I then do a clean install Win10 using an ISO. I did not do a Windows 10 update on this PC. One more question and I think I'll have it nailed.Īssume that my OEM PC was running Windows 7. You should NOT need the Windows 7 key to reinstall Windows 10 on the device, due to the cert being injected into the machine when you installed to Windows 10. Or, does only the in-place upgrade give me the certificate injection?Assuming you upgraded to Windows 10, yes you can wipe the drive and do a clean install of Windows 10. Can I use my Win 7 OEM key to validate that install? IE, will that give me the certificate injection? I do a clean install using my Win10 media. Now, assume that I've accidently wiped the drive on that machine. then you can use reimaging rights if you have them and apply your VL image of Windows 10 Pro. No, even if you are on a VL edition of Windows 7/8.1 Pro you are entitled to Windows 10 Pro per the free upgrade offer.īecause you do not have a qualifying VL agreement, technically you must first apply the Windows 10 Pro Upgrade via Windows Update or Media Creation Tool. See my post here: Updates to deploying the Windows 10 free upgrade No need to revert to the factory 7 first. Install the Win 10 image as a clean install and license it using the OEM 7 key. Here's where it gets complex: If I can re-image them using the factory restore disc, then upgrade them to 10 for free, and then I can turn around and apply a new Windows 10 VL image over top of that free 10 upgrade, then why can't I just upgrade the units directly from the 7 VL and skip the 6-8 hours of labor in the middle?

However it would qualify if I re-image it once more, back to factory. If I understand this correctly, in the ' Out Of Box' state every PC that we acquired with Win 7 Pro OEM would have been eligible for the free Win10 upgrade if we had left it as is, but since we re-imaged them the free upgrade offer no longer applies. Of our current fleet, each and every PC came with Win7 Pro OEM license ( respectively), which we immediately wipe and reimage with our Win7 Volume License image. vendors randomly throughout the year, so we have a wide array of makes & models. Like most SMB we buy pre-built PC's from Zones, Amazon, and other misc. Good morning! I'm often quoted as saying ' if it's that complex, your'e doing it wrong', and today I think I need to follow my own advice and ask for some help here.

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