Windows 10: Fresh installation of Windows 10

I have an Acer R7 laptop with Windows 10 installed. Originally the computer had Win 8 on it and Windows 10 installed on the computer without my consent. Ever since then, it's been just a little "off". For example, I can not shut it down with the Start button. It will only go into sleep mode. IF I hold the off/on button down, it will do a hard shutdown.

The Win 10 was a free upgrade. I'm thinking I might want to do a fresh install, but wondering about the ability to reload since I didn't pay for Win 10. I've seen a few posts about how to reinstall Win 10, but am a bit leery of ending up with a "brick".

Anyone know if this configuration of laptop can be reinstalled with a fresh copy of Win 10. I understand that I will first have to back up all my important files.

:)

 

Fresh installation of windows 10 from iso

So you Clean Installed Windows 10 Pro and in process wiped Windows 7 Professional. I'm guessing you never made OEM Recovery Media in advance? Since you have an OEM license and the flawed Microsoft Software Recovery Tool blocks OEM licenses you have no Downloadable
Reinstallation Media. The official solution is you need to pay full retail price to get support from Microsoft or pay your OEM for Reinstallation Media for an out of warranty system. These procedures are a waste of time even if you have the Reinstallation
Media due to the requirement of >200 updates post Windows 7 SP1.

You are best to follow the unofficial upgrade path which is via a Clean Installation of Windows Insider 10130 with a Microsoft Account. This will let you upgrade to Windows 10 Pro:

Windows 10 Version 1507: Windows XP/Vista → Windows 10 Free Upgrade – The Unofficial Windows 10 Reinstallation Guide

 

Fresh installation of windows 10 from iso

You Must do the First install over Windows 7 or 8.1 First ! Which will generate an activation key for Windows 10. After that you should be able to do a clean install if you want to. You shouldn't have to put in you're Windows 7 or 8.1 key after
that. Check in you're system settings and Windows 10 should be activated automatically after a clean install.

 

Its all very simple and safe down the latest iso burn to dvdor usb set that to be first boot during install delete all the paritions install if it asks for a serial number skip it as its registerd at MS so will activate Download Windows 10

If you want to be super safe you can create a iamgebackup with any free imaging software so you can role back if needed given win10 is running on the pc you should have no problem

 

The free upgrade gave you a digital licence linked to the unique hardware ID of the PC and stored on Microsoft's activation servers.

You can do a clean install of the same edition (Home or Pro), skip entering a product key (click 'I don't have one' if asked) and it will activate automatically as soon as it can contact the activation servers.

As this PC came with Windows 8 you probably won't be asked to choose Home or Pro or enter a key. Setup should find the Win8 key embedded in the firmware and use that to determine the correct edition.

 

Clean Install Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials

And as already mentioned, make a complete Disk Image of your operating system drive (the entire drive) with Macrium Reflect create the image any way you can.

Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

If you want post a shot of Disk Management showing everything.

That way we can see what`s what and advise you further.

Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of Windows 10 Tutorials

 

Thanks to all for the info. I'm going to give it a shot...

 

For the "I can not shut it down with the Start button. It will only go into sleep mode" there should be a setting in the power configurations about the action of what the button does.
Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Power Options\System Settings