Is it still possible to clean install Win10 ISO up until activation?

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I will probably update several relative’s PC if parts prices continue to level out by this summer. This will be MB/CPU/RAM.

I would like to re-use their retail licenses under the TOS.

Is it still possible to do Clean Install using ISO up to the point of activation in order to install new hardware pending removing the old PC from the licenses?

I think it changed sometime in the past where the license had to be entered sooner in the install sequence.

If not I guess I could use my Macrium licenses to do new hardware re-deploy but wanted to check for easiest option unless forced to buy new licenses.

PS I tried a quick search first but couldn’t narrow down enough to find a recent thread.

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You should take the old hardware permanently offline before re-using and entering the retail license key on the new build.

During a clean setup, entering the key is still optional when installing via ISO or USB media.  Don’t enter the key (yet.)  Instead click the tiny link that says “I don’t have a product key.” You will then see a version selection screen: just select the exact version (Home/Pro) for your license.

You can finish the OS install, install applications, copy user data over, get all the drivers and tweaks done the way you want.  In about 72 hours might start to get pestered about the lack of a license.

Once you’re ready, take old machines apart or remove the license key from them, and on the new machines go to Settings > Update and Security > Activation and enter your key, and activate it.

If MS detects two machines online with the same license (one of the old machines goes online) then the key might get flagged as pirated, requiring you to call MS for activation.

Best to avoid that.

~ Group "Weekend" ~

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