The computer is a Dell laptop that has Windows 7 Pro OEM pre-installed and pre-activated, and it has a Windows 7 Pro COA sticker. I want to upgrade to Windows 10. After that, I want to be able to clean-install Windows 10. After I upgrade to Windows 10, how do I clean-install Windows 10 ? Is it possible to back-up the activation before clean-install, and then restore the activation after clean-install ? I don't want to backup the entire C partition, because it requires alot of GB on the external hdd.
You need not backup the activation. You can format and install the same edition of windows 10 as many times as you want,the installation will be activated automatically by microsoft just your computer connected to internet. When you asked for a KEY during a clean installation skip it and go on.
Then how do I install Windows 10 Pro OEM, and not Windows 10 Pro Retail ? How do I check if the iso is Retail or OEM, and if it is Retail, can I edit it to change it to OEM ?
Clean install is pointless unles your old system is really really dirty. Backup the activation is not needed as well. The big brother takes care of it. Anyway you can. Just stop the clipservice and backup the token from C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC
Go there and use the iso creation tool. h**ps://www_microsoft_com/en-us/software-download/windows10. Sorry i can't use live link
I don't understand why a clean installation is pointless for old computers. I'm sorry i haven't your experience.
If you look at the activation status of your laptop it will say "Activated with Digital Entitlement". That means that MS has already stored your Hard Ware ID on it's servers. As long as you don't replace the Motherboard or the System Hard drive it will automatically re-activate after the clean install.
Is pointless for any computer. Not the old ones. Unless there is some unsolvable problem which is a possible but veeery rare case. So is better to spend your time learning how to fix one of those problem rather than wasting hours following the looser way "format and reinstall" and then reinstall all the SW.
A clean install is always preferrable over upgrading, when upgrading you take all old errors/problems to the new install. Clean install will also have less (to none) system file errors in comparison to an upgrade.
Are you sure, It takes me 6mins to install OS and not have to upgrade but install all the newest drivers. Woe is me, I'll never get back them 6mins.
Considering how varied the results are on the upgrade its much safer to clean install. I have seen programs not migrate as well as stuff completely stop working. And on any system older than 3 years you can pretty much count out any OEM support. And if you got a Sony VAIO sucks to be you on the Windows 10 upgrade.