Have you tried creating a bootable uefi boot drive using another pc? I have several lying around on standby for Windows 7, 8 & server :)

Sardu, fantastic software. It basically builds a usb boot disk with anything and everything your heart could desire. Always handy to have especially as it now supports uefi.

I shall look at that ta.

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

I have a 64gb pen drive with all the tools and most the Linux, I even had a few other iso images chucked on for good measure

Anybody upgraded yet?

I grew impatient of waiting for Windows to tell me when I could update to Windows 10,

It turns out you can just go and download it yourself, see link here,
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

You can update your PC straight away or create a USB/DVD to do a clean install.

I've only updated my PC so far, I've just set my Surface Pro 3 to download & update the same way,

So I've not tried the USB/DVD part yet, but I'll download those also and clean install on the PC & Tablet later.

Hmmm, tempted to upgrade early as well. There is a definite advantage for doing so as you mentioned - clean install.

That said, will the Windows 10 ISO accept Windows 8/8.1 keys? If not, then a clean install may be difficult, or even not possible.

Already running Win 10 on my home and work PC :D

Mine hasn't gone through yet but I might jump the queue also. See if it lives up to the hype or the trype of vista...

Really impressed. First time I have done successful in-place upgrades too.

Win 8.1 to Win 10 on home PC, Win 7 to Win 10 at work.

Had done the reservation on my home PC, but wasn't going to wait for it, so used the download tool. Work PC is on a domain, so had to do that manually anyway.

Everything works, on my work PC, quite shocked it went so smoothly...

You can update your PC straight away or create a USB/DVD to do a clean install.

Hmmm, tempted to upgrade early as well. There is a definite advantage for doing so as you mentioned - clean install.

That said, will the Windows 10 ISO accept Windows 8/8.1 keys? If not, then a clean install may be difficult, or even not possible.

That's exactly what I'd like to know about the keys.

Except you have to pay for ad free Solitaire :(

From what I have read, the recommend way of clean installing, is to upgrade first then activate.

Then you can clean install and activate without a key as the activation servers will have remembered your PC's "signature".

I'm unsure about the use of keys,

I got the impression you had to reserve your copy, registering your hardware and 'Genuine' Win7/8.1 with Microsoft.

And to register you had to fully update your 'Genuine' Windows,

most likely there are some updates in there that check you system is running a real copy.

I'm confident I can now just clean out my PC & Tablet because the hardware is registered with Microsoft,

I'm guessing I won't ever have to type a key in when I clean install, just go online to activate.

I doubt you can just throw a Windows 10 ISO at your system with an old Windows Key,

that would defeat the whole point of what Microsoft is doing.

^ That sucks then. Call me 'old school' but keys work well, and this idea of 'registering your hardware' to Microsoft sounds vague, and doesn't inspire so much confidence. Is it a fail-safe reliable method? I'd be interested to know exactly how they do this, which might ease my paranoia/suspicions.

Sorry for the ramble lol.

It's not a good thing, if your Hdd fails or your need to upgrade your graphics you have a whole new signature and the farce of revalidation

It's not a good thing, if your Hdd fails or your need to upgrade your graphics you have a whole new signature and the farce of revalidation

That's exactly what I was thinking. I don't know if they have/will cover that base.

Previously it has been difficult, but now that windows pc's are also tied into Microsoft login, you have to contact them and confirm security, then confirm the key you have in use as printed on the hardwares certificate of authenticity, then suffer revalidation...

Its not always difficult but talking to people in a foreign country with strong accents can make the process more difficult...

^ That sucks then. Call me 'old school' but keys work well, and this idea of 'registering your hardware' to Microsoft sounds vague, and doesn't inspire so much confidence. Is it a fail-safe reliable method? I'd be interested to know exactly how they do this, which might ease my paranoia/suspicions.

Sorry for the ramble lol.

Keys are too easily generated/hacked/bypassed, I bet everyone on here who is slightly tech savy has something that wasn't paid for.

I can see and agree with what Microsoft is doing (for FREE!),

Windows 10 is the last OS release, everything from here is free updates and they want people on board to make it work,

Yes they will push their own services like OneDrive, but it's also free, signing up to Microsoft isn't signing your life away.

It's not a good thing, if your Hdd fails or your need to upgrade your graphics you have a whole new signature and the farce of revalidation

i seriously doubt Microsoft will bin your Windows 10 because you swap a part,

If upgrades are done gradually it shouldn't be an issue, if the motherboard fails then that is a grey area I'm not sure about.

Microsoft's point is you only buy Windows for 'a device' once, I'm sure some people here have bought a couple of Windows for the same hardware,

Now once a device has a Genuine Windows then it's registered for it's life time and will install the latest version.

You can argue you've bought Windows so you want it on every device you move on to next, but MS licence Windows for devices, not users.

You can always install your original OS back lol.

Fair point, I just guess it won't be as easy/straightforward as it used to be any-more, for doing clean installs. Too many IT gurus on here lol, I really don't know as much about this stuff.

It kind of comes down to triggers broom... Changed the handle 26 times and the head 18,but it's still the same broom... I would be angry if my mobo blew up, and I had to pay for a new mobo and os!

i seriously doubt Microsoft will bin your Windows 10 because you swap a part,

If upgrades are done gradually it shouldn't be an issue, if the motherboard fails then that is a grey area I'm not sure about.

Microsoft's point is you only buy Windows for 'a device' once, I'm sure some people here have bought a couple of Windows for the same hardware,

Now once a device has a Genuine Windows then it's registered for it's life time and will install the latest version.

You can argue you've bought Windows so you want it on every device you move on to next, but MS licence Windows for devices, not users.

You can always install your original OS back lol.

Makes a lot more sense now.

^ That sucks then. Call me 'old school' but keys work well, and this idea of 'registering your hardware' to Microsoft sounds vague, and doesn't inspire so much confidence. Is it a fail-safe reliable method? I'd be interested to know exactly how they do this, which might ease my paranoia/suspicions.

Sorry for the ramble lol.

MS have been using this method of linking the Windows license to your hardware since XP, maybe even earlier than that. It's always worked fine for me, probably done at least a dozen fresh Windows installs and don't remember any issues with activating online.

It's not a good thing, if your Hdd fails or your need to upgrade your graphics you have a whole new signature and the farce of revalidation

I think it's only the motherboard that's linked to the Windows license, or at least that's how it was in the past. The first PC I built about 9 years ago needed a new motherboard after I killed it trying to update the bios, so I got the same model of motherboard and Windows didn't complain.

Fair point, I just guess it won't be as easy/straightforward as it used to be any-more, for doing clean installs. Too many IT gurus on here lol, I really don't know as much about this stuff.

Are you running a Genuine Windows?

Just go with the flow and 'Update' to Windows 10, from there you create your own media,

then you can install a clean one with no keys if you wanted to.

End of the day you still own your old OS, and can put that back on with your key.

It kind of comes down to triggers broom... Changed the handle 26 times and the head 18,but it's still the same broom... I would be angry if my mobo blew up, and I had to pay for a new mobo and os!

That's always been the case hasn't it?

You couldn't just build an essentially new PC around a different motherboard and pop your old Windows on it.

I know that Retail versions of Windows allowed more hardware swaps than OEM Machines, you could transfer your licence though I think.

I agree it's very unclear at the moment, and I'm not too happy as I want to built a new PC before I buy expensive new Software,

I don't want my new software tied to a machine that knocking 5 years old and could possibly blow anytime.