Clean Install Question


  1. Posts : 15
    windows 10 pro
       #1

    Clean Install Question


    I have a slight twist on the clean install question. Could not find a clear answer on the forum or the internets.

    Win 7 pro computer (homebuilt)
    1. Get current win 7 installation up to date and cleaned up.
    2. Remove Win 7 OS SSD
    3. Put in clean formatted SSD
    4. Clean install Win10 pro from DVD.
    5 Activate with existing Win 7 product Key.

    I am pretty sure I would stay with Win 10 but if I wanted to drop back to Win 7 in 6 months and reinstalled the Win 7 SSD back into my computer would that configuration run or would the MS servers say that the Win 7 product key is no longer valid because it was used to activate the Win 10 installation?

    Either disk would be used with the original MB/network card etc. so I don not foresee a problem with MS authentication from that position.

    Basically I am trying to nab my free legal Win 10 activation before July 29, do a clean install rather than upgrade and preserve my ability to drop back to Win 7 and not violate MS TOS/Licensing. I would run either 7 or 10 on the same machine and not both at the same time.

    Might this work or do I need to do the upgrade/activate/roll back to achieve what I want.

    Thanks
    Howard
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,896
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #2

    htnelson said:
    I have a slight twist on the clean install question. Could not find a clear answer on the forum or the internets.

    Win 7 pro computer (homebuilt)
    1. Get current win 7 installation up to date and cleaned up.
    2. Remove Win 7 OS SSD
    3. Put in clean formatted SSD
    4. Clean install Win10 pro from DVD.
    5 Activate with existing Win 7 product Key.

    I am pretty sure I would stay with Win 10 but if I wanted to drop back to Win 7 in 6 months and reinstalled the Win 7 SSD back into my computer would that configuration run or would the MS servers say that the Win 7 product key is no longer valid because it was used to activate the Win 10 installation?

    Either disk would be used with the original MB/network card etc. so I don not foresee a problem with MS authentication from that position.

    Basically I am trying to nab my free legal Win 10 activation before July 29, do a clean install rather than upgrade and preserve my ability to drop back to Win 7 and not violate MS TOS/Licensing. I would run either 7 or 10 on the same machine and not both at the same time.

    Might this work or do I need to do the upgrade/activate/roll back to achieve what I want.

    Thanks
    Howard
    I think it should work having Win7 and Win10 on separate drives and physically swap drives UNLESS something messes up on the Win7 that requires a reinstall such as a catastrophic drive failure requiring replacement, could run afoul of the licensing using the same Product Key.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 15
    windows 10 pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Berton said:
    I think it should work having Win7 and Win10 on separate drives and physically swap drives UNLESS something messes up on the Win7 that requires a reinstall such as a catastrophic drive failure requiring replacement, could run afoul of the licensing using the same Product Key.
    Thanks for the reply. Hard drives are cheap (320gb $25 USD currently). I already clone my OS drive monthly and keep two clones on the shelf so I am not too worried about losing one drive.
    Howard
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    Re-installing the same operating system on the same computer does not run afoul of any EULA.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #5

    htnelson said:
    I have a slight twist on the clean install question. Could not find a clear answer on the forum or the internets.

    Win 7 pro computer (homebuilt)
    1. Get current win 7 installation up to date and cleaned up.
    2. Remove Win 7 OS SSD
    3. Put in clean formatted SSD
    4. Clean install Win10 pro from DVD.
    5 Activate with existing Win 7 product Key.

    I am pretty sure I would stay with Win 10 but if I wanted to drop back to Win 7 in 6 months and reinstalled the Win 7 SSD back into my computer would that configuration run or would the MS servers say that the Win 7 product key is no longer valid because it was used to activate the Win 10 installation?

    Either disk would be used with the original MB/network card etc. so I don not foresee a problem with MS authentication from that position.

    Basically I am trying to nab my free legal Win 10 activation before July 29, do a clean install rather than upgrade and preserve my ability to drop back to Win 7 and not violate MS TOS/Licensing. I would run either 7 or 10 on the same machine and not both at the same time.

    Might this work or do I need to do the upgrade/activate/roll back to achieve what I want.

    Thanks
    Howard
    Make a system image backup and you can go back to old OS any time.
      My Computer


 

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