Factory Reset back to Windows 7 Home, possible to recover Windows 10?

[JesseAye]

Hey guys, I recently had tons of issues with my Windows 10 suffering from NoOSInstalled during startup repair. I attempted to fix the MBR(?) using a linux recovery OS, but failed to do so. My only option was to do a factory reset built in with my HP desktop, and, as I had figured, would restore me back to 7. As you all already know, Windows 10 upgrade is no longer free. Is there a way to get the free Windows 10 upgrade back in the exact same hardware after a factory reset back to Windows 7?

 

[Math Geek]

so long as you already had win 10 on there, then you should only have to reinstall it and it will auto activate.

current iso it downloads is the anniversary update. use the media creator to download it. either "upgrade this pc" to do it in place. or download the iso file and boot it from a usb or dvd drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Hey guys, I recently had tons of issues with my Windows 10 suffering from NoOSInstalled during startup repair. I attempted to fix the MBR(?) using a linux recovery OS, but failed to do so. My only option was to do a factory reset built in with my HP desktop, and, as I had figured, would restore me back to 7. As you all already know, Windows 10 upgrade is no longer free. Is there a way to get the free Windows 10 upgrade back in the exact same hardware after a factory reset back to Windows 7?

You did the original Upgrade from 7 to 10? Was Win 10 actually activated?
If so, you can just reinstall it.
MediaCreation tool to make your own Win 10 boot media if you don't have it.

And you could have done that earlier, rather than going back to Win 7.

 

[JesseAye]

so long as you already had win 10 on there, then you should only have to reinstall it and it will auto activate.

current iso it downloads is the anniversary update. use the media creator to download it. either "upgrade this pc" to do it in place. or download the iso file and boot it from a usb or dvd drive.

Hey guys, I recently had tons of issues with my Windows 10 suffering from NoOSInstalled during startup repair. I attempted to fix the MBR(?) using a linux recovery OS, but failed to do so. My only option was to do a factory reset built in with my HP desktop, and, as I had figured, would restore me back to 7. As you all already know, Windows 10 upgrade is no longer free. Is there a way to get the free Windows 10 upgrade back in the exact same hardware after a factory reset back to Windows 7?

You did the original Upgrade from 7 to 10? Was Win 10 actually activated?
If so, you can just reinstall it.
MediaCreation tool to make your own Win 10 boot media if you don't have it.

And you could have done that earlier, rather than going back to Win 7.

Thank you both for the input. Going to go ahead and use the MediaCreation tool. In hindsight, it seems as though I should've done a little more digging before asking. Nonetheless, thank you both!

 

[Math Geek]

no problem. good luck. the update issue is well know and there are few workarounds other than reinstalling which is what you did anyway.

come on back if there are still issues