Windows 10: Clean installation

Hi, I'm having a bit of trouble with activation of windows. It was working fine but suddenly, I don't know why, I used KMS tool to activate windows 10 version 1604 anniversary update. I immediately decided to uninstall it and clean install the Creators update without using KMS tool. I wanted to use it without activation but I see that it's showing activated even though I didn't use KMS tool on the new installation of Creators update. How do I fix this issue?

:)

 

To Clean Install...Or Not To Clean Install

A "clean install" by definition deletes all content of your drive, that's what the "clean" means. If you want to keep things it can't be a clean install, you have to upgrade.

Personally, I recommend you first update and get all the correct drivers for your devices and chase down the media to re-install your applications. Then save them on an external drive and do a clean install. You will have to re-install all software and re-configure,
but you end up with a lot less problems going forward.

The cost is greater but so is the reward.

A large proportion of the issues people report here seem to be due to not doing clean installs. My own experience is that a clean install with the new drivers works well. My PC respondes better than it did on Windows 7. Although it has a normal hard drive,
it boots as fast as my Notebook which has an SSD and is still on Windows 7.

Good Luck

 

To Clean Install...Or Not To Clean Install

Hi Michael,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I understand that you wish to do a clean install but I would suggest you not to do so until you have upgraded to Windows 10 and it has been activated.

Therefore, make sure you first upgrade to Windows 10 using the Get Windows 10 App or the .ISO image. Make sure the Windows 10 is Activated.

Please do not attempt a clean install if you haven't activated Windows 10 on your system.

Once you have successfully activated Windows 10 you can perform a clean install.

Hope this helps. Please respond if you have further related queries.

Regards,

 

Hi there, Vectorized. Welcome to Windows TenForums.

Sorry, but your statement and question is confusing. What exactly is the problem if it activated?

 

I think the key might be this:

It seems like @Vectorized somehow installed KMSPico "by accident". If the original Windows 10 had a legitimate activation, the digital license for it is stored on Microsoft Activation servers and will be retrieved automatically by Windows when it is connected to the internet, assuming a legitimate product key is being used. What are the results of:
slmgr /dlv?

 

Sometimes it will show as activated but in a grace period.. See Activation troubleshooting, and post a report - lets see if the exploit gave you a DL...