Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First  

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  1. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #430

    Now, @scop8, keep in mind that if those computers you are doing the clean install on have already been upgraded to Windows 10 once and they have a digital entitlement - you don't have to use the gatherosstate.exe program or the genuineticket.xml file. You just skip entering the product key and Windows 10 will retrieve the digital entitlement and activate itself.
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  2. Posts : 32
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #431

    NavyLCDR said:
    Now, @scop8, keep in mind that if those computers you are doing the clean install on have already been upgraded to Windows 10 once and they have a digital entitlement - you don't have to use the gatherosstate.exe program or the genuineticket.xml file. You just skip entering the product key and Windows 10 will retrieve the digital entitlement and activate itself.
    Oh really? I didn't realize that, thanks! I don't understand how that's possible with a clean install (I guess they have a record of a digital entitlement?), but it's good to know. I've already backed up all my files, but knowing this is an extra step I don't have to worry about is a relief. You've been very helpful (along with simrick), I really appreciate it!
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  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 U x64
       #432

    beginning said:
    Thanks man for the reply. I guess it woudn't hurt to try though, maybe it will work?
    Have you tried that? Did it work?
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  4. Posts : 32
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #433

    NavyLCDR said:
    Now, @scop8, keep in mind that if those computers you are doing the clean install on have already been upgraded to Windows 10 once and they have a digital entitlement - you don't have to use the gatherosstate.exe program or the genuineticket.xml file. You just skip entering the product key and Windows 10 will retrieve the digital entitlement and activate itself.
    Navy, before I reinstalled Win 7, I optimized my HDD following these steps - SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Help Forums (I'm assuming it's the same for Win 10). Then I switched to Win 10 Pro. Now I'm wondering whether to optimize the other HDDs that already have Win 10 (via upgrade) but that I want to do a clean Win 10 install on. Will optimizing the HDDs wipe out the digital entitlement and will I then need to create the Genuine Ticket beforehand? Or will optimizing the HDDs negate a digital activation? Thanks very much.
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  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #434

    scop8 said:
    Navy, before I reinstalled Win 7, I optimized my HDD following these steps - SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Help Forums (I'm assuming it's the same for Win 10). Then I switched to Win 10 Pro. Now I'm wondering whether to optimize the other HDDs that already have Win 10 (via upgrade) but that I want to do a clean Win 10 install on. Will optimizing the HDDs wipe out the digital entitlement and will I then need to create the Genuine Ticket beforehand? Or will optimizing the HDDs negate a digital activation? Thanks very much.
    Does the current Windows 10 Pro show it is activated with a digital license or digital entitlement on that computer (it does not have to be linked to a Microsoft account - just a digital license or entitlement).

    Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First-capture.jpg

    If it does say digital entitlement or digital license, and you want to clean install all you have to do is:

    1. Boot from Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD.
    2. Skip entering product key if it asks for one.
    3. Select the Custom Install option.
    4. You will be presented with a list of partitions on the hard drive/SSD. Select each partition on the hard drive/SSD you want to install Windows 10 to. This will erase everything on the hard drive/SSD.
    5. Select the resulting unallocated space and click next to let Windows set up the partitions and install.

    It is recommended that you have only the hard drive/SSD connected that you want to install to. Disconnect all other hard drives/SSDs (except for the Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD of course).

    Windows 10 will activate itself by retrieving the digital entitlement or license from Microsoft activation servers after it is installed and connected to the internet.
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  6. Posts : 32
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #435

    NavyLCDR said:
    Does the current Windows 10 Pro show it is activated with a digital license or digital entitlement on that computer (it does not have to be linked to a Microsoft account - just a digital license or entitlement).

    Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First-capture.jpg

    If it does say digital entitlement or digital license, and you want to clean install all you have to do is:

    1. Boot from Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD.
    2. Skip entering product key if it asks for one.
    3. Select the Custom Install option.
    4. You will be presented with a list of partitions on the hard drive/SSD. Select each partition on the hard drive/SSD you want to install Windows 10 to. This will erase everything on the hard drive/SSD.
    5. Select the resulting unallocated space and click next to let Windows set up the partitions and install.

    It is recommended that you have only the hard drive/SSD connected that you want to install to. Disconnect all other hard drives/SSDs (except for the Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD of course).

    Windows 10 will activate itself by retrieving the digital entitlement or license from Microsoft activation servers after it is installed and connected to the internet.
    Hi Navy, yes, they're all activated with a digital entitlement. My question isn't about how to clean re-install, but whether or not optimizing other HDDs first will somehow get rid of the digital entitlement. It sounds from your final sentence that MS has a record of it, but I'm just double-checking whether they can still link it to a HDD that has been totally wiped before re-installation. My apologies if I hadn't phrased my original question clearly. Hopefully this is more precise. Thanks.
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  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #436

    You can erase the hard drive and Windows 10 will still activate on that computer.
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  8. Posts : 103
    Windows 7-pro-sp1 and windows 10-pro-1803
       #437

    Following these excellent clean installation instructions, few months back I made a separate partition and clean installed Windows 10 pro with the gatherostate job. Currently on v1511. I dual boot with Windows 7 pro sp1.
    I just made a USB flash with v1607 using the new MS creation tool in case I want to do clean job again instead of allowing M$ to do it.
    Two questions:
    - I assume that the advice for scop8 on the last two pages of this thread apply in that I don't have to mess with gatherostate stuff since I did get digital entitlement on my first installation - is that correct?
    - I had some chkdsk issues in Windows 7 some weeks back, and learned here to shut off hibernation and fastboot which solved all my problems. Will M$ turn fastboot back on? I think I read someplace that they will. Any ideas?
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  9. Posts : 16,325
    W10Prox64
       #438

    91fw said:
    Following these excellent clean installation instructions, few months back I made a separate partition and clean installed Windows 10 pro with the gatherostate job. Currently on v1511. I dual boot with Windows 7 pro sp1.
    I just made a USB flash with v1607 using the new MS creation tool in case I want to do clean job again instead of allowing M$ to do it.
    Two questions:
    - I assume that the advice for scop8 on the last two pages of this thread apply in that I don't have to mess with gatherostate stuff since I did get digital entitlement on my first installation - is that correct?
    Correct.

    91fw said:
    - I had some chkdsk issues in Windows 7 some weeks back, and learned here to shut off hibernation and fastboot which solved all my problems. Will M$ turn fastboot back on? I think I read someplace that they will. Any ideas?
    Yes, MS have been turning on Fast Startup with every major update, so keep your eye on it. They also turn off System Restore.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 103
    Windows 7-pro-sp1 and windows 10-pro-1803
       #439

    Thank you simrick :)
      My Computer


 

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