Reinstalling windows 10

[98elise]

I've just had to reset my son'so laptop and it would only reset to the original windows 8 (the horror!). 10 just went into a loop and would not restart.

Is it possible to reinstall windows 10 or will the want me to pay for the upgrade this time?

[randlemarcus]

Theory is that 10 knows the hardware, and that's what the licence is, so you should be fine. Make sure the installation file is the same version you had before.

[grumbledoak]

I've re-installed Windows 10 on a Win8-upgraded-to-Win10 system several times. I had to re-enter my Win8 Pro key to get Pro back, but it accepted the old Win8 Pro key and upgraded it, so make a note of your keys before you start. It should Just Work (TM) otherwise.

Belarc Advisor will show you your licence keys free:
www.belarc.com/products_belarc_advisor

[Ozone]

I reinstalled windows 10 on a laptop last week that was originally upgraded from 7, all went well without the keys.

Download the windows 10 media installer first selecting the current installation type (eg Win10 Home x64) and during the windows 10 install select I don't have a key and it will be recognised later through the install.

I was surprised with the latest version install as it was using Cortana to ask questions through the speaker and accepting spoken answers during the install

Edited by Ozone on Sunday 23 April 20:44

[98elise]

Thanks I'll give the media creator a go.

His creative cloud stuff (photoshop etc) won'the install on 8, and the fix (missing component) ust says windows doesn't need updating so we're in another loop!

Hopefully 10 will fix everything.

[98elise]

Windows 10 now installed and everything is working

Many Thanks!

[E65Ross]

On the subject of this....

If something happens to my PC or laptop (both running windows 10, upgraded from 8) where I can't boot into them etc, is there a way to download windows 10 onto a disc so I can install from fresh? My laptop doesn't appear to have a code/licence key on it, so I'm not sure how that will play out?

Thanks

[Nimby]

E65Ross said:

On the subject of this....

If something happens to my PC or laptop (both running windows 10, upgraded from 8) where I can't boot into them etc, is there a way to download windows 10 onto a disc so I can install from fresh? My laptop doesn't appear to have a code/licence key on it, so I'm not sure how that will play out?

Thanks

The Media Creation Tool downloads the ISO and builds bootable media; either DVD or USB flash drive.
Once you have legally activated Windows 10 you should be able to do a clean install later without needing to enter any keys - as mentioned earlier the activation server "knows" your hardware.

[E65Ross]

Nimby said:

E65Ross said:

On the subject of this....

If something happens to my PC or laptop (both running windows 10, upgraded from 8) where I can't boot into them etc, is there a way to download windows 10 onto a disc so I can install from fresh? My laptop doesn't appear to have a code/licence key on it, so I'm not sure how that will play out?

Thanks

The Media Creation Tool downloads the ISO and builds bootable media; either DVD or USB flash drive.
Once you have legally activated Windows 10 you should be able to do a clean install later without needing to enter any keys - as mentioned earlier the activation server "knows" your hardware.

Perfect, thank you!!

My grandfather also declined to upgrade to Windows 10 when they were offering free upgrade. I think he's on windows 7 or something....is it possible to still upgrade for free, do you know?

Many thanks!

Ross

[Matt100HP]

E65Ross said:

Perfect, thank you!!

My grandfather also declined to upgrade to Windows 10 when they were offering free upgrade. I think he's on windows 7 or something....is it possible to still upgrade for free, do you know?

Many thanks!

Ross

If you're willing to (potentially, depending on circumstances) bend the rules a bit, yes.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/wind...

[E65Ross]

Matt100HP said:

E65Ross said:

Perfect, thank you!!

My grandfather also declined to upgrade to Windows 10 when they were offering free upgrade. I think he's on windows 7 or something....is it possible to still upgrade for free, do you know?

Many thanks!

Ross

If you're willing to (potentially, depending on circumstances) bend the rules a bit, yes.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/wind...

Thank you very much. I'm installing/updating it for him right now

[Matt100HP]

E65Ross said:

Thank you very much. I'm installing/updating it for him right now

I hope W10 is working well for him.

I think the whole accessibility users still getting the upgrade for free thing is decent compromise so that MS can still offer a free upgrade to W10 for W7 & W8 users, without having to entirely backtrack on their original claim that the upgrade would only be free for the first year.

[E65Ross]

Matt100HP said:

E65Ross said:

Thank you very much. I'm installing/updating it for him right now

I hope W10 is working well for him.

I think the whole accessibility users still getting the upgrade for free thing is decent compromise so that MS can still offer a free upgrade to W10 for W7 & W8 users, without having to entirely backtrack on their original claim that the upgrade would only be free for the first year.

He seems happy so far!