Discussion
Assuming it's new enough to have at least Windows 8 on it, it'll have a key embedded into the BIOS that the Windows installer will pick up so you shouldn't need to buy another licence. You can create a Windows 10 install USB by going here and downloading the media creation tool and following the instructions. It doesn't matter if it was originally a Windows 8 machine, 10 should still pick up the key and activate. Once it's installed you can leave Windows update to sort out the drivers or you can go to the laptop manufacturer's site and download the drivers there.
Get a copy of whatever OS you want to use on a USB stick and install it that way; when you turn the laptop on it should give you the BIOS page from which you can access the USB drive and install. It's the exact same way you do it when you're building a brand new computer.
Further down the line if you still have programs you want to install via CD you can pick up CD drives that connet via USB for 10-a-penny nowadays.
Further down the line if you still have programs you want to install via CD you can pick up CD drives that connet via USB for 10-a-penny nowadays.
I use Etcher https://www.balena.io/etcher/ to make my USB's bootable. You can download the ISO Image of whatever Linux OS you want to install and then write it to the USB using Etcher.
As mentioned above, you need to enter the machines BIOS and select boot from USB to carry out the installation
Etcher also works with windows but....., as mentioned above, Microsoft have their own tools for windows USB installs
As mentioned above, you need to enter the machines BIOS and select boot from USB to carry out the installation
Etcher also works with windows but....., as mentioned above, Microsoft have their own tools for windows USB installs
ruggedscotty said:
Ah its a totally wiped laptop - nothing on it in terms of operating systems or any other software.
Follow lancers instructions & create the Windows installation media on a USB key (8-16Gb). You'll need to make sure they key is bootable & set the laptop to boot from the USB port first - you need to acceess the BIOS to do that.Any chance there's a windows sticker on the laptop with the Win 8 key on it?
Mr Pointy said:
Any chance there's a windows sticker on the laptop with the Win 8 key on it?
On most Windows 8 onwards laptops, the key will be embedded in the BIOS and wont have a key sticker. If its only a couple of years old, it should have had at least Windows 8.1 on it when it was new.lancer778544 said:
Mr Pointy said:
Any chance there's a windows sticker on the laptop with the Win 8 key on it?
On most Windows 8 onwards laptops, the key will be embedded in the BIOS and wont have a key sticker. If its only a couple of years old, it should have had at least Windows 8.1 on it when it was new.I go with the above sort of, if the machine has had windows installed to it in the past I would bet with my hard earned cash that there is a windows 10 key written to the BIOS
"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
Penelope Stopit said:
I go with the above sort of, if the machine has had windows installed to it in the past I would bet with my hard earned cash that there is a windows 10 key written to the BIOS
"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
Have you ever met a Linux user who passed up the chance to evangelise about some command line geekery? The chance to persuade someone away from Windows. Nah..."sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
randlemarcus said:
Penelope Stopit said:
I go with the above sort of, if the machine has had windows installed to it in the past I would bet with my hard earned cash that there is a windows 10 key written to the BIOS
"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
Have you ever met a Linux user who passed up the chance to evangelise about some command line geekery? The chance to persuade someone away from Windows. Nah..."sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
As can be seen my comments relate to personal experience
You can install Windows 10 without a licence. It will work perfectly fine, all it does is puts an "Activate Windows" watermark in the bottom right corner until you do so. The only limitation is that you can't personalise your desktop.
You'll need another computer and a USB flash drive, download the MediaCreationTool file from the Microsoft website and it'll put a bootable loader on the USB drive.
You'll need another computer and a USB flash drive, download the MediaCreationTool file from the Microsoft website and it'll put a bootable loader on the USB drive.
Penelope Stopit said:
I go with the above sort of, if the machine has had windows installed to it in the past I would bet with my hard earned cash that there is a windows 10 key written to the BIOS
"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
But if its 2 year old it won't matter if he user installed Windows 7"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
The simple fact is if installing windows 10 it will still see the hidden 8 or10 key locked away it is just they work
techiedave said:
Penelope Stopit said:
I go with the above sort of, if the machine has had windows installed to it in the past I would bet with my hard earned cash that there is a windows 10 key written to the BIOS
"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
But if its 2 year old it won't matter if he user installed Windows 7"sort of" because the past user could easily have installed windows 7 to it due to 8 and 10 being so bad (matter of opinion of course and I've been wrong before) or it was running Linux
Thinking deeper I wouldn't put my hard earned on it
The simple fact is if installing windows 10 it will still see the hidden 8 or10 key locked away it is just they work
I seem to recall this is the problem I came up against a while ago but I could be wrong
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