Windows Insider - picking up where I left off two years ago

MikeLenovo530 · 23 Aug 2018

I was running Windows Insider Preview on my desktop computer until mid-2016 when my condo renovation started. The computer was packed away for what I thought would be half a year, but it took two years.

I set up the computer again last week, but it wouldn't boot - said something had expired.

After several days of frustration, I set the system date back to 2016 and it booted fine - is now running.

So, my question - I have this computer with the date set two years ago, no internet connection yet (so the date doesn't get changed automatically), and I need to update it to the current version of Windows Insider Preview.

Do I just hook the computer up to the internet, leave the date wrong, and click on the box to UPDATE ?
Do I leave it running, re-set the date and try to UPDATE ?

jimbo45 · 23 Aug 2018

MikeLenovo530 said:

I was running Windows Insider Preview on my desktop computer until mid-2016 when my condo renovation started. The computer was packed away for what I thought would be half a year, but it took two years.

I set up the computer again last week, but it wouldn't boot - said something had expired.

After several days of frustration, I set the system date back to 2016 and it booted fine - is now running.

So, my question - I have this computer with the date set two years ago, no internet connection yet (so the date doesn't get changed automatically), and I need to update it to the current version of Windows Insider Preview.

Do I just hook the computer up to the internet, leave the date wrong, and click on the box to UPDATE ?
Do I leave it running, re-set the date and try to UPDATE ?

Hi there
Check whether Windows is activated with digital license.

If it isn't try and and link Ms account and re-activate --you don't have to sign in with an Ms account when you boot though.

If you can get Windows activated - whether via digital license or phone or even if it just says "windows is activated" you are good to go for an update on the computer so :

Download Media creation tool from Ms -- and then go for windows update. You should find that windows will update OK - you shouldn't need to install clean.

Cheers
jimbo

cereberus · 23 Aug 2018

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
Check whether Windows is activated with digital license.

If it isn't try and and link Ms account and re-activate --you don't have to sign in with an Ms account when you boot though.

If you can get Windows activated - whether via digital license or phone or even if it just says "windows is activated" you are good to go for an update on the computer so :

Download Media creation tool from Ms -- and then go for windows update. You should find that windows will update OK - you shouldn't need to install clean.

Cheers
jimbo

If it was running a build before 1607, the link with the MS account did not exist.

Not only that digital licences for all installations were not introduced until 1607.

If OP packed up PC before August 2016, I doubt his version will activate unless OP originally upgraded from Windows 7/8.

In order to activate a new build, the old build has to be activated and working also.

As it has expired, I am very doubtful OP can reactivate a new build unless OP has a valid 7/8/10 key to use.

MikeLenovo530 · 23 Aug 2018

The computer had an official version of Windows 7 running on it. I may or may not have updated that to Windows 8 - I don't remember.

Right now it says:
Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview
Evaluation Copy
Build 14372.rs1_release160620-2342

What are my options?

cereberus · 23 Aug 2018

MikeLenovo530 said:

The computer had an official version of Windows 7 running on it. I may or may not have updated that to Windows 8 - I don't remember.

Right now it says:
Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview
Evaluation Copy
Build 14372.rs1_release160620-2342

What are my options?

What does it say in activation menu?

MikeLenovo530 · 23 Aug 2018

It says Windows is Activated, and it has the Product ID and Product Key right below it.

I just finished burning a DVD from the ISO file for Windows 10 Client Insider Preview - Build 17713, English.

My plan, probably for tomorrow, is to re-set the date to the correct date, re-start the PC from this new ISO file, and select the option to keep my programs and files. Maybe it will even work.....

(Much less stress on me, now that I've copied everything I want from the computer. I also have a File History USB drive, and lots of other backups, but this way I've got the latest.)

cereberus · 24 Aug 2018

MikeLenovo530 said:

It says Windows is Activated, and it has the Product ID and Product Key right below it.

I just finished burning a DVD from the ISO file for Windows 10 Client Insider Preview - Build 17713, English.

My plan, probably for tomorrow, is to re-set the date to the correct date, re-start the PC from this new ISO file, and select the option to keep my programs and files. Maybe it will even work.....

(Much less stress on me, now that I've copied everything I want from the computer. I also have a File History USB drive, and lots of other backups, but this way I've got the latest.)

That is really old predating digital licences. The key you have there may work - try it. If it does not say activated with a digital licence, enter that key. If it does not work, you are probably out of luck.

f14tomcat · 24 Aug 2018

MikeLenovo530 said:

It says Windows is Activated, and it has the Product ID and Product Key right below it.

I just finished burning a DVD from the ISO file for Windows 10 Client Insider Preview - Build 17713, English.

My plan, probably for tomorrow, is to re-set the date to the correct date, re-start the PC from this new ISO file, and select the option to keep my programs and files. Maybe it will even work.....

(Much less stress on me, now that I've copied everything I want from the computer. I also have a File History USB drive, and lots of other backups, but this way I've got the latest.)

What you are going to do sounds like a good plan. One thing.... If you are attempting to upgrade your existing to 17713, you do not want to boot an installation DVD, that is the process for doing a clean install. You already have the ISO (17728 ISO will be released next week). Simply mount the ISO file, and run Setup.exe. That is where you will be asked the options for keep apps and data.