Windows activation & Hard Drive

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weetbix43

120 posts

Master Geek

#177684 11-Aug-2015 15:16

Basically on the hard drive I am on now I did the upgrade from 8.1 then formatted fresh install of win 10 activated fine as expected.

What happens with Windows activation installing a new hard drive?
Do I need to load windows 8.1 on again hen upgrade then fresh install of 10? or go straight to 10?

Many thanks for your help :)

sidefx

3716 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1362905 11-Aug-2015 15:21

Maybe Nathan can confirm, but I'd probably just give it a go, straight to a fresh install of 10 - I think you should be fine but if not you can always phone the 0800 number and activate that way I think.

"I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there." | Octopus Energy | Sharesies
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Brumfondl

1187 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1362908 11-Aug-2015 15:23

The hardware ID that it generates when you do the initial upgrade is not stored on your drive, it is in the cloud, so you should have no issues if you swap the drive out and clean install. If you have changed a bunch of other things in the mean time then you may need to call MS as sidefx said.

weetbix43

120 posts

Master Geek

#1362911 11-Aug-2015 15:31

Thanks for your input. I will give it a shot and if worse came to worse I'll would just call Microsoft.
Will report back once I have completed it.

robertsona

169 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

#1362948 11-Aug-2015 15:57

Did just this thing last weekend - had an activated Win10 installation, replaced the system drive, did a clean install (from USB media creator) and it was activated straight away. Easy!

Paul0932

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1365244 13-Aug-2015 09:00

I decided that I would like to try Windows 10 but retain my windows 7 as I know at least one of my apps won't work on 10.
I decided to use a dual boot as described here http://www.howtogeek.com/197647/how-to-dual-boot-windows-10-with-windows-7-or-8/
First I made an image of my existing system just in case.

I installed the upgrade to 10 but when I booted to 7 it said I did not have a genuine copy, my original W7 product key would not activate W7, but as result I now have a valid W10 product key.
I copied the W7 image back and everything was back to normal.

I then did a clean install of W10 from disc, used my new key and that worked OK.

I then had an idea that I if I install a second HDD and do a clean install of W10 onto that using my new W10 product key I would have the benefit of trying W10 but still have my W7 system, having restored the original W7 image.

Having made an enquiry to obtain a new HDD it was suggested that maybe my W7 would expire after one month.

Does anyone know if my W7 product key will expire if I have an installed version of W10?

weetbix43

120 posts

Master Geek

#1365820 13-Aug-2015 18:36

Just a heads up! All worked out well

Thank you!