Windows 10: If I clean my drive and reinstall Windows, will I need to buy another product key/license?

So let's say that my HP Windows 10 laptop wasn't running well and I wanted to remove all data from the hard drive and reinstall Windows 10 Home completely. Since this is a laptop where Windows 10 Home was pre-installed, would I need to buy another key to activate Windows or would logging into my Microsoft account reactivate my license? Also, would I need to install my drivers again? Would I even be able to connect to Wi-Fi?

:)

 

Reinstall Windows 10 with OEM product key

When you upgraded from a previous version of Windows or receive a new computer preinstalled with Windows 10, what happened is the hardware (your PC) will get a digital entitlement, where a unique signature of the computer will be stored on Microsoft
Activation Servers. The Windows 7 or Windows 8 genuine license you were previously running will be exchanged for a diagnostics key.

Anytime you need to reinstall Windows 10 on that machine, just proceed to reinstall Windows 10. It will automatically reactivate.
You will prompted to enter a product key a couple times through the installation, click I don't have a key and Do this later.

There is no need to know or get a new key, but if you have issues with Digital Licensing or the Activation Troubleshooter, you can utilize an existing Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key
you already ownto reactivate if necessary. or use the reset function in Windows 10.

Step 1: How
to download official Windows 10 ISO files

Step 2:

• How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10

 

If I clean my drive and reinstall Windows, will I need to buy another product key/license?

So let's say that my HP Windows 10 laptop wasn't running well and I wanted to remove all data from the hard drive and reinstall Windows 10 Home completely. Since this is a laptop where Windows 10 Home was pre-installed, would I need to buy another key
to activate Windows or would logging into my Microsoft account reactivate my license? Also, would I need to install my drivers again? Would I even be able to connect to Wi-Fi?

 

If I clean my drive and reinstall Windows, will I need to buy another product key/license?

Hi Charlie. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

You an reinstall Windows as often as you want and in any way you want as long as it's the same version that came with the PC. It has an embedded Product Key in the UEFI firmware chip on the motherboard installed at the factory, and also has likely created a
Digital License which can even move to new hardware if necessary:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/...

Follow the illustrated steps here for the best possible Clean Install which should get you past all difficulties as it has hundreds of thousands of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

To create Windows 10 Installation Media (if necessary on another PC) install the Media Creation Tool and follow the directions here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... Uncheck the box for Recommended Settings to choose the exact version and bit rate for the target PC only.

Insert media, boot it by powering up PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key here:

https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

If the media won't boot you may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup (pressing key given in chart in link above) to turn off Fast Boot or Fast Startup first.

Choose the boot device as a UEFI device if offered, on second screen choose Install Now, then Custom Install, then at the drive selection screen delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, click Next to let it create needed partitions
and start install - this makes it foolproof.

You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the linked tutorial. It's a better install than any amount of money could buy and a great learning experience that will make you the master of
your PC because you will learn everything that works best and how to apply it with your own hands.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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