Personal computing discussed

Moderators: renee, Flying Fox, Ryu Connor

 
Scorpiuscat
Gerbil Elite
Topic Author
Posts: 818
Joined: Tue Jan 01, 2002 7:00 pm
Location: Somewhere on the Edge of Reality

Reinstall Free Win10 Upgrade?

Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:10 pm

I jumped on the free Win10 upgrade when it was available, now I am at the point where I need to install a new (bigger) OS drive, is there way of doing a clean install of Win10 without having to buy a copy?
All civilizations become either spacefaring or extinct - Carl Sagan
 
just brew it!
Administrator
Posts: 54500
Joined: Tue Aug 20, 2002 10:51 pm
Location: Somewhere, having a beer

Re: Reinstall Free Win10 Upgrade?

Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:18 pm

If all you're doing is moving it to a bigger drive you shouldn't need to do a complete reinstall.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
 
ludi
Lord High Gerbil
Posts: 8646
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2002 10:47 pm
Location: Sunny Colorado front range

Re: Reinstall Free Win10 Upgrade?

Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:38 pm

And if you want a clean installation regardless, the machine should still be validated with the Windows 10 activation server provided nothing else is changing. Once you log back into your Microsoft Account (if using one) it should be entirely painless. Otherwise, if it doesn't activate for some reason, you might have to click the link under "System Properties" and then do the Robot Phone thing.
Abacus Model 2.5 | Quad-Row FX with 256 Cherry Red Slider Beads | Applewood Frame | Water Cooling by Brita Filtration
 
morphine
TR Staff
Posts: 11600
Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 8:51 pm
Location: Portugal (that's next to Spain)

Re: Reinstall Free Win10 Upgrade?

Sun Mar 19, 2017 11:00 pm

Aye, like JBI and ludi both said.

1) If all you want is to move from drive to drive, just clone it. Macrium Reflect Free is will do that. Online, too—no need to boot into a mini-OS to clone it.
2) If you want a clean reinstall, just go ahead. MS's activation servers will detect your hardware signature and you won't have to do anything.
There is a fixed amount of intelligence on the planet, and the population keeps growing :(
 
Welch
Grand Gerbil Poohbah
Posts: 3582
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 5:45 pm
Location: Alaska
Contact:

Re: Reinstall Free Win10 Upgrade?

Mon Mar 20, 2017 10:26 pm

Fresh Install of Windows 10

1.) Use something like Magic Jellybean to copy your current Windows 10 license (Just in case) - Windows 10 automatically ties a license key to your hardware, so no need to type it in again.
2.) Download Windows Media Creation tool, make sure you have a 4-8gb flash drive to install it on. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
3.) Swap out your physical drive for the new one.
4.) Run the Windows 10 Installer from your created USB media.
5.) Plug your old drive back in and move all of your data over to new drive.

This is all assuming you don't want to use something like Macrium or Acronis to image/clone to your new drive. If you so happen to get a Samsung or Crucial, I know those and most SSD come with cloning software. Most all of these automatically handle expanding your drive. So if you go from a 250gb drive to a 500gb, they typically automatically expand your old partition out for you.
"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943

1600x | Strix B350-F | CM 240 Lite | 16GB 3200 | RX 580 8GB | 970 EVO | Corsair 400R | Seasonic X 850 | Corsair M95 / K90 | Sennheiser PC37x
 
Ryu Connor
Global Moderator
Posts: 4369
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2001 7:00 pm
Location: Marietta, GA
Contact:

Re: Reinstall Free Win10 Upgrade?

Tue Mar 21, 2017 11:55 am

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

Can grab your Win10 key with this tool. In premise you shouldn't need it, but doesn't hurt to have it just in case.
All of my written content here on TR does not represent or reflect the views of my employer or any reasonable human being. All content and actions are my own.
 
southrncomfortjm
Gerbil Elite
Posts: 574
Joined: Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:57 pm

Re: Reinstall Free Win10 Upgrade?

Tue Mar 21, 2017 12:03 pm

What about a bigger upgrade, like replacing the CPU, MOBO and RAM in my gaming system (currently on Ivy Bridge). Is that a situation where I should be able to get Microsoft to let me continue my license? Or do I need to budget $100 for new windows too?
Gaming: i5-3570k/Z77/212 Evo/Corsair 500R/16GB 1600 CL8/RX 480 8GB/840 250gb, EVO 500gb, SG 3tb/Tachyon 650w/Win10

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
GZIP: On