I am confused now... What do you mean ?
Do u mean i have to download the win8.1 installation files form the internet and reenter the activation key after doing reset if i wanna go back to win8.1 ? After doing reset , I can only goin back to win8.1 manually ( download the win8.1 installation files) ? But not thru the win10 recovery options there?

yes you're correct. you can do a fresh install, but not though w10 recovery options.

i think i will do a reset first。worst to worst , just send the laptop to pc shop and ask them to do a clean install for my pc . Need to save a key license for win8.1 as well ? Or windows 8.1 will automatically detect the license once i reinstall win8.1 ? how to reveal the license ? it's not stated in the windows sticker...
edit : I have tried a third party software to reveal the code before upgrading to win10 ...The product key is also known as CD key ? there're Product ID and Cd key in the log files generated from the software , but no Product Key ...

This post has been edited by delsoo: Aug 5 2015, 10:05 AM

double post

This post has been edited by delsoo: Aug 5 2015, 10:05 AM

Since your laptop comes with stock w8.1, the key is in your bios. The iso that matches your stock w8.1 (correct windows version) should never ask for key and retrieve it from the bios to proceed with installation.

There are plenty of tools that can retrieve the key for the bios, including rweverything, belarc advisor, nirsoft produkey, many more. Use search engine to locate them.

do u mean if i wanna revert back to win8.1 after doing reset in my win10 , then when i install back win8.1 , it will not ask for the ProductKey again ? it will detect the ProductKey automatically?

Why don't you just restore and use recovery disk?

if you use the right windows version, yes.

find out what your stock windows version is (core, single language, country specific, etc., 32 or 64bit), then get the right iso.

always get iso. it saves you a lot of bandwidth.

if he created one when he got his machine.

isit still possible bro? since I install via cd not via updates. What makes me go ahead with the cd after I read somewhere the system will dig my original key even if click the 'skip" button, but that not happening.

p/s sorry for my noobness and confusion

uh? what is still possible bro? which part is this? the upgrade, or the fresh install? if you're asked for key during upgrade, you got the wrong windows iso. with the correct windows install media, the upgrade will proceed immediately.

cd/usb and updates methods will produce same outcome: an activated w10 after successful upgrade. i used the usb method created from iso also. painless.

i mean getting the key part..now i am thinking d/l win7 and try reinstall using the ori key

what is the best way to upgrade?

using provided upgrade tool on win 7 pro, my pc got bluescreen

I think there is no option to revert back to W8 if u reset n choose "remove everything" in ur pc..

No, currently i have several email from yahoo, gmail, my own email domain, n of cuz hotmail

does ur local account is active email n has same password?

if i win 8.1 (activated) -> win 10 insider -> win 10 pro (activated)

if do clean install win 10 in future, will my activation remain intact?

if it's a laptop, there should be a product key sticker at the bottom or in the battery compartment.

imo the best way to upgrade is as follows:
1. make a full system and data backup. use windows's built-in tool to create system image. (note that you need the matching windows install media to do restores) this way when you do a restore with it, your windows is completed with all the programs/windows updates/settings/files installed, as per when the image is created. you don't need to go through everything if the upgrade failed. just restore from the system image and you're good to go.
2. download w10 iso with media creation tool. this will save you a lot of times in terms of downloading the same upgrade files again and again. create a bootable usb with the iso.
3. download w10-compatible drivers for your machine.
4. reset current windows. a reset removes everything and makes it like new. this help cut short time needed to scan for software compatibility. a fresh copy of activated os is the best, but reset should do the job also.
5. upgrade with usb. boot the computer into windows, and connect it to internet. make sure the os is activated. now run setup.exe in the bootable usb (step 1). you can skip download updates option to save some time (if your internet connectivity is slow, it's better to skip this part). let the upgrade tool to do its jobs. you also wanna choose keep nothing to have everything starts from fresh.
6. once upgrade is completed, install compatible drivers if necessary, then connect the machine to the internet and make sure it's activated.

that's it for the upgrade. note that all the steps above do not need key. (if the upgrade asked for key, that means you use the wrong iso) at this point, you might wanna create a system image for the new w10, so that you can mess around with it. just restore from the image if there are issues.

edit: also, always use local account when you create the first user. this can save you from a lot of troubles later on. to get directly to local user creation dialog, remember to skip the network part during the setup.

This post has been edited by horns: Aug 5 2015, 03:21 PM

Here is what i did in order to get advantages for this newly Windows 10 OS & get problems / bugs free. My devices is ASUS N53 series laptop with clean installation of Windows 10 Home x64

1. Perform ugrade from your Windows 7 SP1 or 8.1 using upgrade reserve or Media Creation Tool. Later, make sure the windows is activated. This is a MUST step in order to get Windows activated the official way.

2. Later, perform Clean installation from your created ISO USB / DVD burn disk by formating the OS(C:\) partiton. You will get a fresh OS later on. All the files/software inside C drive will delete. Skip for key request during clean installation process

3. Connect your Ethernet such as Streamyx (Setting in Stremyx modem remain unchanged, just the DNS server address in your Ethernet connect devices change to automatically by Microsoft. You can change it later on to Stremyx DNS or Google DNS) to get access to internet.

4. Perform this manual driver installation steps (in this case, ASUS N53 series laptop). Restart when required.

- Manual install the Realtek HD Audio Driver/Software. For low sound issues in Realtek, just change it in Realtek Software setting (disable the environment setting, play around with bit rate)
- Manual install the Nvidia Geforce Driver
- Manual install the ASUS ATK Package for Windows 10 to solve out the Fn keys issues in Windows 10. After installation, tick the button in ATK App to access the Fn keys

5. Perform the Windows Update to download all the drivers update / Microsoft bugs fix. Restart when required.

6. Check the ”Device Manager” to make sure there is no error for all your built in driver. If error occur, just right click the driver and perform ”driver software upgrade” Microsoft will search & fix the problem for you. Make sure that the connection is on.

7. Install those ”optional features” from setting/ Control Panal. Make sure that the connection is on.

- Chinese/Malay/India languages pack (for keyboard typing, handwriting, speech) from optional features
- Language pack for OS language if you require from Control Panel language setting
- Microsoft. Net features from optional features
- Direct X Utility features from optional features
- Install the free Offline Maps for Malaysia from Microsoft built in App ”Here Maps”

8. Perform all the necessary software installation that you required. Here is some tips

- For me, Windows Defender is well enough for average users to get protection from virus or malware. There is not necessary to install another antivirus/ malware software to get protected. It will confuse & cause the OS to slow down
- You can also install Libre Office (latest beta version is great) to replace Microsoft Office
- No need to install additional adobe flash player because Microsoft Edge, IE & Chrome is built inside adobe flash player. On the others hand, Firefox & Opera require to install additional adobe flash player
- Install the Java Runtime Environment software because some software or browser may need it

9. For external devices such as the smartphone, printer, USB devices & external hardisks, just plug n play and allow Windows to search for necessary drivers for installation purposes

10. Set up all those setting in you control panel, software & apps You are feel to go & enjoy this final version of Microsoft OS for a very long time until your device is dead. It is excellent in a nutshell with clean installation !!!

Hopefully the above guides will help you all. Thanks

This post has been edited by mix-chan: Aug 5 2015, 01:48 PM

is resetting a PC and reformat using ISO the same thing? is it possible file corrupted in drive C so resetting the PC might not fix the problem instead install through ISO might be safer?