Reinstalling win 10

Hi

I want to reinstall a laptop currently installed with Pro x32 version and I have few questions please.

1. Would the activation key still be valid if I will install the x64 version (Machine has a x64 CPU).
2. I am not sure whether the current installation is a "upgraded win 8 " , or is it a direct win 10 setup.
   With respect to the later activation, should I really care?

I far as i know, when upgrading from win 8 to 10 the activation key is no longer displayed in the system information. Instead all XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX is displayed.
But when checking another machine that I know for sure that has been upgraded from Win8, I see this 00330-80000-00000-AA695 product key, which looks with two many zeros.
The machine I want now to reinstall, has also this kind of many zeros product key, a bit different though.

Tx

How much ram have you got ther eis no point running a 64 bit unless you have more than 4 gigs or are going to upgrade ram

Bree said:

Welcome to TenForums @OJN

When you upgraded your Win8 a digital licence linked to your PC's hardware was stored on Microsoft's activation servers. You can do a clean install and when asked for the key click the 'I don't have one' link. As soon as your machine can connect to the internet the digital licence on the activation servers will activate it automatically.

Yes, your licence is valid for both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of the same edition (Home or Pro). If your upgrade gave you Pro you must reinstall Pro, Home won't activate.

I'm sure you know that you can't upgrade 32-bit to 64-bit, it can only be a clean install. Make sure you have backed up all your user data before you start. You'll also need to reinstall any software, so make sure you have the install media and any keys required before you wipe the old system.

The 00330-80000-00000-AA695 number you quoted is not an activation key, it is a Product ID number. A key has five groups of numbers.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

I am planning a clean install.

I am not sure how the current win 10 installation was installed. Was it a clean install or win 8 upgraded. You said the latter case is covered with the digital license. But what about if the it was a clean install. Does it also a digital license?

Where can i see the Activation Key? If possible at all.

tx

Samuria said:

How much ram have you got ther eis no point running a 64 bit unless you have more than 4 gigs or are going to upgrade ram

8G
tx

OJN said:

I am planning a clean install.

...Where can i see the Activation Key? If possible at all.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. You do not need an activation key to do a clean install on a machine that has had the free upgrade. It already has a digital licence on Microsoft's activation server. Just do a clean install and skip entering a key. It will activate automatically.


If you really want to see your key (even though you don't need it) use ShowKeyPlus

Bree said:

Maybe I wasn't clear enough. You do not need an activation key to do a clean install on a machine that has had the free upgrade. It already has a digital licence on Microsoft's activation server. Just do a clean install and skip entering a key. It will activate automatically.

If you really want to see your key (even though you don't need it) use ShowKeyPlus

I got that. I am only saying I am not sure this is the case.
I don't know if this machine has had a free upgrade, or has been installed with clean win 10, in the first place.

OJN said:

I don't know if this machine has had a free upgrade, or has been installed with clean win 10, in the first place.

A clean install on a machine that was built for Windows 8 would have found the product key embedded in the hardware and used that, gaining a digital licence as an upgrade to an eligible system. If there is an embedded key you shouldn't get asked for a product key at install time. It should also automatically install the version (Home or Pro) that the key is for.

Look at Settings > Update & Security > Activation. This should tell you that you have a digital licence.

If you have any doubts, make a system image before you start. that way you can go back to the original system if need be.

Alternatively, if you have a spare HDD swap out the original drive and try a clean install on the new drive. It should activate automatically. The HDD does not count as part of the hardware ID, so can be freely changed without affecting the digital licence.

ok.
We have a slight understanding...but anyway.
You helped me understand that this machine has in fact a digital license so case close for me :)

Thanks
OJ