Formatting a laptop

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  1. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #11

    swarfega said:
    erm its actually got Windows 8 on it. Not sure if that makes a difference. I know that there are fewer issues when upgrading from Windows 8. i am tempted to run the upgrader offer and then clean install afterwards.
    Boot it from Kyhi's rescue disk and run showkey plus from that. That will tell you what the product key is stored in bios and what edition of Windows it is for:
    Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

    If you start with a clean install for the same version of Windows 10 as the Windows 8 product key in bios is for, it won't even ask you to enter a product key - it will just use the one in bios. For a clean install you can mount a Windows 10 ISO or insert a Windows 10 USB or DVD with Kyhi's Recovery running and just run setup.exe from it.

    Or see my quoted note at the bottom of the link for Kyhi's recovery drive opening post.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,254
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Unfortunately none of those links work for me.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #13

    swarfega said:
    Unfortunately none of those links work for me.
    I'm waiting for the ISO to finish downloading from the Download Mirror link as I am posting this.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,254
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Ive just burnt the image to cd so the OneDrive links work.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #15

    swarfega said:
    erm its actually got Windows 8 on it. Not sure if that makes a difference. I know that there are fewer issues when upgrading from Windows 8. i am tempted to run the upgrader offer and then clean install afterwards.
    The problem is, to run the upgrader requires admin rights. A standard user cannot run the upgrade.

    Let's hope that some fellow geek with more information about Windows 10 Digital Entitlement Activation will either confirm or correct this: I think that a clean install might work. Windows 8 / 8.1 devices, assuming the device has a preinstalled OEM Windows 8 or 8.1, should have the OEM key hard coded in BIOS / UEFI. If so, a clean install selecting "I don't have a product key" when prompted for the key should activate automatically.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,254
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #16

    I have phoned the owner and they have given me the password. Strangely though while I was on the phone the uac prompt went away and GWR continued to download Windows 10!

    I have decided to do the upgrade then clean install route. Thats a sure way to marry the key with that machine.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #17

    I would also question the competence of her company's IT department if they sold a laptop without wiping company data or accounts off the computer.
      My Computer


 

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