Reactivating Windows after a hardware change
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It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Windows 10 Product Key from already installed Windows 10? Thread starter ScanDisk Start date Dec 15, ScanDisk Veteran Member. Hello there, I have recently came into possession of a laptop with an i5 processor and 4gb of ram. It has a corrupted Windows 10 install on it, nothing to complain about, I got it for free.
I thought I'd have to format it, then install Windows 7, but I was told since it already has Windows 10 on it, I could install windows 10 because I would already have a product key.
If that is true, considering my OS is corrupted and will not boot, how would I know which version I have and what my product key is? Joined May 23, Messages 5, Location Connecticut. Do you have a Windows 7 sticker? The previous owner likely upgraded Home to Home or Pro to Pro so install 10 in matching version and if activation fails, call MS and probably will need to read the old sticker number.
MS wants Win 10 in use so the activation should go through. I would check the laptop model with various compatibility lists. MS has a bad habit of locking out some older systems from the Creators Update because of driver changes in Win Can't load Creators Update, might as well stick with Windows 7 since some Windows 10 software already requires Creators Update to be installed.
You can download the iso from Microsoft. Just elaborating on what g4ugm has said If it's a legit version, then it will automatically activate when connected to the Internet. I believe it uses some type of unique hardware profile to determine whether there is a valid license associated with your computer. Click to expand SpidersWeb Veteran Member. If the Windows 10 was a free upgrade from Windows 7, you can just enter the Windows 7 key if that's on the bottom of the laptop still.
ScanDisk said:. I have already formatted the hard drive, should that still work? Last edited: Dec 16, Lutiana Administrator Staff member. Joined May 2, Messages Yes, it is tied to the hardware, not the key. Well it didn't work when I tried this with my Asus laptop which had originally shipped with Windows Wiping the hard drive and reinstalling resulted in a non-activated version of Windows 10 that would not activate no matter what I tried, unless I paid for a license presumably.
It was a bit of a nightmare fixing this problem and neither Microsoft or Asus were of any help whatsoever. Asus told me they didn't offer installation media. There should also be a product code on the machine. When reinstalling windows 10 on a machine that has been activated, you MUST select the same version that was installed. So if the machine had 7 Home 32 bit and upgraded to 10, for a new install that will activate, you must install Windows 10 32bit Home Version. IF it had 10 Professional 64bit, then you must select that version and so on and so forth.
I reinstall windows multiple times per week because of my job, and windows 10 will always reactivate if you reinstall the same version on the same machine. It might take it a update or two to show activated, but I haven't had one that didn't work. Later, dabone. GottaLottaStuff Veteran Member. Funny that the free upgrade to Win10 still works to this day when it was suppose to be a 'limited time offer'.
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