Can you install Windows 10 pro without a product key?

Microsoft allows anyone to download Windows 10 for free and install it without a product key. It’ll keep working for the foreseeable future, with only a few small cosmetic restrictions. And you can even pay to upgrade to a licensed copy of Windows 10 after you install it.

Do I need my product key to reinstall Windows 10?

If you are using bootable installation media to perform a clean install on a PC that previously had a properly activated copy of Windows 10, you do not need to enter a product key. (When you see the prompt to enter a key, click the I don’t have a product key option.)

How do I do a clean install of Windows 10 pro?

To do a clean installation of Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Start the device with Windows 10 USB media.
2. On prompt, press any key to boot from the device.
3. On the “Windows Setup,” click the Next button.
4. Click the Install now button.

How do I wipe my hard drive clean and reinstall Windows 10?

To reset your PC

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.
2. Tap or click Update and recovery, and then tap or click Recovery.
3. Under Remove everything and reinstall Windows, tap or click Get started.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

How long does a clean install of Windows 10 take?

around 20-30 minutes
Depending on your hardware, it can usually take around 20-30 minutes to perform a clean install without any issues and be on the desktop. The method in the tutorial below is what I use to clean install Windows 10 with UEFI.

How do I do a full reinstall of Windows 10?

The simplest way to reinstall Windows 10 is through Windows itself. Click ‘Start > Settings > Update & security > Recovery’ and then choose ‘Get started’ under ‘Reset this PC’. A full reinstall wipes your entire drive, so select ‘Remove everything’ to ensure a clean reinstall is performed.

How do I reformat and reinstall Windows 10?

Here’s how:

1. Open Start Menu, and select “Settings” (top-left).
2. Go to the Update & Security menu.
3. In that menu, select the Recovery tab.
4. There, look for “Reset this PC”, and hit Get Started.
5. Select the option to Remove everything.
6. Follow the prompts until the wizard starts wiping the computer.

Can I restore Windows 10 back to a previous time?

If you choose to erase data thoroughly, this will take longer but it makes recovering data less likely. If you think an app or driver that you recently installed caused problems with your PC, you can restore Windows back to an earlier point in time, called a restore point.

What to do if your computer is stuck at restoring previous version?

Tip: If your computer is stuck at restoring your previous version of Windows, you can still restore computer to previous date by the system image. For the most part, while your Windows is unable to boot successfully, you choose to recover the system backup image stored on an external hard drive to the original system location.

How do I refresh or Reset my Windows 10 computer?

You can refresh, reset, or restore your PC from the Windows Recovery Environment. If you want to back up and restore your personal files using File History, see Set up a drive for File History. In most cases, once you start to refresh or reset your PC, it’ll finish on its own.

How to perform System Restore in Windows 10 without losing data?

Step 1. Boot from recovery drive or installation disc. Then, go to Repair your computer, click Windows 10 > Troubleshoot > Advanced options. Step 2. Click Command Prompt in the Advanced options interface. Step 3. Type rstrui.exe in the command prompt window and hit Enter. Step 4. Then, you will see the GUI screen of System Restore.