Windows 10 upgrade question

heian · 15 Dec 2015

Hi,

I have two Lenovo desktops with Windows 7 professional pre-installed.

One I updated to windows 10.
After two weeks I regret it, wiped the whole harddrive and installed my windows 7 with the original Lenovo
factory reset disks.

My question is now:
Since my computer was updated to windows 10 once, will I be able in future to take any windows 10 dvd and install it again?
(am i right thinking that MS have now my 'computer-fingerprint' stored, and will recognize it when i reinstall a clean copy of a windows dvd?)

Or will i run in trouble then?

Brink · 15 Dec 2015

Hello Heian, :)

When you upgraded to Windows from your activated Windows 7, it created a digital entitlement on Microsoft's activation servers for your PC to activate Windows 10 with on that PC. As long as you don't change the motherboard, you will be able to install Windows 10 on the PC, and have it activated.

Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

ThrashZone · 15 Dec 2015

Hi,
Yea I believe that only applies if you switch to 10 during the free period
If you wait until after the free period is over there's no telling if 10 will activate or not since you reactivated 7 again.

If you did this method and saved the file it might

Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

AddRAM · 15 Dec 2015

Trust me, you will never want to go back to 10

heian · 16 Dec 2015

@AddRam.......Sstt, then we have Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, no need for Windows 10

But seriously, I wish I know for sure that we don't have to save files, as on the previous link mentioned.
Hope that MS makes it very clear themselfs.

ThrashZone · 16 Dec 2015

That is the only for sure way to activate 10 I've seen
Otherwise you're hoping for a finger print reader to activate 10 like Brink said at first = personally I would not rely on that one lol especially after the free offer expires if it ever does which I'm more than sure it will be extended

But yes again win-8.1 is looking pretty good too but under as much pressure as win-7 is from M$ upgrades

I'll go the 8-8.1 route personally it's the only way I can get Pro for free from home premium
10 Home is no prize I have to have group policy to deal with some of 10's most annoying traits without third party intervention