Posted on 11/05/2017 6:20:30 AM PST by dayglored
Readers routinely ask me whether it’s still possible to clean install Windows 10 with an unused Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 product key. Over two years after Microsoft first enabled this functionality, the answer is a resounding yes.
And I can think of a number of reasons why one might need to do so.
As noted, Microsoft first introduced this capability over two years ago, and in doing so it erased what had been one of the early install/activation issues with the then-new Windows 10.
Almost a year later, I reported that this capability—which was supposed to be temporary, by the way–still worked. Since then, I’ve tested this scenario on a very regular basis, probably roughly once a month. And as people have asked me about it, on Twitter or via email, I’ve told them that it still works.
But it’s been a while since I’ve written on this topic formally. So here goes.
It still works.
What this means is that you can download the Windows 10 Setup media—which is always the latest version, so you’ll get Windows 10 version 1709, or the Fall Creators Update, at the time of this writing—and perform a clean install of the OS on any PC. And then you can activate that install of Windows 10 using an unused retail Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1 product key. And it will just work.
You may think that most people will never need to do this. If your PC was already running Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or any version of Windows 10, a clean install of Windows 10 today will probably activate automatically anyway.
And that’s fair. A better way to look at this is that most people simply won’t be able to do this anyway. I mean, who has a bunch of unused retail Windows product keys hanging around anyways?
Some might. And if you have or have had an MSDN or TechNet subscription, all those old product keys will work too.
So let’s think about the scenarios where this might be useful.
It’s rare, but you might have a newly-built or purchased PC that did not come with any version of Windows.
You might want to clean install Windows 10 in a virtual machine (VM).
You might want to clean install Windows 10 on a Mac, either in Boot Camp or virtually.
You might want to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 10 Pro. Assuming you have the right kind of Windows 7, 8, 8.1 product key, this will work too. (See below.)
The unusual nature of most of these scenarios is what I think explains why this functionality is still working even though it was supposed to be temporary. It doesn’t hurt anyone. And if you really do need to do this, it’s nice to have.
That said, there are some important caveats.
That old Windows product key can only activate against an equivalent Windows 10 product edition. For example, a product key for Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, and Home Premium can be used to activate Windows 10. And Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate product keys can activate Windows 10 Pro. It has to be a retail key, not a key that came with a computer. And it has to be unused, though there is some anecdotal evidence that even used keys will work in some cases. (And you could always call Microsoft support, explain the situation, and try for a phone activation.)
And here’s a fun future use for this feature. If you purchase a Windows 10 S-based and do not upgrade to Windows 10 Pro before the free upgrade offer ends next year, you can use a valid Windows 7, 8, 8.1 to do so. Yes. I’ve tried that too.
Anyway, you can activate Windows 10 at any time by navigating to Settings > Update & security > Activation. If it’s not activated, or if you simply want to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 10 Pro, you can do so from there.
Your imagination can only begin to grasp some of the differences.
That said, the differences that annoy are all in the user interface, and some can be mitigated with add-on apps like Classic Shell. The underlying OS is actually quite good and solid. But the UI is IMO a disaster only exceeded by the one from Win8.
> Poor wife with 8.1 is always having a fit when MS decides to clog things up with an update download. Refuses to let me turn those off, and I gather 10 forces you to give them access.
You gather correctly. You have to twist its arm up behind its back to gain even a little control over that. And ultimately you lose anyway, because the updates WILL happen, come hell or high water.
Thanks dayglored.
Windows 7 is fine w me. My only reason to upgrade them to 10 is so I can use them past Jan 2020 on the internet
Yeah, that's gonna be a day of reckoning for a lot of us.
My personal option is to use only Linux or MacOS for internet stuff, and use the Win7 machines for things where only Windows works, but not internet stuff. Once the updates stop, why connect to the internet with it if there are other safer options?
If you only have the one hardware machine, and it's got Win7 installed "on the metal", you might want to consider getting some virtualization software (VMware, VirtualBox, etc.) for Win7, create a (free) Linux VM, and use only the Linux VM for accessing the internet.
>> Or so my daughter tells me. ;-)
LOL...
I’m still ahead of my kids, but it’s only a matter of time.
She's working on the newer stuff -- robotics, gaming, tech/education, AI -- so she's already telling me about stuff that came after I had done most of my engineering. Never been a gamer, unless you count "Pong" and "Breakout" LOL, so yeah it's only a matter of time.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3601876/posts?page=1
Many thanks!! I am downloading Win 10 into 16gb flash drive (all in one step courtesy Microsoft) and trying this out today w my Windows 7 number on a Win 10 clean install
I have two desktops trying it out on
DW
I can report this works. I have a Windows 7 ultimate disk I never used in any way. Leftover from an MS event in 2009. I used this Win 7 number to clean install win 10.
I made the Win10 USB stick super easy. You go to the MS win10 download site and check the usb option. MS formats / puts a bootable version of Win 10 right on it. Mine was a 16gb usb stick
Best thing is I had to enter my Win7 number right at the beginning so it was reassuring that it got validated/or rejected at beginning.
With my 240gb SSD the Win 10 install took less than 10 minutes
Clean install of course. Not upgrading from 7 or 8.
Hey Dennis, that’s great news! Thanks for reporting!
Amusing thing is Win10 validated my Win7 number without my desktop being on the internet. The Ethernet cable was unplugged. Win 10 contains these win 7 and 8 codes internally somehow or is semi-faking validation.
Bottom line is Windows 10 is selling for $4 if you make your own Win 10 bootable flash drive. Which Microsoft actually makes for you.
Hey, ya think this is worth re-pinging the Windows Ping List? I'm tempted... whatcha think?
I think it is worth it because if yiu buy a few Win 10 KEYS on ebay they will be usable a few years from now unless the seller is dishonest and starts checking on KEYS he sold and if unused he sells them again. I doubt this will happen.
But a fresh Win 10 KEY from ebay is good after this upgrade period ends this January. Which might be BS anyhow. You make a Win 10 flash drive today via Microsoft download site that Paul Thurrott mentions (so do the ebay Win 10 KEY sellers) ........ I will say it just might work with a Win 7 or 8 KEY next year and any year.
But obviously with a few win 10 KEYS from ebay they should be good 5 years from now
yikes! The price is up two dollars. Person I bought from is sold out I guess
Just bought three more for the future. Bought at ebay UK. Much better prices there for a Win 10 Pro KEY and license. Three dollars or so.
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I'm re-pinging because FReeper dennisw added some very useful comments here starting at comment #27 and running to the end of the thread, regarding how to install Win10 for very little cost, which I'm sure some of you will find interesting. Thank you dennisw for your work on this!
“Windows 10 - still overpriced at $4!”
LOL!
Thanks for the info! Any particular seller you like at UK Ebay? Or does it matter that much?
[[My personal option is to use only Linux or MacOS for internet stuff,]]
That’s what i do- i dual boot- and only use windows offline only, for windows only programs and windows gaming- *(which i do at night after all my INTERNET stuff is done on linux for the day- i end the day playing dues ex or f E A R or something lol- helps me wind down- but i also need windows to run photoshop- I have 2 hard drives and just move all the finished work to my secondary drive and boot to linux again and upload to net-)
[[Once the updates stop, why connect to the internet with it if there are other safer options?]]
Exactly- although i don’t even connect my windows boot to net at all (except to update virus protection or windows updates or game update- so although hte risk is low- it’s still a little bit of risk- I imagine htough after windows 7 updates cease- it will still be ok to go to known good sites only briefly?)
[[If you only have the one hardware machine, and it’s got Win7 installed “on the metal”, you might want to consider getting some virtualization software (VMware, VirtualBox, etc.) for Win7, create a (free) Linux VM, and use only the Linux VM for accessing the internet.]]
If you do this with windows as the host- aren’t you still somehow vulnerable on your windows os? I’m not sure how htis works- I nkow that if the host and VM share folders, it can make both vulnerable- but not sure if there is no sharing- does that make the host invulnerable to viruses when VM connects? I thought the VM connects through host Internet connection, no?
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