Need to wipe & reinstall Windows 10 on an HP desktop before selling


  1. slacker032
    Posts : 7
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Need to wipe & reinstall Windows 10 on an HP desktop before selling


    The HP Pavilion desktop originally came with Windows 7 and I still have the product key on the sticker. We did the free upgrade to Windows 10.

    I plan on using DBAN to completely wipe it before reinstalling Windows 10 so I can sell it to a stranger. How would I go about keeping the licensed Windows 10 that I currently have on the machine?

    If I make a Windows 10 USB installer from the same computer, can I activate it on a fresh install even though the license is for Windows 7?
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 43,019
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    If you're selling it with Win 10 on it, then the person you are selling to has the license. The digital right is tied to that machine. You have an OEM license so can't transfer it anyway.

    Can I transfer Windows 10 to another computer - Microsoft Community

    OEM licenses are treated differently to retail licenses as that article says:
    OEM :


    OEM versions of Windows are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

    - OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

    - OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

    - OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard
    - OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system
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  4. slacker032
    Posts : 7
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    dalchina said:
    If you're selling it with Win 10 on it, then the person you are selling to has the license. The digital right is tied to that machine.
    So when I do a fresh install using this method:

    Download Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File)

    Won't I be prompted for an activation key and will the Windows 7 key work?
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 43,019
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #4

    See amended post above.
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  7. slacker032
    Posts : 7
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    dalchina said:
    See amended post above.
    I think I understand. So even after nuking it with DBAN, the hardware will still retain some type of digital signature that indicates that is the rightful owner of that particular Windows license?
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  8. dalchina
    Posts : 43,019
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #6

    If it's a sticker on your PC the Win 7 license is OEM presumably. As MS says, that's not transferable.

    MS records your Win 10 activation on its servers using a particular form of the hardware id, which is why reinstalling Win 10 on the same PC normally needs no key input.
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  9. slacker032
    Posts : 7
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Got it. Thank you.
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  10. dalchina
    Posts : 43,019
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #8

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