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#11
I would do as @vram has suggested. You have nothing to lose. These people will not stop they have just about everything that was on the PC by now.
I asked him if he had any files he wanted to save and he assured me there was nothing important. I hadn't thought of creating the install media from a different PC; I assumed that wouldn't help because it would then expect *my* key and wouldn't run on his computer and mine at the same time. If it activates itself on a different computer without difficulty, I could use my laptop, which also runs Windows 10 to make the install media.
That's very convenient - if it works as you describe! - and would save him having to find his current key, which is a dubious proposition given the way he files papers.
The purpose of the media creation tool is simply to create a Windows installation disc or a flash drive to reinstall the OS. You will not be prompted for a key to create the media. Just pick 64-bit Windows 10 :)
Skip entering the key during the actual install.
What make/model of PC is this? If it’s got UEFI BIOS, someone that’s better able to explain how to boot from external media may need assist in helping you boot from it. You may need to enter UEFI and disable secure boot and enable/disable an option here and there.
looks to be UEFI and it originally had a Windows 8.1:
Product support
If you can successfully reinstall Windows 10, I’m confident you won’t need to install any drivers.
Also take note of this thread regarding booting:
https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/432502/aspire-tc-605-cant-get-it-to-boot-from-cd-or-usb
I don't quite understand what lesson I should take from the link about the booting issue. The solution found by the OP seems to involves booting from a Linux CD rather than a Windows CD. Is this really relevant though? The computer has Windows 10 on it now, even if it started out as a Windows 8.1 machine. Isn't it going to be using the install media I create to put on a fresh copy of Windows 10 and bypass 8.1? Or is it going to install 8.1 and then upgrade it to 10?
I linked the that thread for general knowledge on booting from disc or USB. Seems to indicate that u you press F12 to enter boot menu.
You will not be installing 8.1. You’re installing 10 directly. Since the PC originally came with 8.1 and it’s got a few years age on it, I was just commenting on the likelihood that Windows 10 will install all the required drivers for you.