I have a legal disc of windows 10 pro installed on my desktop that is currently activated. I want to install the same disc on another computer computer with a new hard drive and then purchase activate a new key. Can I do it and how do I activate it legally?
Do not use that disc - it is probably an old version. Create a bootable usb flash drive using link below.
Boot from it, skip key entty, then once installed buy a licence from MS Store (Go to Store link).
Download Windows 10
Exactly as @cereberus said. This is the best way to do this. There is no point in installing old version of Windows and then upgrade it (having the latest version of Windows 10 is highly recommended and will eventually be forced on you anyway), when you can download the latest edition for free from Microsoft and then create a bootable thumb drive or DVD.
Thanks for your reply.... I have a problem about downloading windows 10 from Microsoft, my internet is so slow, 2.5 mps it takes many hours and lots of failed attempts to download windows 10....
well you may be able to do it with the disk but it is not the best idea and it will need to download the new version once it boots
do you already have windows(7 or 8/8.1) on the pc you are trying to install windows 10?
You'll get the exact same issue if you install an old version though.
It will upgrade itself by downloading the latest version (so several GB) and then whatever cumulative updates. You'll not save on download time probably.
May as well bite the bullet and download it before you start particularly as the first 2 Windows 10 releases are not supported and have unpatched security vulnerabilities.
To answer you first question you can install Windows and activate it after, sure. You just type your key in settings when you get it - see option 2 here Activate Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
Maybe the way for you to go is to buy one copy of Window 10 Home from a retail or online store like Best Buy, Amazon, Tiger Direct or Microsoft. It will be sent to you on a flash drive and have one valid key.
Use that to install from. Then use it for additional installs and buy the keys as you go.
I think you have 2 options both involving Media Creation Tool:
- Download latest Media Creation Tool. Use it to create an ISO file.
- Find a friend with fast internet. Let him do the process above and then copy the created ISO to a thumbdrive or external HDD.
Now you have an ISO file. Copy it to your local HDD.
Now you have 3 options:
- Mount the ISO and upgrade computer running Setup.
- Burn ISO to DVD and use that DVD to upgrade Windows.
- Download an application called Rufus and use it to create a bootable thumb drive and use that thumbdrive to upgrade Windows.
One big advantage of this is if you have many computers with same Windows edition (32-bit or 64-bit, Home or Pro), you only need to download the files once and after that you can upgrade all computers using same ISO.
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