Windows 10: i want to reinstall windows but i am not sure if the license that came with my laptop will stay

when i bought my laptop it came with windows activated without me doing anything if i reinstall windows do i keep my activation/license

:)

 

Windows Image to reinstall windows?

Is there a way to get a windows 7 professional image on a DVD so i can reinstall windows on a new hard drive in a clients laptop? I have ultimate and home retail discs but her laptop came with professional, so i need a image so i can just use her key.

 

How to reinstall and reactivate Windows 10 with an OEM license

Before you continue, I suggest you remove the bloatware by the Control Panel and uninstalling the junk. That is faster and easier, with less potential for problems, but the steps for reinstallation are as follows:

Before you do anything, backup valuable data, if any, on some form of media (i.e. USB) so you can move it onto the reinstalled Windows.

1. Download the appropriate ISO file from Microsoft and burn it to a CD or use it with a bootable USB.
   
2. (Optional if you have no internet) Download all the appropriate drivers for your machine and save them on media for later access.
   
3. Locate the product key on your machine. It is usually under the laptop on a sticker, and if not, use special software to locate it. This will be used during the reinstallation. Note that PCs sometimes auto-activate if it is in the BIOS so this step is not needed if this is case.
   
4. Boot from the bootable media (disc or USB). Continue as usual through the installation, and when the partitions screen comes up, format the current Windows partition and install in there. (The Recovery partition can be deleted, but I recommend keeping it so if anything goes wrong you can restore to factory settings). If the key doesn't work you may need to contact Microsoft and activate over phone.
   
5. After installation, install the drivers and run Windows Update and you're done.
   

 

I want to sell my laptop but retain my windows 10 license

My laptop has Windows 10 Pro retail license. I wish to retain this license for myself and not give it away with the device. I will be doing a full reset and data wipe (of course). But I want to know how I can hold on to my license. What extra steps will I need to take?

Clarification edits:

1. It did not come with Windows. It came with DOS installed. For this reason, there is no license key baked into the BIOS.

2. It is not UEFI at its current configuration. It does support UEFI, though, if one is willing to go through the complete format and reinstall process.

3. I am using a retail Windows 10 Pro license which I bought separately