Question Installing new Windows. Does the MB remember old installations?

May 21, 2022
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So I had a weird pirated version of windows and I immediately installed a new version through the official windows media creation tool and activated it immediately with a code I purchased online from a trusted site.

is the old windows completely removed now? I’m worried because I activated the windows while the old pirated ones was still technically on my PC. Only after I activated it, did the format start.

Did I make a mistake by activating it before formatting?
 
I immediately installed a new version through the official windows media creation tool and activated it immediately

I activated the windows while the old pirated ones was still technically on my PC. Only after I activated it, did the format start.

I'm not following that.

You say you installed a new "official" Windows and immediately activated it.

But you say that this happened while the old pirate version "was still technically on my PC".

How was it technically on your PC?

Did you or didn't you do a clean install of the new legal version?

You say "Only after I activated it, did the format start".

You formatted your drive AFTER activating Windows?
 
If you have installed a genuine version of Windows with a valid code, you can forget about the old one, some old files may have remained but they are of no use.

For example when I install Win10 over my old WinXP, there is a folder that contains my old Windows files, that folder can be deleted without problem.
 
May 21, 2022
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I'm not following that.

You say you installed a new "official" Windows and immediately activated it.

But you say that this happened while the old pirate version "was still technically on my PC".

How was it technically on your PC?

Did you or didn't you do a clean install of the new legal version?

You say "Only after I activated it, did the format start".

You formatted your drive AFTER activating Windows?
I had a bad (cracked) windows.
Since I didn’t like it, I booted my PC from a USB which had a windows installation from Microsoft’s site. Before I did anything, it showed up the screen where you put a key to activate ur windows. I bought a key and put it in. Then the format commenced.
So technically, the old (crappy cracked) Windows was still on my PC during the moment of activation.
Does this matter?
 
I'd do it over.

Use your new legal installation USB media.

Boot from it, not from your hard drive.

You will see an on-screen choice to delete partitions early in that procedure.

Delete ALL partitions. ALL partitions.

Continue. When the installation completes, activate it.

If you have a valid Product Key, it will activate.

That's a clean install.
 
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May 21, 2022
28
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I'd do it over.

Use your new legal installation USB media.

Boot from it, not from your hard drive.

You will see an on-screen choice to delete partitions early in that procedure.

Delete ALL partitions. ALL partitions.

Continue. When the installation completes, activate it.

If you have a valid Product Key, it will activate.

That's a clean install.
I did delete all partitions
 
May 21, 2022
28
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I'd do it over.

Use your new legal installation USB media.

Boot from it, not from your hard drive.

You will see an on-screen choice to delete partitions early in that procedure.

Delete ALL partitions. ALL partitions.

Continue. When the installation completes, activate it.

If you have a valid Product Key, it will activate.

That's a clean install.
Is there a difference as to whether I put in the key before or after formatting. Since I definitely deleted all partitions.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Is there a difference as to whether I put in the key before or after formatting. Since I definitely deleted all partitions.
Since you're still having questions, I would redo it one more time.

Just like this:
 
May 21, 2022
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Since you're still having questions, I would redo it one more time.

Just like this:
This guide says that you can activate it before or after.
What have my questions to do with installing it again? I’m simply asking if it makes a difference
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
This guide says that you can activate it before or after.
What have my questions to do with installing it again? I’m simply asking if it makes a difference
If you put the license key in prior to deleting the partitions and installing the new OS....that new OS does not know about the license key.
You applied that license key to the 'cracked' OS.

You can't activate an OS that does not yet exist.
 
May 21, 2022
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If you put the license key in prior to deleting the partitions and installing the new OS....that new OS does not know about the license key.
You applied that license key to the 'cracked' OS.

You can't activate an OS that does not yet exist.
But I put it in the boot menu. Not in control panel. It’s like right before it starts.
 
May 21, 2022
28
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If you put the license key in prior to deleting the partitions and installing the new OS....that new OS does not know about the license key.
You applied that license key to the 'cracked' OS.

You can't activate an OS that does not yet exist.
But I put it in the boot menu. Not in control panel. It’s like right before the
If you put the license key in prior to deleting the partitions and installing the new OS....that new OS does not know about the license key.
You applied that license key to the 'cracked' OS.

You can't activate an OS that does not yet exist.
im saying I activated it after I booted from the media creation tool usb
 
May 21, 2022
28
0
30
I'd do it over.

Use your new legal installation USB media.

Boot from it, not from your hard drive.

You will see an on-screen choice to delete partitions early in that procedure.

Delete ALL partitions. ALL partitions.

Continue. When the installation completes, activate it.

If you have a valid Product Key, it will activate.

That's a clean install.
I just did that and pressed “I don’t have a key” so I can activate it later. But now I see my windows seems to be activated already when I check. Did the motherboard remember this or what? I’m a little confused