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Can I clean reinstall Windows 10/11 after upgrading?
3 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Windows 10is still offered as afree upgradefor most people, but it’s safe to say that some users are a bit skeptical about it. Users also have all sorts of question. One of the main questions these days is whether users can install a clean copy after aWindows 10upgrade. Here’s the answer.WhenWindows 10was first announced people were extremely excited when they found out thatWindows 10 would be freefor all genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. We were all excited when we were offered a free upgrade to latestoperating system, but isWindows 10really free, or is it just a free one-time upgrade?
Can I reinstall Windows 10 on my computer after upgrading?
According to Microsoft, Windows 10 is free, and it will remain free for all users that have upgraded from genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8. This means that you can perform a clean reinstall ofWindows 10if you like, and you will still keep your license for free.
When you activate yourWindows 10through upgrade, it’s registered to yourcomputer hardware, and you can reinstall it as many times as you want. This is extremely useful if you don’t want to go back to previous version of Windows, and you don’t want to keep it on your hard drive.
You can safelyformat your hard driveand installWindows 10from scratch on the same computer. Bear in mind thatWindows 10 is registered to your computer hardware, so you won’t be able to install it on your laptop or anywhere else.
Also remember that you can revert back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 if you don’t likeWindows 10, but this doesn’t mean that you can installWindows 10on any other computer using your license, because every computer gets one license, and that license is registered to thatcomputer hardwareeven if you don’t useWindows 10anymore.
These are some common questions that people are having aboutWindows 10, but if you’re concerned if you can perform a clean reinstall ofWindows 10after you’ve updated to Windows 10, there’s no need to worry.
You can perform as many clean reinstalls for free on your computer as long as yourhardware, or in this case motherboard remains the same.
You can clean reinstall theOSby usingMicrosoft’s Media Creation Toolto create a bootable media to reinstallWindows 10. When you insert the bootable media, there are two options available: perform a clean install or upgrade again.
If your computer asks you to enter aproduct key, simply select the option ‘I’m reinstallingWindows 10on this PC‘. This should force the install to continue and your computer will activate your product licence again.
You can also clean reinstallWindows 10by using the Reset option of theWindows 10Refresh Tool.
If you decide to upgrade yourhardware, or if you replace it for some other reason, you might need to contact Microsoft to see if you can transfer your license.
If you have anyWindows 10-related issues you can check for the solution in ourWindows 10 Fixsection.
For more information on how to reinstall Windows 10, check out these guides:
More about the topics:All the Windows 10 tips you need to Know,windows 10,windows 10 upgrade
Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
When he’s not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.
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Ivan Jenic
Windows Hardware Expert
Ivan has delved deep into understanding the Windows OS, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting.
