Windows 10: Confused about "Activation" of Pre-Installed Windows 10 Pro

I have a new laptop pre-loaded with Windows 10 Pro (and other software). I want to perform various housekeeping steps (pristine image backup, recovery USB key creation, security software installation, etc.) before connecting to the Internet for security reasons. (No domain or company network here, just myself on a small home-office LAN. I do also have a running Windows 7 Pro SP1 system handy for any needed downloads.)


1) Is this even possible, or must I connect to the Internet early in the "Out of Box Experience?"


2) If it's possible to install backup software and perform other baseline tasks before connecting to the Internet, how do I complete activation later on?


(I'm assuming that the activation process is relatively manufacturer-independent, but Lenovo tells me rather vaguely that Windows is "tied to the machine" and "digitally activated." This appears to mean that I need no activation key because it is written in firmware within the machine.)


Thanks in advance for any clarification. -- JCW2

:)

 

Clean Windows 10 (?PRO?) install

I have bought a legit "Windows 10 Pro" key of a key website. It is legit since i'm currently using it for over a year now. I currently have Windows 10 Pro installed on my PC and I want to do a clean install. I just can't find the windows 10 Pro download in the tool. But if i could use a windows 10 pro key with a normal windows 10 install, I'll be good to go.

 

Windows 10 Activation (Insider)

How long did you wait for activation?
When I re-installed with a fresh install... it took a few hours to sync and activate.
However, it did, finally, activate.

 

Installing Windows 10 using Windows 7 key

Nope, you need to install Windows 10 first and make sure the Windows 7 key is transferred to your Windows account after you've installed Windows 10 (not quite sure how that works). I missed the last step and I could not activate Windows 10 after a re-install... Microsoft seem to have done everything they can to make it a PITA. Also, it's technically too late to do this now anyhow, as the upgrade offer has expired. But KMSPico works quite well...

As for getting rid of Windows, delete the Windows folder.