Windows 10: Wiping a Win7 computer. Fastest way to get up to 10?

So I got a hand-me-down computer from work that is off lease running Win7 Enterprise. I have a retail Win7 key and want to start this thing over from scratch.

Do I need to do a full install of Win7, activate it, do 2-3 hours of windows updates, and then finally get up to Windows 10? Or is there any way to install Win10 from scratch and somehow use the Windows 7 key along the way?

Just don't want to waste any more time than I have to since I know a Win7 install from scratch takes forever with 200 Updates or so.

Thanks!

:)

 

Fastest way to convert flv videos to a compatible format for the E71?

Hi guys,



It is goog that you are all providing links here for converters but please avoid posting ones wherein it leads to direclty purchasing various products alone as this will be considered as spamming and is not allowed in the boards.



Since the links show free downloads, this can be tolerated but please do not abuse posting any further links that would require you to purchase the applications.



Thanks!



Moderator

 

Fastest way to convert flv videos to a compatible format for the E71?

It is goog that you are all providing links here for converters but please avoid posting ones wherein it leads to direclty purchasing various products alone as this will be considered as spamming and is not allowed in the boards.



A fair number of the converters are freeware others are shareware and others let you trial the product either via a short test or watermark . I have posted some that are paid for as well as freeware but its like mentioning Apple IPhone would that also
be classified as spam .Likewise again their are other apps for your phone if they are not freeware are they classed as spam if mentioned . Their seems to be no intention of spamming when asked about a product to do a particular job and the actual replys
fall outside the definition of spamming .If the definition of spam on this board is mentioning paid for applications then the list is long starting with Windows and should not just be applied to this section .

But as their are so many views as what app to use paid for or free then i see the board as being safe from abuse .



jje

 

Hello Kelemvor, *Smile

Yep, you would need to install and activate Windows 7. When finished, upgrade to Windows 10.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html

 

Clean install Windows 7 and activate. No need to do updates. Upgrade to 10 with 7 key. This will give you cleanest possible install.

 

I beleive when you upgrade Windows 7/8 Enterprise to Windows 10. It will upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
There's a way to fresh install Windows 10 without going thru the pain upgrading it.
You can use the current Windows 7 Enterprise and save the retail key for another PC to upgrade it to Windows 10 Pro.

Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

• Download Windows 10 Pro DVD/ISO. Burn the ISO, mount it or extract it.
• Navigate to the folder X:\sources (X is the drive letter of the DVD/USB) and copy gatherosstate.exe to desktop. Right click and run as Admin. A file: GenuineTicket.xml is created on the desktop. Copy it to a USB or to another drive.
• Wipe the disk clean and Install Windows 10. Skip the product key when asked.
• Once finished, from folder options, turn on: show hidden files/folders and copy the file GenuineTicket.xml to: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket.
• Reboot.
• Win+X->System. Activation status should be activated.

 

So I can just installed Windows 7 from my USB Drive and then immediately go get the Media Creation Tool to go up to 10? Does Win7 need to be at a certain level for that to work or anything like that? That would save hours... *Smile

 

Kelemvor, *Smile

If you wanted a clean install of Windows 10, then the fastest way in your situation would be to:

1) Install and activate Windows 7. No need to install updates.

2) Use the method in the tutorial below to clean install Windows 10 and activate.

Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First

 

Correct. The upgrade can take place over the base level Win7 install. Doing hrs of updates will just add more unnecessary files to the OS. You can, prior to the upgrade, do a clean install, using Brink's tutorial but you would already have about as minimal a Win10 install, as possible. Many upgraded a 7 to 10 after years of use, so MUCH more for the install to separate out. Or do the upgrade to 10 from the USB drive, then do a clean install from it by checking the Remove Everything option (essentially a wipe). Then do your updates and install your preferred programs.
Mark topic as solved, if all this worked. Good Luck.

 

Has Microsoft changed their policy? Last time I checked, Microsoft was not offering a free upgrade to Windows 10 from Enterprise.

In order to use the clean install without upgrade method using the gatherosstate.exe program - the OP will have to be coming from his retail Windows 7 anyway - so he will have to install Windows 7 from scratch because I don't think there is a way to downgrade Windows 7 Enterprise to a retail version.

 

Nar, you can't upgrade from Windows Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro.

Windows 10 FAQ Tips - Microsoft

 

"the OP will have to be coming from his retail Windows 7 anyway - so he will have to install Windows 7 from scratch because I don't think there is a way to downgrade Windows 7 Enterprise to a retail version."
All subsequent posts presume that he has a retail 7 to install and will not keep Enterprise, at all.

 

Well...one thing you previously posted....

The upgrade to Windows 10 doesn't actually use the Windows 7 key. It uses the Windows 7 license. It's a small, but important difference in that the OP will only use the Windows 7 Product Key for one thing, and one thing only - install and activate Windows 7.

 

The first post says he has a retail Windows 7 key and wants to reinstall and upgrade. You can clean install the retail Windows 7 and activate it without doing the updates, then follow Brink's tutorial and upgrade to Windows 10.

 

And then, if you want a truly "clean" Win 10 install, after the upgrade and activating your Win 10, reboot with your same USB ISO and format/partition your drive again, installing Windows 10 CLEAN. As in not an upgrade over Windows 7. Will take you an extra 30 minutes.