Windows 10: Clean re-install after upgrade from Win 7

I had Win 7 home on my laptop (64bit), then received and installed the free upgrade to Win 10 in Autumn 2015.

The laptop is now running quite erratically and very slow and I feel it is time to do a clean re-install.

I do not wish to go back to Win 7, just have a clean start with Win 10.

Simple instructions please. Thanks

:)

 

windows 10

After 30 days the only way to revert is to wipe the OS and clean install win 7 from the dvd. You may simply be better off fixing the problems you are having with win 10 because if you do re-install win 7 you will almost immediately start getting bombarded
with popups asking you to upgrade back to win 10

 

Re-installing Windows 10 after formating the PC

I have upgraded my PC from Win 7 to Win 10. I want to format my PC, do I need to re-install Win 7 and then upgrade or can I install a clean Win10 ??

Where can I find a Win10 new install CD ??

 

A clean install will make it run great! *Smile

Clean Install Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

.

 

I do not have a windows product key. Bit concerned that the reply pointed to a 2014 instruction, when I downloaded an October 2105 edition!

 

"Updated: 3 Weeks Ago at 07:45 PM"

Our tutorials are kept up-to-date. *Smile
Once a system has had Windows 10 installed and activated, the activation resides on the MS servers, and you can reinstall/clean install as often as you like/need. Once online, the system will auto-active on the MS servers.
But, you can always grab your key using ShowKeyPlus.
ShowKeyPlus - Windows 10 Forums
Be sure to download the most recent Windows 10 ISO for the clean install.

 

p.s. When you clean install, be sure to install the same version (Home or Pro), and skip if it asks for a key.

 

You shouldn't have to enter a product key since your Windows 10 has already been activated on your computer
Go to section 7 in the tutorial recommended by simrick: it mentions you can click/tap on the I don't have a product key.
I have used that process a few times and did not have a problem with the clean install automatically being activated.

 

If the computer had windows 7 on it from the factory, it should have a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker on it with a product key printed on it. If all else fails (and the "I don't have a product key" link should work in Windows 10 setup), you can still activate Windows 10 by entering a Windows 7 or 8/8.1 product key.

 

Sticker fell off years ago! Really should be stuck inside,say on the processor. No point sticking it on the hottest exterior part of a laptop and at the point where it meets the lap!!

 

That was my point about a link to a 2014 tutorial which only instructed you need a product key. Hence this thread.

 

You can try showkey plus from this forum. OEM:COA key type would be the product key that was printed on label. OEM:SLP is a product key that would be only used with the factory recovery media and cannot be used to activate Windows 10:
ShowKeyPlus - Windows 10 Forums

 

I would install your factory installation of windows 7 before doing windows 10. What I'm getting at since you say the stick is gone if you factory recovery back to windows 7 it should be automatic activated and then you can use ShowKeyPlus to get your windows 7 keys if need be . If you ever want to sell it you could with either 7 or 10 . Afterwards, I would do a clean install of windows 10 and wipe the whole hard drive

 

Without the product key from the COA sticker, the user would have to use manufacturer provided install media to restore the factory Windows 7 software load. And if the user did restore the Windows 7 factory software load from the manufacturer provided media, the product key retrieved by ShowKey Plus would likely be an OEM:SLP (System Locked Pre-Installation) product key which will only work with the manufacturer restoration media and cannot be used to activate a vanilla Windows 7 or Windows 10 (although you can do the in-place upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10).

 

@NavyLCDR agreed . I'm just throwing this out in case if the OP ever wants to sell the laptop, there still many people who would rather have a Windows 7 installation over 10 . If he does install 7 from the factory recovery hidden partition at least he would be able afterwards to get the license keys. If not and by chance decide to wipe the whole hard drive it will be much harder later on if he ever wants to install 7