Upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 on a new SSD

Hello,
I've been running Windows 7 since 2014 on a computer and I didn't want to go to Windows 10 at the time of the free upgrade.

I recently saw that the upgrade is still doable.

I'm now considering upgrading my PC hardware with a new SSD drive which would have no Windows installation.

If I understood correctly what I've read on the subject, I would have to install Windows 7 on the new SSD and then upgrade it to Windows 10.

Of course, I would not use Windows 7 on my current SSD anymore, I would wipe it and use it for storage.

Is that all correct ?

Thank !

You should be able to do a clean install and enter the win7 key when asked is it an OEM key or retail?

If I remember correctly, I got this key though Microsoft MSDN when I was a student.

Put new drive in and remove the other do a clean install and see what happens it should realy activate with a 7 key if the worse happens you still have the old drive to boot from

Yeah I'll do that, thanks, I have to order the computer parts now !

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Samuria said:

Put new drive in and remove the other do a clean install and see what happens it should realy activate with a 7 key if the worse happens you still have the old drive to boot from

I think I read your message a bit too fast !

So you’re saying I don’t need to install Win 7 on the SSD and that I should be able to put Win 10 right away with the Win 7 key ?

It may be safest to install Win10 as an upgarde over your current Win7. That will establish a digital license with Microsoft. Once you have done that, you can install the new SSD and do a clean install of Win10 on it. It will then activate using the digital license.

That'll be a bit tedious, but I think it'll work.

MSDN Win 7 key? I hope not. It may not be valid anymore.

bobkn said:

It may be safest to install Win10 as an upgarde over your current Win7. That will establish a digital license with Microsoft. Once you have done that, you can install the new SSD and do a clean install of Win10 on it. It will then activate using the digital license.

That'll be a bit tedious, but I think it'll work.

Tidious indeed ... Whatever works !

bobkn said:

MSDN Win 7 key? I hope not. It may not be valid anymore.

Yeah I got that key in 2014. Windows 7 never complained and I'm still using it daily. I hope it will ok because I don't really want to buy a new license ...

Croustibat said:

Tidious indeed ... Whatever works !


Yeah I got that key in 2014. Windows 7 never complained and I'm still using it daily. I hope it will ok because I don't really want to buy a new license ...

If there is a problem with the license, it may only show up when you try to use it to activate a new Windows install. I believe that MS does not reach out to deactivate Windows on activated PCs, even if MS has blacklisted the license.

bobkn said:

It may be safest to install Win10 as an upgarde over your current Win7. That will establish a digital license with Microsoft. Once you have done that, you can install the new SSD and do a clean install of Win10 on it. It will then activate using the digital license.

That'll be a bit tedious, but I think it'll work.

MSDN Win 7 key? I hope not. It may not be valid anymore.

That's what I would do. Update the existing Win7 on the HDD. Then image or clone the updated Win 10 installation from the HDD to the new SSD - e.g. using Macrium Reflect Free. You can then consider doing a clean install of Win 10 on the SSD.

Steve C said:

That's what I would do. Update the existing Win7 on the HDD. Then image or clone the updated Win 10 installation from the HDD to the new SSD - e.g. using Macrium Reflect Free. You can then consider doing a clean install of Win 10 on the SSD.

Thank you, that makes sense ! I will do a fresh install with new SSD because I'm changing the motherboard / CPU.