Bios default before clean install?

[Vejnemojnen]

Hello

I need to do a clean install of windows from USB stick. I've prepared a stick with the image file via Rufus, and I'lll intend to use it for a clean install.

 

The OS right now is activated, technically with a legal licence, though I don' t know my licence code, as I have no sticker or anything of that sort. In the bios I have CPU and RAM overclocked with custom fan profiles.

 

Should I restore UEFI defaults before attempting system re-install? If I don't type in licence during install, can I still activate OS later?

 

Thanks a lot for the Answers. I'm particularly interested in restoring UEFI to default (Asrock B450M Pro4& 3.30 version bios, mild OC on RAM-CPU)

 

regards

[flibberdipper]

No point resetting defaults if everything works now. Also yep, you'd be able to activate later on just fine.

 

Though keep in mind that you can pull your key from Windows. https://www.techspot.com/guides/1760-find-your-windows-product-key/

[LIGISTX]

What OS is it? If its Windows 10, you can register it to your Microsoft account, and that will let you recover it later, actually works really well. But to that point, Win 10 also has a reset feature that basically reformats your PC for you. Its pretty handy.

[Vejnemojnen]

thanks will try. But the reason for wanting a clean install, that it does not allow me to access neither my microsoft account, neither my google account, and it does not let my security program (eset security) to access updates. Nor can I visit any website like malwarebytes, kaspersky, or anything which has security programs. I still can use it for general browsing, youtubing without signing in, etc.

 

some sort of malware got into the system, and simply set the default browser settings& disallowwed visiting anything to do with "safety". So microsoft account is kind of not reachable. It did not even allow me downloading the image file for windows.. had to do it from another comp

[Vejnemojnen]

would AIDA64 able to tell me the product key? I have that installed, so would beconvenient

[LogicalDrm]

10 hours ago, Vejnemojnen said:

would AIDA64 able to tell me the product key? I have that installed, so would beconvenient

No. If the OS was installed on PC when you got it aka its laptop or prebuilt, it will just activate. Actually, unless you switch mobo, it should still activate. If you bought license key, then the key is in the mail you got.

 

And as for BIOS/UEFI, thats firmware for mobo. Its completely independent from anything you install on SSD/HDD.

[Vejnemojnen]

thanks I found the key with AIDA64 roughly 2 minutes after posting the original question  at least I have it.

 

Thank you everyone for the assistance.