Reinstall Windows

[Didytz]

Hi,

I have HP ProOne 400 G1, AiO on which I would like to do fresh Windows install as it started to work slow after 4 years of usage without good maintainence.

This computer came with Win 7 (Win 8 downgradable to Win 7) which was updated to Windows 10 and it is Windows 10 right now installed. 

I am not sure what route to take in reinstalling widnows:

1) Should I use HP recovery disk which I just created but it offers me to install Windows 7 as fresh install

or

2) Should I download Windows 10 directly and try to install it?

I would do route number 2 but I am affraid will it activate after install as I don't have any Windows key to enter...

Route number 1 is easier but I would not like to do upgrade of Windows 7 to window 10 again as it will probably leave files and folders  of Win 7 that are not needed for windows 10.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can go either way you like.

You can use the W7 recovery media and then click on the W10 Update Now button at the link below, and upgrade from W7 - W10.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Or you can clean install W10 by making your own W10 installation media from the link above.

The utility will allow you to make a bootable W10 installation flash drive, or save an ISO file which you can later burn to a DVD using your DVD burning software's burn ISO option.

If you are asked to enter a W10 product key during the installation, click on Skip, and W10 will install and activate once you are connected to the internet, since Microsoft has a record of your PC previously having been upgraded to W10.

The only reason I can think of to go the first route is if there are programs bundled with the W7 recovery media that will remain when you upgrade from W7 > W10.

Otherwise, you may as well save a step and clean install W10.