Windows 7 key on WIndows 10 install

goaway · April 3, 2016

So I'm currently in the midst of planning a new build, and I was wondering if the windows 10 upgrade policy allows using a windows 7 key during the windows 10 installation(because of the free upgrade to Windows 10 from windows7/8 until June 29th)? I have access to windows 7,8 and 10 through Microsoft Dreamspark, but I would like to save my free windows 10 license if possible. So just using the windows 7 key on installation would save me alot of time, compared to installing windows 7 first and then upgrading to windows 10.

Anyone know if this will work?

Naeaes · April 3, 2016

The 10 installation will accept windows 7 and 8.1 keys just as is. But only since the big update sometime last fall/winter. I can't remember the exact date/version. Anyway, if you download the USB installer now, it'll work for sure and if you use a retail DVD or some old USB, it might not. Also, MS keeps insisting that it has to be 8.1 key as opposed to 8 key. I don't know if it matters or not.

The download is here. Change your language before downloading if you don't want English. To get a clean install, use the button labeled 'Download tool now'. The other one is the same old in-OS upgrade tool.