How can I upgrade to windows 10 via clean install instead of upgrade?

[JPNpower]

Ok, so I have a very old hard drive with win7 spinning in my tower with kinda important data. It's backed up and all, but I'd rather have it in the form that it is right now without serious changes. How can I replace this hard drive with a new SSD and clean install win10 onto that SSD using the upgrade licence from the old HDD without going through with the upgrade on the old HDD?

 

[dextermat]

The best way to clean install from win 7/8 is :

1-backup your data (you said you already did so it's cool)
2- do windows 10 install
3- do a windows 10 installation disk on usb
4- format and reinstall from the disk image you just done

no other workaround.

if you download an iso it won't work because you free windows 10 is associated with ole win7/8 key.

 

[Tayonas]

I haven't tried it yet, but surely they are doing a downloadable ISO where you then put in your original (or point it to the source files) and then type in your key.

Surely ... or is that too sensible? Its the way they done the upgrade to XP and Win 7.

 

[JPNpower]

Uhhh... what a paaaain. Backup software suuucks and the file order gets messed up! Whatevs. I'll just clone the drive to an external.

BTW, what's your favorite cloning software?

 

[Tayonas]

Right now minitool partition wizard.