Windows 10: Clean Install on Another Computer a Year Later?

I poked around but could not find a clear answer for this scenario. What I found is that if you upgrade during the first year, it is linked to your hardware.

But lets say next year I want to get a new computer. I previously purchased the retail version of Win7 Pro. So I should be able to put Win7 on a new computer (say should because I heard you may not be able to now), but anyway then that new hardware won't be in the 1 year window.

So what is going to happen when I get a new computer in a year or two? Maybe you have to get on the phone with them and explain what is going on? Not a huge deal, I just want to know what to expect with this new process.

:)

 

What if I require a clean install after a year has past?

Thats funny! Most everyone is talking about in the event of a hard drive failure. Please explain how to use this windows feature with no Windows?

 

What if I require a clean install after a year has past?

I have now upgraded all my desktops and laptops.

for the initial free upgrade i downloaded the usb tool and set it up on my usb drive for installation on another pc.

just run it from within your windows installation on the pc you are upgrading to get the digital license activation.

once the upgrade is complete right click start button on desktop and click system to check activation status or the best way would be to left click start. > settings > update and security > activation. then it should say windows is activated and under product
key it should say windows 10 is activated with a digital entitlement on this device.

then make sure you are happy with Win 10 and that you don't want to go back before doing a clean install.

Once you are happy. back up anything you want to keep. and shut down. now boot from the usb and follow prompts for clean install.

I gained more hard drive space by deleting the factory recovery partition on the hard drive as if your not going back to the previous OS then there is no need to keep it. So i deleted all partitions and created 1 new one the full size of the drive. ( if
you have more than 1 hard drive then it is wise to disconnect power to all the others you want to protect while you install windows) when installing it asks for key. if you had a digital entitlement then leave it blank. it auto activates when installed.
This is why the upgrade must be done from within windows initially.

Once installed follow previous steps to check activation. should be activated once you have an internet connection.

And that's it. now just let it update or do it manually by going to settings > Update and security.

Now you have that usb stick set up like that you can upgrade all your PC's with it as long as they are capable of taking Windows 10.

 

Edit: Up until July 29 2016 you are free to transfer as you wish. You would obviously have to first uninstall Win10 from your current device. Then install Win7 Retail on your new device and use the free promotional offer to upgrade to Win10.

As MS policy currently stands, your Win7 Retail ►Win10 upgrade will become a pre-installed license (aka oem) on the upgraded device on July 29 2016. You will not be able to transfer your upgraded Win10 on to another device from that point as it will be tied to the hardware on the first device (Please see EULA for details of transfer rights for a pre-installed license)

However, you will still be able to uninstall Win10 from the upgraded device and transfer your Win7 Retail to a new device. This is because your Win7 Retail transfer rights remain unaffected. If you then wanted to upgrade the new device to Win10 you will be required to pay as the free promotional upgrade offer will have expired.

The MS policy is of course subject to change.

I hope this clears things up for you! *Smile

 

Ahhh, so if want to simply change my motherboard next year (probably the best definition a new "device"), I will most likely have to pay an upgrade fee. I sort of expected this would be the case.

I wonder how they classify a new "device" since I could conceivably just upgrade the mobo (weak link in my system now).

 

An upgraded motherboard definitely satisifes the Microsoft definition of a new device and would require a new license to be purchased. If you want to upgrade the motherboard, I suggest doing so before the free promotional Win10 upgrade offer has expired. (ie While you still have full transfer rights as described in the edited para #1 within my first post)

 

However - the EULA for the Windows 10 upgrade currently states that a previous retail license is supposed to retain transferability when it is upgraded to Windows 10. OEM license upgrades to OEM license, retail license upgrades to retail license. Microsoft never intended, advertised, or promised that the free upgrade to Windows 10 would be transferrable, but it is in the EULA that a retail license upgrades to a retail license. (Yes, they call it something different, but the new terms they use describe what was previously known as OEM and retail).)

There have been reports of people pointing this out to Microsoft and Microsoft has responded by giving them a full retail unique and transferrable product key for Windows 10.

 

Yup - That was me *Biggrin


@LT2000. Here is the thread explaining the above. (I edited the first post once the resolution was agreed, to include most of the essential details as the thread is quite long)

Are Windows Retail Version Upgrading to Win 10 OEM?? Solved

 

I also have a gratis retail product key from the Answer Desk. I had trouble activating a second copy of Windows 10 Pro (dual boot) on a computer that was already running an activated Windows 10 Pro. It was a clean install.

Gabe Aul really meant it when he commented that installing a second copy in a dual-boot scenario did not require a second license anymore.

 

Soooo confusing. Why can't MS just make a flowchart or something?

I want to upgrade the motherboard now, but that would probably mean a clean install. With all the little tweaks, etc. that would probably be a time consuming process and I am in the middle of a major project. So I am realistically looking at 1-2 years before I have time.

I guess in *theory* you can upgrade your mobo without a clean install....but somehow I doubt it will go smooth.

 

Upgrading the mobo will mean deactivation but how the user proceeds from there is the question. If a user has a retail key he just activates in Settings. (it isn't necessary to enter the key). That may or may not lead to phone activation. It shouldn't.

If a user has a Get Windows Copy then the user does need to clean install, but not Windows 10. The qualifying OS he upgraded from. Then the user upgrades to Windows 10 again. I am seeing in other threads and forums that the activation agents are not reactivating when the mobo has been swapped execpt for retail licenses.

Apparently that is how OEM copies that were upgraded to Windows 10 are being screened. The user won't be able to activate his OEM copy because of the mobo change unless the OEM provides the user with the means to do so. If the OEM copy doesn't get activated then the user can't upgrade to Windows 10 for free using the GWX program.

So it depends on the history of the upgrade to Windows 10 what will happen with Windows 10 reactivation.

 

It would need a clean install as anything else will likely lead to a fouled-up installation (different mobo, chipset drivers etc). And it would probably require 'phone activation too

My recommendation would be to change your mobo while the Win10 upgrade offer is still free because...well...because it is free...lol

 

Yeah, I would like to upgrade the motherboard now, but that means a whole host of issues (lots of time and also a new processor needed). Would be a lot of money so in the end I will probably just wait a year or two, do it then, and just pay for the upgrade. No big deal...at least I know its probably really "free" from a retail standpoint. If this was a retail upgrade, there would be not questions asked since you "own" the software. With this setup, things are a little different. Frankly, I prefer the old system, but if it helps MS makes better products then that is fine.