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Windows 10 formatting ?

Hitman

Hitman

Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
155 (0.03/day)
Location
Whittier so california
System Specs
System Name Rubens
Processor Intel Core I5 3570K
Motherboard MSI Z77 Mpower
Cooling Air
Memory DDR3 8 Gigs
Video Card(s) 2 AMD Radeon HD 7850 Crossfire
Storage 3 Sony Hard drives
Display(s) LG 24"
Case ThermalTake X Series
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Power Supply Antec 650
Software Windows 7
Benchmark Scores Not OCed yet 3.40
Hello all
I have 3 hard drives
1 sata 1 tb with Windows 10
2 older drives that are ide that I use for apps and data and not clutter my main drive.

I will be replacing the 2 older drives with a 2 tb data drive

I am thinking of formatting my main drive and starting all new and reloading everything.

My problem is that I was on Windows 7 pro 64 bit and got Windows 10 pro 64 bit upgrade free.
So don't have Windows 10 CD or a code for it. So if I format will I be able to get Windows 10 for free
Or I'll I have to buy the CD.
Don't really want to spend 200.00 bucks right now.

Have not formatted in a while what's the best way now a days ?

Thanks Ruben
 
So you upgraded ontop of W7 using "Get windows 10 Promotion"? Were you issued a Key?
 
Hello
I honestly don't remember getting a key :-(

I remember getting asked to upgrade for free and clicking and upgradeing
But don't remember having to put in a key.
Would they have e mailed it ?

I will check
Thanks
 
We upgraded windows 7 to 10. Many crashes and errors after that. So a format and clean install of windows 10. Activated automatically. Zero issues and no more crashes etc etc.
So I'm inclined to say to just go for it. And if a problem, then use your windows 7 key.
 
It's tied to the hardware I some fashion. When you activate, it should recognize it and activate.
 
You got a digital entitlement if you did the upgrade. But you must of had an original windows seven key which will work perfectly fine when upgrading to Windows 10. All you need to do is get that Windows 7 key and use it when you reinstall windows 10 on the new hard drive or formatted hard drive

The windows 10 installation media a.k.a. media creation tool will work perfectly fine for doing the transition. Or if you would like Here on tech power up there are several threads that have links to hosted ISO windows 10 images

So in short regardless of which path you choose to do the install all you need is that original key for windows seven if this is a prebuilt PC you should be able to acquire it with your sticker that stuck somewhere on the PCs back or bottom

Iso link
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10iso/
 
Hitman said:
what's the best way now a days ?
Click to expand...

Best is:

1) Upgrade through Win7 OS, let it do things for you, so that:
2) Once in Win10 (check if activated and let it update), you can proceed to creating an installation disk. This is the one you keep, the one you will be (re)installing Windows from.
3) Backup your files.
4) Format (should default to GPT)/install Win10 properly from your installation disk. Depending on what you do/how particular you are with your setups, there can be a world of difference between a clean install and an upgrade.

(you said 'best', not fastest)

As to your license key, it will be tied to your motherboard. Change anything you like, you'll still be legal and activated. Switch your motherboard, and you'll be needing a new key as well.
If i'm mistaken in either of this, hopefully someone else will correct me.
 
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Why upgrade to 10, format and, install? Why not go get the install media and install it. As I said l, if you are currently activated and there aren't any hardware changes, when you activate again, it should pull the info and activate.
 
@Aenra 's method should be fine. Also windows 10 has a pretty simple recovery options menu where you can reset everything back to default just like a brand-new installation without losing your key or reinstalling entirely. But if you're switching disks and you r concerned that you may not have the key just start The feedback application in windows 10 and ask them what your key is theyll assist you in finding it ,which you can take down and enter when you install the new OS to the new hard drive
 
jboydgolfer said:
application in windows 10 and ask them what your key is theyll assist you in finding it ,which you can take down and enter when you install the new OS to the new hard drive
Click to expand...

Does this work for people who accepted the upgrade while in Win7 offer but never went through it? ie, they installed Win10 through means other than the upgrade?
Doesn't make sense to me, i) you can't accept the upgrade if you've never done it (right?), and ii) if so, they may as well have emailed us Win10 keys and they didn't obviously..
But then again this ended up so convoluted, i'm honestly not sure anymore, lol

He's still under 7, so he needs a key. Except (mostly to Earthdog) his 10 key isn't like mine, but a 'tied-to-physical-address' one. Handed only through/during the upgrade offer period. If there's an alternative way to receive said key without undergoing the actual upgrade (see above about why would they do that), all well and good and ignore my previous advice :)
 
Last edited:
But he already went to 10, so it's already tied to his hardware no?
Hitman said:
My problem is that I was on Windows 7 pro 64 bit and got Windows 10 pro 64 bit upgrade free.
So don't have Windows 10 CD or a code for it.
Click to expand...


To that end, he would only need to create the install media from the MS website, format upon installation and activate. There shouldn't be a need to to 10 since he is currently there and activated. See post 3...


Or.. did I miss something? If he's on 7, can you still get 10 free if you didn't activate it before that expired?

Edit: You have to use the assisted technology to get it free now... a bit shady to me if you aren't using that tech. That way you'd have to upgrade to 10.. then format and reinstall for a clean install.
 
Last edited:
I just bought a OEM win 10 pro key for £25. It is tied to my m$ account, and has activated still after 2 different CPU's and 3 different boards.
 
Hello
Thanks gents
Ok got my hard drive today
Seagate 2 tb sata

I have to admit I am still confused and not understanding the info I am reading.
It is not you guys it is me. I am so used to having the disk in hand formatting and booting up to the CD
Installing Windows and the rest of my apps off a CD or a file on my drive.

I am confused when I read download iso? And then format and install from there.
Where do I download the iOS to ?

Windows 10 right now is working fine not crashing nor bsod so I might (better part of valor)
Is uninstall the apps that are tide to my c drive remove the 2 old hard drives.
Install the new drive and reload the apps and data threw a external usb incloser.

I reread the above info and see.if I can understand it more :-(

Thanks for the advise
Ruben
 
Hi
I removed my older data harddrives and installed the new drive in the same sata port
As the other drive.
Comp boots up just fine but not showing the new hard drive ?
Thoght it would automatically recognize the new drive and install.
Power is in sata cable is in
Even tried a couple of different ports still not showing up.
Went to bios and it shows my main drive but not the new one

Any advice on what could be wrong ?

Thanks
Ruben
 
Boot to your W10 install disk or media that you prepared for the install. Custom install and the drive should show up
 
If there is no OS drive and it is unformatted in a system it should prompt to insert media and press enter.
 
Hello
So back up what I can and do a fresh install of Windows 10. ?

Ruben
 
Yep, but just connect the one (system) drive then after the install connect your second driv
 
Hello
Well I formated and reinstalled Windows it is up and running and activated.
I plugged in my new drive for data but it is not being reconized or installed.
Don't know why any ideas
I downloaded that disk wizard app from Seagate and it sees it and shows the allocations
But Windows dos not see it nor will not format it.
Any ideas or what I should try
Thanks
Ruben
 
Aenra said:
Does this work for people who accepted the upgrade while in Win7 offer but never went through it? ie, they installed Win10 through means other than the upgrade?
Doesn't make sense to me, i) you can't accept the upgrade if you've never done it (right?), and ii) if so, they may as well have emailed us Win10 keys and they didn't obviously..
But then again this ended up so convoluted, i'm honestly not sure anymore, lol

He's still under 7, so he needs a key. Except (mostly to Earthdog) his 10 key isn't like mine, but a 'tied-to-physical-address' one. Handed only through/during the upgrade offer period. If there's an alternative way to receive said key without undergoing the actual upgrade (see above about why would they do that), all well and good and ignore my previous advice :)
Click to expand...

A windows seven key will always activate the respective version of windows 10 that it upgrades to regardless of what deal you may have or have not accepted .

Windows 7ultimate Windows7 pro both go to windows 10 pro, The rest go to windows 10 home.iirc

If you have a active Windows 7 key as long as it's not being used on another device it will work for activating windows 10.

And yes you're right it is very convoluted, The only answer I can give you is that if you have a windows seven key that is not tied to any machine other than the one you're looking to install windows 10 on that windows seven key will activate it's respective version of Windows 10... i've done it with a key that I upgraded to Windows 7 in the early adopters program, as well as a key tied to the insider program , all that matters is that it's a legal key it doesn't matter if it's OEM it will work in my experience,I hope this helps

Also here's an example of one of my upgrade paths. When I was running Windows 7 I took the free upgrade to windows 10, then I joined the insider program I didn't like how it was going so I uninstalled Windows 10 (that was upgraded from 7 via the free upgrade plan in the 1st year ) installed windows 10 clean ,and used my original Windows 7 key to activate it. I'm running it right now
 
Last edited:
Hitman said:
Hello
Well I formated and reinstalled Windows it is up and running and activated.
I plugged in my new drive for data but it is not being reconized or installed.
Don't know why any ideas
I downloaded that disk wizard app from Seagate and it sees it and shows the allocations
But Windows dos not see it nor will not format it.
Any ideas or what I should try
Thanks
Ruben
Click to expand...


You have to activate it in disk manager

Right click on the start and disk Management
 
assign it a drive letter...^^ like said above
 
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