How do I do fresh install of Windows 10 with Windows 7/8.1 product key

olds442 · 13 Mar 2019

Hi! New to the forum from Indiana. Will be building a new computer very soon, and will be switching from Windows 7. Currently running an Asus M5A99X Evo R2.0 with an AMD FX4350 Black Edition, and will be upgrading to an Asus ROG Strix X470 F with an AMD Ryzen5 2600 or 2600X.

I saw where you can download a copy of Windows 10 using the media creation tool, and activate it using a Win7 or Win 8.1 product key. If you do this, do you still have to pay for the software? Also, if you activate using one of the other product keys, and you have to go back to the older software for some reason (Windows 10 doesn't work out or something like that), can you still reuse the key for the original version (go back to older version)?

dalchina · 14 Mar 2019

Hi, this may help:
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First | Tutorials

and for reference
Clean Install Windows 10 | Tutorials

Success with free upgrades has been reported in the last few months.
The above show which Win 10 product you are entitled to given your current Win 7 license.

Other issues may arise if you are moving your Win 7 license to a new PC - is it retail? Hopefully someone else can advise on that, or perhaps you've already done it.

It would be possible to consider upgrading keeping your current configuraton even when moving to another PC, but you may prefer a clean install, which would be inevitable if 32 bits to 64bits e.g.

olds442 · 14 Mar 2019

Thanks for your reply. This is a 64 bit OEM version, and will be a brand new install on a new board (bought the disk version when I built this system).

I'm trying to minimize issues with the install. If there could be problems going that route, it might be better to just buy the software...better to know now than later.

NavyLCDR · 14 Mar 2019

olds442 said:

Thanks for your reply. This is a 64 bit OEM version, and will be a brand new install on a new board (bought the disk version when I built this system).

1. It violates the System Builder's license agreement (both Windows 7 and Windows 10) to use the OEM System Builders edition of Windows for your own personal use. It is intended for System Builders to pre-install on systems that they are going to sell.

2. The OEM EULA specifies that the license is not transferable between computers. It is meant for only the computer that the system builder installed it on.

Communication page | Windows system builder licensing for personal use

olds442 · 14 Mar 2019

Ok, thanks for the info.