Windows 10: New build - How perform a clean Windows 10

To all,

I just received all of the parts for my new PC. I had planned on installing Windows 7 Professional that I bought for my previous PC that I also built. After doing some research I have decided to go ahead and use Windows 10 based on it's support for newer hardware. That decision led to to research how to perform a clean install on the new PC. I think I'm more confused about the process now than before I started.

I think that I could go ahead and install my Windows 7 Pro and then do an upgrade to Windows 10 Pro followed by a clean install. The issue I see is that I have read that Windows 7 does not support the Samsung 950 Pro as a boot drive without preloading a driver. I would like to avoid that whole mess and just install Windows 10. I have read that you can possibly download the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to install with an Windows 10 ISO using the Windows 7 Key. I guess I could always buy a copy of Windows 10 Professional for $110.

I plan on researching more tomorrow morning as I wait for the second shipment with the case and RAM. Any help you can offer would be much appreciated. I have been lurking on these forums since early in the sevenforums days and always found the users very knowledgeable and helpful.

TIA,
Paul

:)

 

Windows 10 version 1709 high memory usage

Windows 10 1709 (OS Build 16299.309)

Clean boot and new profile had no affect on performance.

 

Blue Screen Error

What is the make and model of your computer?

Are you performing a clean install or upgrade from a previous version or previous Insider Build?

I would recommend you try downloading the latest build 15048, perform a clean install then upgrade to 15061.

How
to Install the Latest Windows 10 Insider Build

 

Just download and install latest version to ssd and use Windows 7 key to activate.

Sometimes you are unlucky and it complains that Windows 7 is in use elsewhere.

In this case, disconnect ssd and install windows 7 to a small partition on hdd, and telephone activate it if necesary.

Then you can reconnect ssd, make sure pc is set to boot from ssd, reboot and then activate windows 10 using Windows 7 key.

If you do not disconnect drives, you will end up with a dual boot configuration.

 

If you download the latest 10 ISO (1511 release) you can stick it on a USB key and install it direct (without installing 7 Pro first). You can activate it with your 7 Pro key.

It used to be complicated but isn't any more really *Smile

EDIT - beaten to it by poster above...

 

Sweet! I heard my email alert on my cell just after going to bed. After I receive the rest of my hardware tomorrow, er today, I will download the Windows 10 ISO, save it to a USB stick and dig up my Windows 7 key and give it a whirl. I'll post again with my results so that others might learn.

Thanks to cerebrus and lx07 for the quick responses. I will sleep better thanks to your responses.

Paul

 

Download the ISO from Tech Bench rather than using the Media Creation Tool. It will be more useful for you in future as you can use it to do repairs.

ISO's contain home and pro - just download the Windows 10 English version, put it on a USB with Rufus (option 2 here) and when you install pick Professional.

You don't need a key to download any Windows 10 ISO (that was only for downloading 7 ISOs I think).

You will need your 7 Pro key to activate 10 Pro eventually of course but you can skip it during installation and enter it after installation completes if you want. That might be better as you can be sure the HW etc is OK before repeatedly entering the key (and possibly blocking it).

 

Don't try to enter the Windows 7 product key during the install process itself. Click on I don't have a product key, Skip, or do this later during the install process. It is after you get Windows 10 installed and running, then you go to settings, updates & security, activation, and change product. That is where you will enter the Windows 7 product key to activate the installed Windows 10.

The version and edition of Windows 10 has to match exactly the same version and edition of Windows 7. You can't mix "N", Single Language or regular editions of Windows. Most likely if you install the regular Windows 10 Pro, that is what will match your Windows 7 Pro product key.

 

It works as well putting 7 key during the installation but LX07's recommendation is a good one ie check Windows 10 is running ok before using key to avoid potential blocking of key if several installation attempts are required.