There is no product key. You need to do an upgrade first which then registers your computer with MS. Afterwards you can do a clean install and when it comes to activation MS will know the machine and activate it.

Upgraded both my desktop (a self-build based on an Asus P8Z77-I motherboard), and the other half's ZenBook UX305 which was bought new a couple of weeks ago and was sporting a "Ready for Windows 10" sticker on the chassis. Both went relatively smoothly using the media creation tool. My desktop had a brief issue with my graphics card (nvidia Geforce GTX 560) not being recognised when Windows 10 initially booted back up and causing a resolution mismatch with my monitor, but after one restart that issue was resolved and (so far at least) has't resurfaced.

Why ever would there simply be a product key sitting around in an ISO? Do you expect them to simply give away Windows 10 for free indefinitely to everyone?

Sure its free now, but you have to prove you own a previous version.

There certainly ARE ways to do a clean install vs. an upgrade, but that doesn't change the fact that you need that old OS build to tell MS you own Windows 7 or 8 first. And then you need a Windows 10 activation to have occurred on that PC.

Some suggestions: http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-...ll-windows-10/

If you do an upgrade and want a clean install, you could try the new recovery option which sets the pc back to an OS only installed state.

It does this by removing all non OS files and resetting registry.

This is quite clever as it remembers all OS updates.

This is supposed to be quick and should avoid need for reactivation (I assume?).

The new recovery approach should eliminate need for OEM recovery partitions?

Wooo, now downloading.

I noticed if I went to Windows Update, and "view update history" on the left there were 3 or 4 failed attempts to download windows 10. Easy to fix (quick google search) using the error code. And its not downloading.


Anyone who hasn't got the update yet, may be a good idea to check your "view update history" and see if there are any failed attempts

"Cortana is your personal assistant. Cortana works best when it can learn about you and your activities by using data from your device, your Microsoft account, third-party services and other Microsoft services. "

Click for more, meaning this is the bit they would prefer you do not see.
"To enable Cortana to provide personalized experiences and relevant suggestions, Microsoft collects and uses various types of data, such as your device location, data from your calendar, the apps you use, data from your emails and text messages, who you call, your contacts and how often you interact with them on your device. Cortana also learns about you by collecting data about how you use your device and other Microsoft services, such as your music, alarm settings, whether the lock screen is on, what you view and purchase, your browse and Bing search history, and more."

So their prvacy statement tells us they are exactly the same as Google, but with hypocrisy too. Their false mission on privacy is much about giving MS an Edge advantage.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement/

What, in your system, becomes the 'identifier' that MS record? And what is the impact of that on any future hardware changes? For example, if you do a motherboard upgrade (with new processor and memory)? (I am assuming a retail licence.)

No idea, but I hope it's just one of those calls you make to MS where it's all automated and you just select the option that covers hardware changes. Then they give you the new activation code.

krebsonsecurity.com/2015/07/windows-10-shares-your-wi-fi-with-contacts/

By the sound of this you had best all opt-out of WiFi sense. You would really think Microsoft would have it off by default so it sounds like they really wanted to collect your passwords asap.

This sort of stuff I really thought would happen in 12 months time, not now!

The desktop I'm using atm has an Asus motherboard and upgraded to Windows 10 Pro fine.

Asus Z97I-Plus motherboard with Intel Z97 chipset and MSI ATi Radeon R270X graphics card.

Just saying and no condoning but.......

With all this nonsense of first having to sit through an update and then that will be registered and then you can sit through another complete installation just to get a clean install... you can see why people just get the pirated version that come with a key that activates it and that's the job done.

Microsoft making installation anything but simple bordering on a nightmare is not helping legitimate legal customers at all.

For the majority of people, they will just do the upgrade and leave it be. It's only the folks like us who would want to do a clean install, but I would say we are in a minority compared to the numbers that use Windows.

So for most folks, it's an easy process.

Only problem I'm having is on outlook for some reason youtube is being marked as junk even though I mark it not as junk.

nvm it seems everythime I post about it I work it out lol

They use the original product key to keep a register of unregistered(the old OS) product keys, if you see what I mean.

I cant find the option to create recovery media. Sure, I have the recovery partition on my hard drive, but it would be nice to have physical discs just in case.

According to Rich L when you upgrade if you choose to save nothing it does a clean install.

still waiting for mine!

It would be good to have the option but I guess MS are trying to ensure that as many people as possible upgrade their machines legitimately. There is no guarantee that people will actually do the install if allowed to choose. I'd much prefer a clean install myself but the question will be 'can I be arsed' once the W10 upgrade has been done.

Force it

http://venturebeat.com/2015/07/28/ho...-update-files/

is that the same as it would be if i just got the notification as normal? i don't want to do all that creation tool stuff etc.

Windows 10 does not use a recovery drive. If there is a partition it must be on old
one. Type recoverydrive in search bar to make one.

Yep more or less. It should hopefully appear in windows update after doing that

Looks like I'll be waiting for mine after I tried to reinstall my backup only to find it wouldnt boot - would you believe the boot partition vanished. Used Macrium as usual, ever since Windows invaded the BIOS with Boot Manager and those stupid annoying invisible mini-partitions it's been hell for me.

I managed to get this new install activated first time, might have something to do with running the Windows Genuine Software app before trying to activate, or they just don't care anymore with Win10 here.

I got my email from my previous reservation but had to do it again when the icon appeared, in no hurry anyway. I like my desktop picture, if it's covered over with stupid panels I'll be most unhappy.

Just sanitized my old Windows 7 SSD Drive and all set to do some cloning from the Windows 10 drive onto my SSD Drive tomorrow.

Will the fun ever stop?

Don't wait I got an email today saying it's on it's way that could be weeks months.

Download it and do the upgrade.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10