Windows Version to Version

Hello-

Thinking about doing the switch to Windows 10 from Windows 7, but do not want to do the

in place upgrade- and yes, it's still available.

With the update 1511, it is now possible to do a clean install of Windows 10 with a Windows 7 or Windows

8/8.1 product keys.

I went here, 'https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10', and downloaded the

Tool, and burned Windows 10 ISO to DVD.

Here's my question- I have and did all of this from a Windows 7 Professional machine, an HP Envy,

that was factory installed with 7 Pro. I've done a clean install using the case key # and it works fine.

The Windows 10 version I downloaded from above link, does it know my machine has the Pro variant,

and did it give me the same Pro variant with Windows 10?...

Thanks.

Before you go any further I would strongly suggest that you create a backup of your Win 7 setup using Macrium Reflect
You will then be able to easily go back to your Win 7 if you have any problems

mitchell65 said:

Before you go any further I would strongly suggest that you create a backup of your Win 7 setup using Macrium Reflect
You will then be able to easily go back to your Win 7 if you have any problems

Already did that- on USB flash drive, Cloud, and on optical discs.

That really didn't answer the question we presented... now, another question- why is reading comprehension

at an all time low these days?... valid question.

Thanks for reply.

Yes and no. It knows you have Pro and downloaded the ISO that will install Pro. But that ISO is multi edition Home and Pro and can install either. That was how it was the last time I used the MCT. Lately I have been using my MSDN ISO's. Anyway, your Windows 7 key when entered should auto select and install Pro.

alphanumeric said:

Yes and no. It knows you have Pro and downloaded the ISO that will install Pro. But that ISO is multi edition Home and Pro and can install either. That was how it was the last time I used the MCT. Lately I have been using my MSDN ISO's. Anyway, your Windows 7 key when entered should auto select and install Pro.

Thanks, 'alphanumeric'... here's a link to a site I trust- Angelos is a great guy and trustworthy.

'https://www.pcsteps.com/3924-clean-windows-10-install-only-way/'

To the best of my knowledge, and for reasons unknown, MS never closed the window for a free

upgrade from 7, 8, and 8.1.

It seemed logical to me that, a) they had a code in the download tool that recognized installed

OS variant, or b), it was done through the license key- in my case, the license key on the Windows sticker

on the HP Envy case.

Either way, it appears that an 'in place' upgrade has to be performed first before a clean install can

be performed, due to HWID compliance.

You know, I swore that I'd never buy another OEM machine but I got in another bind and needed a

machine right away. I got this nice HP Envy for 50% of the MSRP in a factory close out a couple of years

back, sooooo...

At present, we're vacillating between upgrading this machine, or starting a custom build solely for a

Windows 10 app. Newegg sells 10 Pro Full Retail for $200 on a USB flash stick.

I just like having control over my software and OS apps- especially if a mobo boinks.

Again, thanks for responding.

Early on, there was a use recommended settings check box, now they ditched that. Even so, the defaults for the drop down menus are based on the OS your running the tool from. If its 64 bit, 64 bit is selected. If its not Home SL or the N version, Windows 10 is selected. If its English, English is selected etc.

If your running a Windows 7 OEM-SLP (factory) install, you have to do an inplace upgrade. That's because the OEM-SLP keys are generic. They are rejected if you try to enter them manually on a clean install. They are accepted on an upgrade though as long as the current install is activated.

You have redone your install using the key on the COA sticker. That is referred to as an OEM-COA install. That key is different from the original OEM-SLP key. Its unique to that PC. Those keys as far as I know are accepted on a clean install. If its rejected just click the "I don't have a key" and install Pro. Then just do a change product key and enter it.

DavidE said:

See this TF tutorial for a clean install

Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Installation & Upgrade Tutorials

Thanks for that, DavidE... we'll study that a bit.

alphanumeric said:

Early on, there was a use recommended settings check box, now they ditched that. Even so, the defaults for the drop down menus are based on the OS your running the tool from. If its 64 bit, 64 bit is selected. If its not Home SL or the N version, Windows 10 is selected. If its English, English is selected etc.

If your running a Windows 7 OEM-SLP (factory) install, you have to do an inplace upgrade. That's because the OEM-SLP keys are generic. They are rejected if you try to enter them manually on a clean install. They are accepted on an upgrade though as long as the current install is activated.

You have redone your install using the key on the COA sticker. That is referred to as an OEM-COA install. That key is different from the original OEM-SLP key. Its unique to that PC. Those keys as far as I know are accepted on a clean install. If its rejected just click the "I don't have a key" and install Pro. Then just do a change product key and enter it.

Great info!... so, in essence, the OEM-SLP install has a batch key(?)... as is normal, HP Support told me

I could reinstall (clean) Windows 7 Pro as many times as needed/wanted as long as the OEM mobo is intact,

using the COA key on case sticker.

If mobo goes out, it can be replaced and Windows reinstalled, but there are more hoops to jump through

with MS.

Frankly, horror stories aside, I've had to deal with MS Customer Support on a couple of occasions, and

it wasn't a bad experience...they were quite forthcoming, actually.

Thanks again!

Batch key is a good description. Each OEM gets issued an OEM-SLP key for each version of Windows they install. 7 Home has one key, 7 Pro another for example. So every Dell with Home Premium installed at the factory has the same Dell Home Premium key. And every Acer with a factory installed Home Premium has the same Acer Home Premium key. Those PC's don't activate online, they activate via the BIOS SLIC table. OEM-SLP keys are useless for manual entry. They are blocked from online activation. Install with stock install media and enter that key and it will fail activation. If you install with the custom factory install media your not asked for a key. The OEM-SLP key is auto entered with a script.

The key on the COA sticker is the one you use with stock install media. I've done it a few times and had to do the phone activation. All automated and rather painless. Once that's done as far as I know next time around it will activate online without having to do another phone activation. Yes you can reinstall with that key on that hardware as many times as you want.

The motherboard swap all depends on what goes in as the replacement. If its a direct factory replacement it should have the SLIC table and no need for anything to be done if its still the factory install. If you've done a clean install at some point activation will likely fail and you'll have to phone activate it. That should go alright. The problem arises if its not a direct replacement, different model of different make and model. If you had installed with a retail key it no problem, OEM key though and you'll need to plead your case with Microsoft tech support. From what I've seen they are pretty lenient in cases where the swap was done because the first one failed.