What happens with my Win10 license if I go back to Win7 for a day?


  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 10 Professional 64 bit
       #1

    What happens with my Win10 license if I go back to Win7 for a day?


    As per title.

    I've upgraded my Win7Pro to Win10 Professional a few months ago. I want to install Win7 back for testing purposes. I still have my Win7 activation key.

    What's going to happen after the testing when I'll install Win10 again? Will it be activated or will I have to pay?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,637
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, your PC should automatically activate if you reinstall Win 10. Once activated, your right to Win 10 is held on MS's activation servers against your hardware.

    I suggest you do the following to save a lot of time:
    a. Create a disk image using e.g. Macrium reflect (free) + its boot medium + external storage (Use 'Windows Backup'). You can then restore your PC exactly as was with Win10 in under an hour. (Everyone should use disk imaging routinely anyway- strongly recommended here).
    b. Reinstall Win 7 and do what you need to
    c. Create an image of that so you can restore Win 7 any time you wish in under an hour.
    d. Restore your image of Win 10.

    Note: you will need to be careful about partitions on your disk - best to delete the Win 10 ones then install Win 7, then delete Win 7 ones and restore Win 10.

    And a much easier way is to get a spare disk, put that in, and install Win 7 on that.. no messing, almost no risk.
    Last edited by dalchina; 29 Aug 2016 at 00:16.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 1,524
    Windows 10 Pro (32-bit) 16299.15
       #3

    Depending what you want to test, you might also be able to use one of the free Virtual Machines which Microsoft provide for browser testing. You'd need something to host them, but if you have Win 10 Pro you should have Hyper-V already.
    https://developer.microsoft.com/en-u...dge/tools/vms/

    But the above advice about taking a backup image is still good whatever you do - you never know when a backup image might be needed...
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:43.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums