Win 10 upgrade with new HDD after deadline

[alexanderfc]

So I've looked on the Help Centre and the most useful thing was this: "If you’ve previously installed Windows 10 on your device, you should have a digital entitlement and Windows 10 will automatically activate without entering a product key." - But this still doesn't answer my question.

I know from experience that reinstalling Windows 8.1 on a new HDD in the same system works from the BIOS, but what about Windows 10? I updated 8.1 to 10 not long after the free download became available, since then however my HDD developed an error and I am currently waiting for a replacement.

Will there be record on my BIOS of updating to Win 10? The deadline for the free update has passed and I don't particularly want to be stuck with 8.1! I did use the media creation tool, so I have hold of the iso file (just as a precaution).

Thanks, Alex.

 

[basroil]

There is no activation in the BIOS, but you will be able to install 10 without issue. Just make sure you make a NEW installer by following the instructions at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 . It will save you a lot of headaches over using a pre- 1511 installer.

 

[alexanderfc]

Thank you Basroil! This is the answer I was hoping for! I already downloaded the iso, just incase it wasn't available after the deadline, for the exact reason you gave.

Hallelujah!

 

[SkyNetRising]

most useful thing was this: "If you’ve previously installed Windows 10 on your device, you should have a digital entitlement and Windows 10 will automatically activate without entering a product key." - But this still doesn't answer my question.

Let me translate this for you.
When you upgraded from windows 8.1 to windows 10, digital signature of your pc hardware got registered with Microsoft.
Now you can reinstall windows 10 and it will automatically activate, once connected to internet.

But you can't change your hardware - motherboard for example. Activation will be broken. Also you have to be carefull with motherboard BIOS update, that may break activation too.
Change of HDD doesn't break activation.

 

[alexanderfc]

most useful thing was this: "If you’ve previously installed Windows 10 on your device, you should have a digital entitlement and Windows 10 will automatically activate without entering a product key." - But this still doesn't answer my question.

Let me translate this for you.
When you upgraded from windows 8.1 to windows 10, digital signature of your pc hardware got registered with Microsoft.
Now you can reinstall windows 10 and it will automatically activate, once connected to internet.

But you can't change your hardware - motherboard for example. Activation will be broken. Also you have to be carefull with motherboard BIOS update, that may break activation too.
Change of HDD doesn't break activation.

Don't worry, this is in my Laptop so there's no chance of me replacing any other hardware! Thanks.