Windows 10: Reinstall Windows and activate using current license

Hi.

I am planning to uninstall Windows from my laptop and run Ubuntu exclusively for some time.

I would like to know if I can reinstall Windows on the same laptop or another laptop that didn't come with it pre-installed and activate it using my current license that's linked to my Microsoft account.

Thanks.

:)

 

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.
   

 

Reinstall Windows 10; how to keep the current License

I've been insider tester for Windows 10 for about one and a half year now. As a recent update confused my installation in thinking that it was no longer activated and the TwinUI is no longer working properly, I plan to format the SSD and reinstall Windows
10. I hold a Windows 7 and a Windows 8 licence

What steps do I have to take to install windows 10 properly, without losing the insider license.

JKi

 

License activation issue: Your windows license will expire soon

Windows 10 Activation reports your license will soon expire.

This can happen for a number of reasons:

• You copied a Windows 10 Pro off the Internet (usually a volume license - organization - key) and changed on a Windows 10 Home installation. Windows 10 Pro is not free. If this is what you did, you will need to reinstall the previous edition
  or version you were running. You inadvertently installed the wrong edition.
  • The copy of Windows 10 you download and upgrade from will correspond with the edition of Windows you have installed, if it does not, this is why you might be experiencing problems activating:

• Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core will install Windows 10 Home
  

• Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro will installWindows 10 Pro

If the edition of Windows 10 installed does not correspond with the edition of Windows 7 or Windows 8 you were previously running, then you need to reinstall the right edition.

Did you purchase the laptop brand new out of the box?

You might want to reinstall Windows 10 Home to resolve the problem.

Step 1: How
to download official Windows 10 ISO files

Step 2:

• How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10