Refresh Windows 10 or go for fresh install?

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freitasm

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#180841 23-Sep-2015 15:30

I have been running Windows 10 installed over the original Windows 8.1 that came with my HP laptop.

I usually install Windows from ISO, fresh, without all the software OEMs bundle, just the drivers, for that "fresh" feel. Now with Office 2016 this is even more incentive...

My question: if I do a Windows 10 Refresh will it install a vanilla Windows 10 or somehow restore the HP stuff that was there when Windows 10 was installed (upgrade)? Or should I just grab the ISO, create a USB key and completely wipe my laptop partitions from there?

Thoughts?

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#1392807 23-Sep-2015 15:35

seeing as you already did the upgrade, your license should be sorted.

if you do the refresh, choosing not to keep settings and files etc, you'll get a vanilla install but you'll have a windows.old folder (that you can delete)

if you do the iso/usb complete wipe (just hit skip for license screens) then you get a totally clean build

of those two options... i'd choose the complete wipe if doing myself.

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freitasm

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#1392837 23-Sep-2015 15:39

Complete wipe it is...

Thanks for the tips.

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#1392839 23-Sep-2015 15:41

Despite the fact that MS has put a lot of effort into the upgrade process, for me on 3 machines it has been a disaster. I ended up imaging my W8 Box fresh, then upgrading, then reinstalling. I still have lots of (Small but annoying) issues, but quite a number less by doing this.

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#1392883 23-Sep-2015 16:21

I am doing this just because I want it fresh, without the HP software. Nothing wrong with my install at the moment.

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Dairyxox

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#1392889 23-Sep-2015 16:26

There was another thread where the user tried this but it wouldn't activate, even calling MS resulted in frustration.

The suggested 'proper way to do this' was to reinstall & activate the prior version of windows, then run the win 10 installer.

See here: Windows 10 Activation Issues

Regs

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#1392894 23-Sep-2015 16:29

Dairyxox: There was another thread where the user tried this but it wouldn't activate, even calling MS resulted in frustration.

The suggested 'proper way to do this' was to reinstall & activate the prior version of windows, then run the win 10 installer.

See here: Windows 10 Activation Issues

Freitasm has already upgraded his original edition and (I assume) activated successfully. If you don't first do the upgrade, then you don't get the free win10 license.

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#1392898 23-Sep-2015 16:31

Regs:
Dairyxox: There was another thread where the user tried this but it wouldn't activate, even calling MS resulted in frustration.

The suggested 'proper way to do this' was to reinstall & activate the prior version of windows, then run the win 10 installer.

See here: Windows 10 Activation Issues

Freitasm has already upgraded his original edition and (I assume) activated successfully. If you don't first do the upgrade, then you don't get the free win10 license.

If you read that thread carefully youll see that the OP there also had upgraded his original edition and (I assume) activated successfully. So?

freitasm

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#1392900 23-Sep-2015 16:32

I will try as it should work.

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#1392908 23-Sep-2015 16:52

I agree with Regs a complete wipe and reinstall is the best way to go.

I did that on my HP and just clicked next when it asked for the CD key. Windows 10 activated fine and that was with a new hard drive in as well.

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#1392914 23-Sep-2015 17:12

Dairyxox:
Regs:
Dairyxox: There was another thread where the user tried this but it wouldn't activate, even calling MS resulted in frustration.

The suggested 'proper way to do this' was to reinstall & activate the prior version of windows, then run the win 10 installer.

See here: Windows 10 Activation Issues

Freitasm has already upgraded his original edition and (I assume) activated successfully. If you don't first do the upgrade, then you don't get the free win10 license.

If you read that thread carefully youll see that the OP there also had upgraded his original edition and (I assume) activated successfully. So?

Pretty sure the OP in that thread had never checked if W10 had activated, just assumed it had.

phantomdb

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#1392916 23-Sep-2015 17:15

on previous installs i have used this tool http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html to extract all product keys and cover my options.
that way if it does not activate i can manually enter the VALID key.

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#1392950 23-Sep-2015 18:20

I also wonder whether having a local vs microsoft account has anything to do with it? Could be wrong, but it appears there is more to the story.

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#1392952 23-Sep-2015 18:30

This does raise a question I have in mind too. My Acer which has its recovery partition for Windows 8.1. Is that of any use at all now that I have upgraded to Windows 10? Or it's just partition that would never need to see the light from here onward? It does have some Acer specific tools and software that comes with this laptop - And I have actually made Acer Windows 8.1 recovery media on USB Flash drives as well.

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freitasm

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#1393261 24-Sep-2015 10:10

Reinstalled, no OEM drivers needed for ethernet and WiFi to work, obviously applied the OEM drivers after system updated, installed Intel RST drivers, Intel WiDi, Intel Graphics (so much newer than OEM). Installed Office 2016, Adobe Cloud and all the other stuff...

Running sweet...

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#1393290 24-Sep-2015 10:38

Good to hear. I've been holding off until there were some reliable reports of it working for others.
I take it you've got a Microsoft account type login?

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