Windows 10: Upgrade vs Clean Install

No, you can't, Gary; try entering "any product key" to an installation of Windows 7. It won't work. You will be told to purchase a key or call Microsoft. If you call Microsoft, they will tell you that's not a legitimate key. How they know is something I haven't a clue about, but they do know.

Secondly, if you've removed Windows 7 from your computer and want to put it onto another computer, and you tell them that's what you've done, most likely, you'll be given a few gazillion numbers to enter, which will activate Windows on the new computer. and you're good to go. The license on the old computer is no longer valid.

 

Macrium got it simple and quick. If you plan to change boxes and/or OS, they have an option in the software to "remove license key". Take it off old, put it on new! Done.

 

Nice! I gotta learn to use that one; just haven't taken the time.

However, what Gary's talking about is upgrading with "just any old key" thing, which won't work.

I wonder if it would work with Macrium?

 

The option hides..... just giving an example of a company that realizes people do move products around and makes it simple to adhere to the "one license, one machine" agreement.

 

So I had to re install Windows 7 so many times that I had to call MS to have it activated. So if I were to give them my original key it may not work. I thought the Upgrades were going to be pushed through Windows Update so that MS would easily validate your system.

 

Yes, that will be one option, Gary. But not the only one. Also, I believe that your product key stayed the same.

 

I just checked and it is the same. So what you are saying that if I give them my key they will verify it and then I could do a clean install. This will work even though I have a clone of Windows 7 which I made using Macrium Reflect?

 

I just read this in the MS Community

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/i...1-0edc4649bf43

 

Gary, Your making this so complicated. You enter your key for Win7/Win8.1 and MS will verify it.. this is not an activation process. You can't just enter any numbers.. it's got to be a valid MS licensee/key. Stop worrying.. this is not going to be that complex to get the upgrade to Win10.

 

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/i...1-0edc4649bf43

OK you know more than the folks at MS then.

 

I give up,, you know more than anyone else here Gary.. congrats.

 

Yep and M$ said that Xbox 1 needed a full time internet connection to work we all know the end of that story.LOL

 

Maybe so, but I don't think anyone outside Microsoft knows yet how keys are going to work. Will it accept your old Windows 7 key? Will there be a new Windows 10 key? What about people with 8/8.1 keys in their motherboard? None of us knows yet - it's all guesswork at this stage.

 

I'm sorry, Gary, but you're dragging me in circles and I'm just not prepared to go back and read every word I've said in order to be sure you have it correct and I actually said that.

You will be able to update through Windows Update. Most here agree that there will be physical media to install from if you want to do a clean install. And that's as far as I'm willing to stretch my neck out.

 

This article was written by Andre Da Costa and last updated March 24, 2015. Things may have changed since then. I am in almost daily contact with Andre, so I'll ask him how accurate the article remains.

Edit: I've contacted Andre via PM and he's probably sleeping so it'll probably be tomorrow before we talk.