Windows 10: How to find the key after the upgrade for a clean installation later?

Microsoft said a clean install of Windows 10 can happen. How do you find the key? Do you have to use a key finder after the upgrade or will Microsoft make it easily available?

:)

 

how to find the product key for a steam game

Not a Windows 10 problem. You need to ask on the forum for Steam I would have thought.

 

how to find the product key for a steam game

i got given a steam account and I'm trying to backup my files for my games and when i went to transfer it to a different account it ask for the product key and I'm no longer in touch with the person that gave me the steam account

Please reply as soon as you can

 

How to activate the latest Windows 10 build - Microsoft Community

 

I copy this from Microsoft forum



Can I reinstall Windows 10 on my computer after upgrading?



Yes. Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer, you will be able to reinstall, including a clean install, on the same device. You won’t need a product key for re-activations on the same hardware. If you make a meaningful change to your hardware, you may need to contact customer support to help with activation. You’ll also be able to create your own installation media like a USB drive or DVD, and use that to upgrade your device or reinstall after you’ve upgraded

 

Hello Looey,

When you upgrade with the free reserved copy from the GWX app on an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, Windows 10 has a generic key included that will activate it.

If you clean install Windows 10 without doing the above first, Windows 10 will not be activated.


Can I reinstall Windows 10 on my computer after upgrading with free upgrade?

Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the USB drive or DVD, and use that to upgrade your device or reinstall after you’ve upgraded.

 

Does that mean, that everyone who upgraded to Win 10 has a generic key right now? Im asking because I didnt get a "personal Win 10" key after upgrade, my windows 10 is still running with a generic key.... is that normal?

 

Hello Greyfox,

You don't get a key with the free Windows 10 upgrade offer. It's just that when you upgrade to the free Windows 10 on an activated Windows 7 or 8.1, Windows 10 will be activated.

You won’t need a product key for re-activations on the same hardware.

 

Thank you Brink, that helped alot. So the free upgrade is actually just on "one system" and I dont receive an own key that I could use on different systems right?

 

If I understand the process: in effect, you have no key. The activation servers recognize your PC from the original upgrade install, and will activate a new clean install on the same hardware without a key. That's different from any previous version of Windows that I have used that required activation (XP Vista, 7, and 8).

I presume that if there's a problem, a phone call to the MS Activation support people will fix it.

 

Correct. What Bob posted above. *Smile

 

So if I understand it right, If I do clean install from USB (I downloaded win10 from website since I didnt want to wait for upgrade notification), my key will not work? I have legal windows 7 HP edition, thats from what I have clean installed windows 10 from.

Or do I need to contact support for windows activation?

 

How clean was the install?

If you launched the upgrade from within Windows 7, I believe that counts as an upgrade, even if you choose to keep nothing from the Windows 7 installation.

If you created a bootable installation medium (DVD, USB thumb drive), started the PC from that, and did a really clean install, I believe that will not activate unless you previously had Windows 10 installed as an update.

My guess as to what MS support would say in the latter case would be to restore Windows 7 and upgrade to 10 in the approved manner. I'm curious as to what their advice would be if told that you hadn't kept any means of doing that. Maybe they'd help if they could be convinced it was an honest error. (In my rare dealings with them in the past, they have been accommodating. I feel that activation exists to prevent large scale casual piracy, not to try to pry a few more dollars out of individuals.)

 

Well, I have photo of product key label taken, so its proof error was not on my side and I am eliglible for win10 upgrade.

Well, I used MediaCreationTool to put win10 into USB, booted into bios and made clean install, formating all drives. So I guess it did not have any means to remember I had windows 7.

So, the only way is to again, clean install win7 back, and then do simple upgrade with MediaCreationTool on that clean windows? *Smile lol, if thats the only way, okay but its kinda silly

 

So if I'm working on building a new tower now, I need to install 7/8/8.1 first, then upgrade to Windows 10. Once completed, I can then do a clean install on the same computer with Windows 10 from that point on? My wife and I are also looking at two new small 2-in-1 laptops. I'm assuming, if they come with 8.1, that we'll need to repeat the process on those as well?