I’ve been running Windows 10 since July, and I like it. I performed an in place upgrade for both of my computers, so I thought it was high time I did a clean install. I had tried in the past, but I could never get past the activation. It was hard finding information to explicitly say how to clean install windows 10 with a windows 7 ultimate product key.
After a failed clean install with an older version from July. I ended up calling Microsoft Support, they were fairly clueless; probably a situation of the left hand not knowing what the right hand has done. I did acquire one very useful piece of information however, and for the sake of search engines I will spell it out explicitly for you.
To activate your Windows 10 clean installation with a Windows 7 Product Key, you must use and install Windows 10 Build 1511.
Create a Windows 10 Build 1511 installation disc. Boot it up, and then enter your Windows 7/8 product key. You won’t be activated until sometime later when it has finished installing. That is right, the installer doesn’t even try to activate with your product key, it looks at it and makes sure you can install whatever version of Windows 10 you have for installation. See bottom of post for the Microsoft download page.
Create an autounattend.xml file in the root directory of your installation disc/usb if you’re feeling keen.
You cannot update to build 1511 without activating windows, and you cannot activate windows with your windows 7 or windows 8 key without being updated. You can install your old windows, and upgrade. Who the heck wants to do that though?!
Installing Windows 10 Build 1511 can be easier said than done. When you search for a windows 10 iso to download, or installer or what have you, you will likely come to the Windows 10 page. It says as of today – 2016.03.07
Get Windows 10
Need to create a USB, DVD or ISO?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10
This is the wrong page, despite it more than probably being the only official search result. This download tool, for me, consistently downloaded the same version as I had downloaded in July. I can’t remember where, or what magical search queries, or the various research I performed which lead me to the location of the 1511 build. So this URL will have to suffice. This isn’t a tutorial, so you can install Windows 10 on your own. I may be posting about the autounattend.xml file I made for my windows 10 installer though.
Download Windows 10 Build 1511 here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/techbench
