonder if we choose the Pro version to download, it will also include Home? As the ISO's downloaded straight from the site include both versions.

Yeah, I was wondering if the Pro version also contains all versions of 10 in it.

My Windows 7 Pro Retail contains the following:

  • Home Basic
  • Home Premium
  • Professional
  • Ultimate

I assume its the product key that determines what to install and whether its OEM or Retail.

I will find out once its downloaded, I will try and install it on VMware to see if it uses Easy Install and see what option it gives me (not actually installing it).

Paul

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LOL now it suddenly says my Windows 10 is activated. Whats going on here? :-))

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Thanks True, but in previous versions, if you downloaded say Windows 7 then you had all versions of 7 on the disk. Wonder if that's the case with the tool?

Seems strange that the tool only creates one version yet the ISO's from the site have both versions included (but separate downloads for 32 & 64-Bit).

The question is: Which is the better option to upgrade?

1) Through Windows Update

2) Through the Media Creation Tool

3) From an ISO from the site

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That key is a so called generic key and it is used only to install. You cannot activate with that key.

And it is not activating precisely because you entered that key.

Do not enter any key, just skip and it will activate.

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For some reason it is activated now. With different key again. ;-) Thanks for help.

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I upgraded to win10 my laptop which had win8.1 OEM, and I just did slmgr.vbs /dlv in win10 and it's saying it's retail . but when I did it in win8.1 it said OEM

not sure why?

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Brds7t7,

Look back at my screen shot.

You can put both the 64-bit and 32-bit on the same install media.

Is that what you were asking?

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gazzy,

Wow! you are correct.  I didn't notice that.

I upgraded Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit OEM to Windows 10 Pro.

When I did a slmgr.vbs /dlv

it says my Windows 10 is "RETAIL"

This is what my Windows 7 OEM license looked like before I upgrades:

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The Free Windows 10 is not really free at all, you are just borrowing it for the life of your current device. I am a PC gamer and I change my hardware regular, as do most hardcore PC gamers. Trying to fruitlessly activate Windows 10 again after replacing the motherboard etc doesn't sound like fun to me. Maybe you have to reinstall Windows 8 and go from there. I can see it being such a pain and It doesn't look like it will be even possible. 

Anyway I am done with it and just bought a Windows 10 Pro licence key so I can reinstall a million times with no hassle or hoops to go through. Microsoft you disappoint me.

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Last updated January 8, 2024 Views 740,119 Applies to: