Windows 10: upgrade from 8.1 Retail to 10 question

I keep getting a popup wanting me to upgrade to windows 10 home edition. If I accept the upgrade and don't like the win 10, can I put my saved backup image of 8.1 home edition back on again? The main reason I haven't took the update yet is because you can only turn off automatic updates off on the pro version. Thanks! *Smile

:)

 

Upgrading from Windows 8.1. Professional retail product key to Windows 10 -- what happens to your product key and right to reinstall?

Answers are still unclear, let me rephrase the questions:

1. Do I get a Windows 10 retail key during upgrade from retail version of Windows 8.1 so I can install from scratch using ISO image or I must always install Windows 8.1 first and then upgrade it in place? If I have to go through the upgrade, for how long
will that be allowed?

2. What happens if I have retail Windows 8.1, I use free upgrade to Windows 10, and later change my PC's motherboard?

 

Upgrading from Windows 8.1. Professional retail product key to Windows 10 -- what happens to your product key and right to reinstall?

I have seen people asking this and similar questions over and over again in different format, but so far Microsoft has failed to provide any answer.

The scenario is as follows -- I have a retail product key for Windows 8.1 Professional which I have bought online in Microsoft Store and the workstation computer is my own build.

With a retail product key, I can format my disk at any time and reinstall from scratch using Windows 8.1 Professional retail ISO image.

Now the questions:

1. Is Windows 10 upgrade an in-place upgrade or a clean install?

2. If it is an in-place upgrade will it be possible to do a clean install of Windows 10 from a retail ISO?

3. What will happen to my existing Windows 8.1 Professional retail product key if I upgrade to Windows 10? Will I be issued a new retail product key with the same installation/usage rights or will I kep using the same product key?

4. If for any reason (including me not liking it) Windows 10 doesn't work for me, is there a downgrade path back to Windows 8.1 or would that require purchase of a new Windows 8.1 license?

5. Are there any specific restrictions in Windows 10 upgrade as opposed to the full retail version when it comes to hardware replacement/upgrade? For example, changing the mainboard, disk, or video card?

Please don't post answers about the use of recovery media with Windows 10 -- I am not interested in using that feature at all. Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Igor Levicki

 

1.Besides the image backup, I would make a bootable media of Win 8.1 Home in a DVD or USB. You can use the media to reinstall Win 8.1 Home.
2. After upgrading to Win 10 Home, you have 30 days to decide. Before 30 days have passed, you can use the Go Back to Windows 8.1 option if you want.
The procedures will be .............
Left click at the Start button > left side, click Settings > select Update and security > left side, click Recover > right side, under Go back to Windows 8.1, click the Get Started button.

 

I believe that you can restore from the Win 8.1 image and your Windows activation will remain valid. I did that once or twice during the Win 10 preview phase. (Some of the builds didn't seem to like my hardware much.)

If you want to upgrade, I suggest downloading the .iso rather than doing it through Windows Update. That's my own prejudice: I prefer to only have to download a 3GB+ file once, and to keep it on hand after.