Can you fresh install Windows 10 using a valid Windows 7 key?


  1. Posts : 19
    Windows 10
       #1

    Can you fresh install Windows 10 using a valid Windows 7 key?


    ^^^
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  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    This is from the Tutorial section - please feel free to browse and search it.. very useful.
    Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

    Others are experts on the differences between OEM and retail licenses.
    What sort of license do you have?
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  3. Posts : 19
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Sorry - that's not what I wanted. I have a Windows 7 key that is not currently in-use. That guide appears to be for someone who is currently running on the Windows 7 key they want to use.
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  4. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    From build 10540 (Nov last year) entry of the retail key was permitted.

    That tutorial shows the upgrade relationships between the versions of Windows as well.

    Can I buy a Key for windows 7, install the ISO, then upgrade to 10? - Windows 10 Forums
    - e.g. see #5

    I clean installed Win 10 Pro on this PC using my Win 8 Pro license.
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  5. Posts : 15,027
    Windows 10 IoT
       #5

    From what I have read, yes, you can do that.
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  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    You can try it. Sometimes, but not always, Microsoft will reject the Windows 7 Product Key when attempting to activate Windows 10 with it with the reason "Key is in use on another computer." The only solution then is to temporarily install Windows 7 on the computer you want it on, activate it over the phone. Then I recommend getting the genuineticket.xml file. Then Windows 10 will activate on that computer with the Windows 7 key. But if that Windows 7 product key was never used on another computer, it should be fine.
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  7. Posts : 19
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    NavyLCDR said:
    You can try it. Sometimes, but not always, Microsoft will reject the Windows 7 Product Key when attempting to activate Windows 10 with it with the reason "Key is in use on another computer." The only solution then is to temporarily install Windows 7 on the computer you want it on, activate it over the phone. Then I recommend getting the genuineticket.xml file. Then Windows 10 will activate on that computer with the Windows 7 key. But if that Windows 7 product key was never used on another computer, it should be fine.
    Thanks for letting me know
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  8. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    @NavyLCDR "The only solution then is to temporarily install Windows 7 on the computer you want it on, activate it over the phone."

    should that be 10?
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  9. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #9

    Yes, I've done so on a computer I built for my in-laws. It was a clean install on a blank drive, no previous OS or digital entitlement. I entered one of my many unused Windows 7 keys, and it activated without issue.
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  10. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #10

    dalchina said:
    @NavyLCDR "The only solution then is to temporarily install Windows 7 on the computer you want it on, activate it over the phone."

    should that be 10?
    Nope. If Windows 10 fails to activate because Microsoft says the product key is being used on another computer, re-installing Windows 10 won't fix it and you can't activate Windows 10 via phone activation with a Windows 7 product key.
    Last edited by NavyLCDR; 14 Apr 2016 at 10:19.
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