Upgrading Win 7 to Win 10 Versus Clean Install


  1. Brucex64
    Posts : 106
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Upgrading Win 7 to Win 10 Versus Clean Install


    I am running windows 7 and downloaded the free windows 10 upgrade back when Microsoft offered it and stored it on my drive. I installed it, registered, then reverted to 7.

    Now as I understand it, this install file is an upgrade version to be put on over windows 7. But what happens when I do that, and someday will need to get a new hard drive and a clean install - how would I be able to clean install with an upgrade copy of windows 10?
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 43,004
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    You can:
    - clean install as many times as you like once your PC has a digital activation registered with MS
    - clean install Win 10 without having upgraded to Win 10 before, simply entering a valid Win 7, Win 8 key
    - upgrade from Win 7

    There are quirks and oddities if your BIOS has an embedded key.

    Further: changing the drive does not count as a hardware change as far as activation is concerned.
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  4. Caledon Ken
    Posts : 30,192
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       New #3

    That won't be a problem.

    Once your machine has Windows 10 MS's servers will, for lack of better words, fingerprint your machine. If you clean install and the machine fingerprints match it will activate.

    You can even change some things like storage with no issues.

    If you use a MS login on your machine your digital license will be associated with your ID. If you do have issues there is an activation trouble shooter. '

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...troubleshooter
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  6. zbook
    Posts : 41,475
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #4

    If you upgraded from 7 to 10 then rolled back the license should be on Microsoft servers.
    This allows you to clean install and replace the drive.

    If there is any doubt you can still upgrade for free:
    Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free
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  7. Brucex64
    Posts : 106
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    So then the install file that I have, I would just need to burn it to a CD and make it bootable in case I need to wipe/replace my drive, right? The same file can do both clean installs and upgrades? I thought in the past if you had an upgrade CD it would only work if there was an o/s already present.
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  8. Caledon Ken
    Posts : 30,192
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       New #6

    No please. The file you have has Windows 10 so old it is not supported.

    Get a new version and use it. It is free.


    https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...load/windows10

    Download tool, execute tool and follow the prompts to make either an ISO or bootable USB thumbdrive. You need a 8GB thumbdrive.

    With either of these medias, if you boot from them you can do a clean install, if you mount ISO and navigate to setup it does upgrade. If you navigate to Setup on USB and double click it updates.

    Basically this tutorial.

    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade


    To ensure you have a better chance of upgrading succeeding uninstall any third party AV's and other tools that provide privacy or cleaning. You can re-install once 10 is running. Uninstall software, not disable, please.

    In the last month I've done three this way, upgrades. After my upgrade on my Win 7 I redid it as a clean install.
    Last edited by Caledon Ken; 23 Dec 2019 at 20:18.
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  9. Brucex64
    Posts : 106
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Thanks!
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  10. Caledon Ken
    Posts : 30,192
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       New #8

    Here is an article on Windows 10 Life Cycle.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/...cle-fact-sheet
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