Resetting Windows 10 and not losing my free upgrade

AbAppletic · 10 Aug 2016

So the time has come when the wonderful Windows 10 came to it's money taking period.
However, I updated to windows 10 using the free upgrade available on pre-July 29. Now, if I reset it to factory settings, will I still have Windows 10 activated? Or will I have to buy it?

songkrai · 10 Aug 2016

Good question.

I want to reformat hard drive/restore to Windows 10 default out of box settings on older desktop.
What do I get when I do this?
Windows 10?
Windows 7?
Or Vista - that the computer came with?

Luulune · 10 Aug 2016

Hey,

you can make a Windows 10 boot disk to make a clean install. I reinstalled Win10 clean on my new SSD only last week and there was no issue., The activation happens on the first Windows boot. As long as your motherboard is the same there should be no issue

cereberus · 10 Aug 2016

AbAppletic said:

So the time has come when the wonderful Windows 10 came to it's money taking period.
However, I updated to windows 10 using the free upgrade available on pre-July 29. Now, if I reset it to factory settings, will I still have Windows 10 activated? Or will I have to buy it?

No - you can reinstall at any time in future free of charge on same pc, as you now have a digital licence tied to mobo id. You do not even need to enter a key.

VBJP · 10 Aug 2016

songkrai said:

Good question.

I want to reformat hard drive/restore to Windows 10 default out of box settings on older desktop.
What do I get when I do this?
Windows 10?
Windows 7?
Or Vista - that the computer came with?

If PC was updated to windows 10 and activated before, any future reinstall of windows 10 on same hardware will be free and will activate automatically when you connect to internet if windows 10 install asks for key you can just click i don't have key.

Josbeph · 10 Aug 2016

If you go to:
Settings -> Update & security -> Recovery
and then select Reset this PC. This wont deactivate Windows.