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Hey all. I've been running this computer for a good 3 years now and it's never been formatted. I've got a tonne of crap on here, so I want to format it and reinstall windows 10. I have an internal SSD and an internal HDD. I put everything that I would like to keep on the HDD (backups, software installers etc.) I would like to format the SSD (but not the HDD), reinstall Win10, then copy the backups\installers from the HDD back onto the SSD and set it all up. I tried going into Windows and doing the "Reset" thing, but it said it wasn't going to work. I've heard that does a crappy job anyway, so let's do this properly. I've got some questions before I destroy my afternoon tomorrow: #1) This version of Win10 was upgraded from a version of Windows 7. I've since lost the product key from that version of Win7 because I'm highly intelligent. Is there a way of finding out what my product key is? #2) I figure the safest way of making sure I don't lose anything from the HDD would be to disconnect the HDD, format\install Win10 on the SSD then re-connect the HDD. Will doing that mess with the Win10 activation? #3) How do I make sure Win10 doesn't gently caress up activating itself like it did for me on my other computer? #4) How do I make sure Win10 doesn't gently caress up activating itself? Cheers!
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Jul 1, 2016 12:14
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I think you're going to have to reinstall Windows 7, then upgrade to Windows 10. I called MS when I had a similar situation, and they wouldn't budge. Anyway, I'm a little rusty with this, but how is Magical Jelly Bean these days? I'd try that (in 10), but I'm not sure that will get your WIndows 7 key. They have an Extractor: https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ Otherwise, this is Microsoft's guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/instantanswers/1235b5b0-bf94-4b77-9cbd-1c1a8337070c/going-back-to-windows-7-or-windows-8.1 The guide does suggest a restore may work. At which point, you could run the extractor and get your key. Anyway, I'm guessing this is a PC you built yourself. If it isn't, you could probably do a factory restore and once again run the extractor. Worst case scenario, you need to get your hands on a new key, and there was a guy selling them in SA-Mart. Let's see here... #2 - No, you should be fine, you're just attaching a new drive. #3. Reformat your hard drive, install Windows 7, then upgrade. That's the cleanest you can do unfortunately. #4. See #3. EDIT: Check this out quote:I also just wanted to mention that we don't even have to put it in at the media creation tool point - I actually installed Windows 10 fresh after creating a thumb drive with the install, installed Windows 10, and then used a key I'd bought from you to activate. Apparently since late last year/early this year, they've changed the installation to allow post-install activation using an equivalent key from Windows 7. And there's the Media Creation Tool: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 nitsuga fucked around with this message at 06:12 on Jul 2, 2016 |
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Jul 2, 2016 06:06
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Assuming the motherboard is the same - which it is - you can just get an OEM copy of Windows 10 that has a skippable product key prompt on install, and it'll activate just fine. Make sure it's the November update, though (1511)
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Jul 2, 2016 16:30
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