Windows 10: Refresh/Reset/Clean Install on Activated Free Upgrade Version?

I have a laptop that came with Win7/8 that I upgraded to Win10 while it was free. The hard drive failed, so I replaced it, restored the OS to Win8 from backup, then upgraded back to Win10 and says it's activated.


I have purchased a new laptop and want to sell this one, but want it to be completely clean. I only have one User account which is a Local Account Administrator user. I guess I need to do a Win10 refresh or reset or clean install to get rid of all my User data. Not sure which one so that I get rid of my User data and retain the activation?

:)

 

perpetual loop in start up of windows 10 or 8.1 - Think computer is a bit confused.

Hi George,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. I will certainly help you with this.

You cannot clean install Windows 10 before upgrading from the activated base operating system. Once your device upgrades to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer and activates online automatically, an entitlement is registered to your PC’s hardware
for the edition of Windows 10 you upgraded to in the Windows 10 Activation service. Once Windows is activated after upgrading to Windows 10, you will be able to clean install (i.e. boot from media and install Windows 10) the same edition of Windows 10 seamlessly
without having to enter any product key.

I suggest you to refer to the To refresh your PC
article in below given link and check if it helps:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-in/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc

Once the Windows 8.1 is repaired you can upgrade it to Windows 10 for free.

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

Thank you.

 

Windows 10 upgrade failed and lost my windows 8.1 license !!

No you can't do a clean install from a Windows 10 ISO, that won't activate your license.

Instead, you need to install Windows 8.1 directly (get the free install files here). That will automatically activate your license. Then
you can upgrade it from 8.1 to 10 directly, which keeps your license and lets you have Windows 10.

 

Just do a clean install of W10 on the old laptop, it will activate automatically once it`s online, the laptops hardware data is stored on Microsoft`s server, you don`t have to worry about a thing *Smile

You could also clean install the original OS that came with the old laptop, as long as you can read the key on the COA.

 

Use 'reset my pc' and select option to securely remove all files suitable for selling pc.

 

Thanks, I'll give the Reset my PC option a try.