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.
[[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.]]
Are you talking about running windows from the flash drive? OR about making the flash drive a windows 10 .ISO from which you install windows 10 from onto hard-drive?
I’m not sure if this site still works, but if you need a windows 7 .ISO- you can apparently download it here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7
I’m not sure if htis works for preinstalled windows 7 versions or not (with a key of course)- I think i tried it once and it didn’t work for preinstalled (not preinstalled, but there is another term for bundled os liek with HP machines or dell or something- can’t remember the term now) aNd it wouldn’t work-
To prevent malware from coming over the network connection into a guest VM and affecting the VM host, there are a few potential vectors that should be controlled for:
[[For example (assuming the VM host is behind a local 192.168 NAT):
VM host IP = 192.168.1.xxx
VM host netmask = 255.255.255.0
guest VM IP = 192.168.2.xxx
guest VM netmask = 255.255.255.0
quick and easy]]
My Brain hurts! I’ve never been good at the whole net ip stuff- numbers give me headaches lol
If you’re number-aversenumber-averse, shold you be computing? Should your screen name be BobMoreThanFourHundred? Should you be browsing FR via voice over an analog POTS line?
Is there some way that you can explain the issue here for someone like me, a Win 7 Outlook 2003 user who is trying her hardest not to upgrade.
I figure at max, I have only 30 years of life left...lol.
Simple -- do nothing. This thread is for folks who wish to upgrade to Win10, but without having to spend a lot of money.
> I figure at max, I have only 30 years of life left...lol.
May God by His Grace grant you as many years as you wish. Sincerely meant.
In my case, 30 more would take me to about 96, which I would consider a heck-of-a good long run. My Mom is still kicking butt at 93, so ya never know...
bookmark
I was never good at math or figuring out numbers- doesn’t mean i can’t use the Internet or Fr- not sure where you even came up with that- Are you maybe mocking my intellect?
[[In my case, 30 more would take me to about 96,]]
So that means you’re 29?
Uhh, riiiiight.
> numbers give me headaches lol
Indeed. :-)
Actually doing it takes about 2 minutes. OTOH, reading up on it if it's your first time might be considerably longer.
yeah I’m gonna have to read up on it- It’s probably not difficult- but I’ll check out ‘making VM secure’ and see how they say to accomlish it-
Yeah, that's the ticket. There's a wealth of info out there for just about any of the VM hosting software packages (VMware, VirtualBox, Parallels, etc.). Good luck!!
Yeah- My brain is fried from ‘fibro fog’- hopefully it’ll be fairly easy to understand- I lose track easy now unfortunately-
the latter and it is easy
you will get the one I have tested with.
bought but untested from this guy. The fellow I bought and tested from is out of them but had other MS keys foe sale lke win 8.1
yeah I’ve made a couople ISO’s both linux and windows- but how are htey giving windows 10 away for so little? (Not that I’ll use it- but seems like it’d be at least $50 for an ISO download/key?)
i noticed that on the windows microsoft download site that it will download windows 7 IF the product isn’t oem (that’s the word i was looking for earlier)- So when you download from ebay, they give you a Key, and you just put the key in the MS site download page and it works? Because if you have oem (preinstalled windows), it won’t download the ISO
Also how many have you gotten from ebay?
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