Windows 10: Clean Install/Retail Windows 7 License

Again as I stated prior, this could be why so many people have experienced failures with using the win X media creation tool, they're system simply isn't meeting the requirements clearly set forth by Microsoft.

 

To correct the MISINFORMATION that upgrading to Windows 10 physically invalidates the Windows 8 or Windows 7 keys. There is no magic switch between the keys. All keys remain valid and useable - even together - but certain combinations may not be legal.

I have a three PC license edition of Windows 7 Premium. It only has one key. I can upgrade one of the PCs with that Windows 7 to Windows 10 and the other 2 PCs remain on the same Windows 7 key. Or I can upgrade 2 of the PCs that had that Windows 7 key and leave a third one on Windows 7 with the same key. And I don't even have to install SP1 on any of the Windows 7 PCs to do it either.

 

Yes, I have Windows 7 with SP1
What I want to know is should I want to start over with a clean install, can I do it?
I was able to download windows 10 from the Tech Preview site...not the Tech Preview...but Windows 10 ISO
How will I be able to do a clean install without having a key?

 

One last time !

Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums

 

AFTER you do a upgrade, you can then do a clean install. When it asks you for a key during the clean install, you just click the tiny little text that says "Skip", "Skip this step", or "Do this later" (or something like that). I had to skip entering the license key three times total on my clean install.

 

It appears you would have to perform an upgrade prior to a clean installation, due to the fact that windows 10 checks your system then generates a hardware ID hash it then sends to the MS authentication servers, which in turn give the machine a hardware based certificate allowing the free upgrade . Thus tying that upgrade to that machines hardware ID. After performing the upgrade you can then perform a clean installation of Windows 10.

 

HA HA HA.... do you really think this is the last time this same question will have to be answered?

 

SP1 for Windows 7 is not required for upgrading via the Media Creation Tool. It's only required if the user wishes to upgrade via Windows Update. Judging from the problems people are having, it appears as if Windows Update is the least reliable method of getting a successful upgrade. I've successfully upgraded 7 computers in my household now and done two clean installs after upgrades. Windows 10 is running perfectly on all my PCs and all have permanent activations according to slmgr /xpr results.

 

Guys One Question My Laptop Windows 10 Pro Is Fully Activated, But now it seems the hard disk is failing so if i install a new hard drive will i need to reinstall windows 7 activated then upgrade to windows 10 or i install windows 10 straight away to get legal Activation. Please Help

Mohamed

 

Should be able to do a clean install of Windows 10 Pro. When it asks for license keys, click the tiny little text that allows you to skip that step. If it doesn't activate (even though it should), you can always go back to Windows 7 and upgrade and all you have lost is time. Be sure and give it two or three days to activate as Microsoft is having issues with activation servers. Also if it doesn't activate, at least one person has done the Windows 10 "Reset this computer" re-install from within Windows 10 and it activated after that.

 

After looking at all this I am wondering if there is a way to do a clean install without the upgrade first and it appears this is impossible.

It would be nice if the windows 7 key simply worked...but I assume it won't.

I am really not ready to switch so what I am considering is cloning my Win 7 to a second disk or using earlier images that I have, upgrading one....then discard the win 10...

Then install win 10 in a virtual machine and hopefully, it will activate automatically....or will it?*Smile

 

WinX doesn't use a key authentication , it uses a hardware authentication. This means it generates a hardware hash the is specific to your machine, sends this to the authentication servers and receives authorization for activation form there. As far as running it in a VM environment I have not personally tested this myself but you may find How to install Windows 10 in a virtual machine | ExtremeTech helpful as well as many other resources found by simply googling "windows 10 activation in a VM environment"(without the quotes.