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

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  1. Kelemvor
    Posts : 81
    10
       New #1

    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!
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  3. Brink
    Posts : 68,881
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #2

    Hello Kelemvor, :)

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

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html
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  4. mrgeek
    Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       New #3

    Clean install Windows 7 and activate. No need to do updates. Upgrade to 10 with 7 key. This will give you cleanest possible install.
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  6. topgundcp
    Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       New #4

    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

    1. Download Windows 10 Pro DVD/ISO. Burn the ISO, mount it or extract it.
    2. 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.
    3. Wipe the disk clean and Install Windows 10. Skip the product key when asked.
    4. Once finished, from folder options, turn on: show hidden files/folders and copy the file GenuineTicket.xml to: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket.
    5. Reboot.
    6. Win+X->System. Activation status should be activated.
    Last edited by Brink; 20 Sep 2015 at 11:47. Reason: added tutorial link for more info
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  7. Kelemvor
    Posts : 81
    10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    mrgeek said:
    Clean install Windows 7 and activate. No need to do updates. Upgrade to 10 with 7 key. This will give you cleanest possible install.
    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... :)
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  8. Brink
    Posts : 68,881
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #6

    Kelemvor, :)

    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
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  9. mrgeek
    Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       New #7

    Kelemvor said:
    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... :)
    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.
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  10. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #8

    topgundcp said:
    I beleive when you upgrade Windows 7/8 Enterprise to Windows 10. It will upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
    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.
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  12. Brink
    Posts : 68,881
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #9

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

    Windows 10 FAQ Tips - Microsoft

    What edition of Windows will I get as part of this free upgrade?
    Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer.
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  13. mrgeek
    Posts : 1,773
    Windows 10 Home
       New #10

    "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.
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