Want to install linux.

[abhi333nmv]

When i bought my laptop i got original windows 8.1 cd with it. Then as you know they gave free upgrade to Windows 10. Now i want to install linux (because its slow and i want learn programming). Say if i screw up the installation and i have to install the os again. I will get 8.1 from cd but will i be able to upgrade to Windows 10 freely.

 

[mgolus]

If I understand your question you are just asking if you can easily get Windows 10 on your laptop again if you want it. The answer is yes.

You can always install Windows 8.1 and upgrade to 10 again, as Microsoft's activation servers have stored your machine's configuration and license information and Windows 10 will automatically be activated once installed.

An easier option though would be to use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to create a Windows 10 installation DVD or Thumbdrive: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

This way you can install Windows 10 directly if you ever need to. If you do install linux before using this tool, that link will instead redirect you to a page where you can download the Windows 10 ISO files directly from Microsoft. In both cases, Windows will automatically activate once installed.

Good luck with Linux!