Published on September 26, 2015 By kona0197 In Personal Computing

So I bought a new computer back in early February. It came with Windows 8.1. Recently got the Windows 10 update. So far I'm liking Windows 10. I didn't care much for the Start menu so I bught Start 10. My question is what happens if my hard drive dies? I don't have Windows 10 on a DVD, nor do I have any product code if I was to download an ISO. So what options do I have? 


Comments (Page 2)
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on Sep 27, 2015

RedneckDude is right, in my research I've found that these "product keys" that programs produce are just generic.  Windows 10 writes the license into the mother board.  I guess if you replace your mother board then you have a problem, but not hard drives.

on Sep 27, 2015

happyboy7

RedneckDude is right,

I knew I liked you.....          

on Sep 28, 2015

found this article today. perhaps it will prove useful.

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-10-license-hardware-configuration

 

on Sep 28, 2015

From Phoon's articled link:

 

"Though you can perform a clean installation of Windows 10 on these computers, you will have to upgrade in-place first. First you need to upgrade so that your device is registered with Microsoft and then later, you can clean install Windows 10 without worrying about serial key."

 

 

 

RedneckDude

Since you have already upgraded your pc, IF you ever have to replace the HDD, install Win10 from whatever format you made, choose skip both times when it asks for a key, (actually, the second time, you'll choose "do this later")

Once you install, it will activate for you. Full version.

 

 

Thanks, Buff. 

 

 

 

on Sep 29, 2015

Really odd though that on two different computers upgraded to Windows 10, that the product activation keys are exactly the same. Evidently they are only important if you have to do a clean install. 

on Sep 29, 2015

... eh.. you don't need the product key for clean install. unless you are talking about the retail key.

 

bit more details

http://www.ghacks.net/2015/09/29/microsofts-official-windows-10-activation-guide/

on Sep 29, 2015

alaknebs

... eh.. you don't need the product key for clean install. unless you are talking about the retail key.

 

This is correct, but only AFTER you upgrade said PC and then either roll back to your former OS and dual boot, OR reformat and then clean install 10.

 

But in order to clean install without a key, you must first upgrade the PC to 10.

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