SOLVED Clean Install from Technical preview

[lokesh pande]

Please read carefully, I will try to explain my situation precisely.
I have windows 10 home insider preview (build 10074).
I downloaded windows 10 pro ISO from media creation tool and saved it on my desktop.
I have my windows 8.1 product key with me.
I want to do a clean install i.e. formatting C: and installing windows 10 pro there.

My Question is: If I do a clean install from ISO directly now, will I be able to activate my new windows 10 pro by entering windows 8.1 key?

 

[davidhk129]

1. On initial upgrade, Microsoft wants us to do an Upgrade Install. NOT a Clean Install.
Once the upgrade is completed and activated, then users are free to download the ISO and do a clean install.
That means one will be installing the same Windows 10 Twice.
But, if one insists on a Clean Install, that is the way to go.

2. Your Windows 8.1 product key is useless for this. Windows 10 clean install will require a Windows 10 product key which nobody has.

3. So, if you do a clean install now, you will NOT be able to activate after installation is completed.

4. It has been said from another forums by their mods that during clean install and when it asks for product key, just select "Do it later" and continue to next step. They also said that the Cloud server will activate it after a few days. I cannot vouch for it as I never tried it that way. I am just reporting what I had read.

5. Do an "in-place" install......
Assuming you have the ISO file. If not have a look at this Media Creation Tool.
NOTE : when you run the Tool, do NOT select "Upgrade my PC" option. Instead, select "Create installation media for another PC" option. That will create an ISO file for you.
When that is done.......
Right click at the ISO > click Mount > click Setup.exe.
Installation will begin.
It will allow you to either keep your files, settings and apps, or keep nothing.
It will not require a product key.
It will activate automatically after install is completed.
I used that method to install my Win 10 Pro over my Win 8.1.1 Pro.

 

[bassfisher6522]

My Question is: If I do a clean install from ISO directly now, will I be able to activate my new windows 10 pro by entering windows 8.1 key?

No...you will need a windows 10 key.

That being said.....download Rufus this will allow you to make a bootable USB thumb drive. Once the bootable drive is ready, restart and boot from USB drive, then follow the onscreen prompts for installing OS. When asked to insert key windows appear, just leave those blank and hit continue/next. This is basically an inhouse upgrade over the Preview build to the new RTM release. There will be NO windows.old folder either. It will act like a clean install and essentially it is.

It works....I've done it.

 

[lokesh pande]

No...you will need a windows 10 key.

That being said.....download Rufus this will allow you to make a bootable USB thumb drive. Once the bootable drive is ready, restart and boot from USB drive, then follow the onscreen prompts for installing OS. When asked to insert key windows appear, just leave those blank and hit continue/next. This is basically an inhouse upgrade over the Preview build to the new RTM release. There will be NO windows.old folder either. It will act like a clean install and essentially it is.

It works....I've done it.

But I guess it does not activate my windows 10 if I follow your way. Since I bought original windows 8.1, I will be interested in getting an activated windows 10.

 

[lokesh pande]

1. On initial upgrade, Microsoft wants us to do an Upgrade Install. NOT a Clean Install.
Once the upgrade is completed and activated, then users are free to download the ISO and do a clean install.
That means one will be installing the same Windows 10 Twice.
But, if one insists on a Clean Install, that is the way to go.

2. Your Windows 8.1 product key is useless for this. Windows 10 clean install will require a Windows 10 product key which nobody has.

3. So, if you do a clean install now, you will NOT be able to activate after installation is completed.

4. It has been said from another forums by their mods that during clean install and when it asks for product key, just select "Do it later" and continue to next step. They also said that the Cloud server will activate it after a few days. I cannot vouch for it as I never tried it that way. I am just reporting what I had read.

5. Do an "in-place" install......
Assuming you have the ISO file. If not have a look at this Media Creation Tool.
NOTE : when you run the Tool, do NOT select "Upgrade my PC" option. Instead, select "Create installation media for another PC" option. That will create an ISO file for you.
When that is done.......
Right click at the ISO > click Mount > click Setup.exe.
Installation will begin.
It will allow you to either keep your files, settings and apps, or keep nothing.
It will not require a product key.
It will activate automatically after install is completed.
I used that method to install my Win 10 Pro over my Win 8.1.1 Pro.

One thing I have in my mind, if MS will be activating Windows on all PC, whats the point of having an original windows 7/8/8.1? Anyone can have the ISO and install the windows 10 on their PC and skip the step where it asks for a windows 10 key.

 

[bassfisher6522]

The no key process "ONLY" works for the Technical Preview/Insider Preview. All other upgrades must have a qualifying OS (7/8/8.1) in order to upgrade. Otherwise a windows 10 key will be needed. Which means one will have to purchase windows 10.

 

[lokesh pande]

So here's what I am going to do. I will mount the ISO and run the setup.exe file. You said setup will ask me for a key, I will skip that step. I will install windows 10 pro. MS will activate my windows after completing all the setup?

"In case you don't remember, I am running Windows 10 Home insider preview build 10074"

(Sorry for asking too much questions)

 

[bassfisher6522]

Yep....that is correct and should work for you.

The last version of 10 I had was 10162, then upgraded to 10166 then upgraded to the RTM version. Which removed the watermark. I then did an install with with the ISO from the "create install media tool" over top (upgrade). In doing that, It was like a clean install as MS reported and it removed the windows.old folder.

NOTE: I'm not sure if there is a qualifying build need to perform this task. I don't think so. Try and see what happens.