I have an Dell Inspiron that came with Windows 8 preinstalled and I have my Windows 8 OEM key stored in the BIOS not on the hard drive. I upgraded to Windows 10 from 8.1 recently but I want to do a clean install (use a windows 10 original ISO and completely wipe my hard drive). When I tried this a year ago with Windows 8.1, it didn't recognize my Windows 8 OEM key and I had to install Windows 8 then upgrade to 8.1, then again upgrade to Windows 10 recently.
Will the Windows 10 installation program recognize my Windows 8 OEM key? Or will I be forced to install, upgrade, upgrade again and clean?
Best Answer
Let us start from when your PC has factory installed OEM Windows 8.
For Windows 8.1 :
If you want a clean install, use "Windows 8.1 Update 1" OEM installation media of SIMILAR EDITION as of your original Windows 8, it should accept your Windows 8 key retrieved from BIOS.
Any other options will not work.
For Windows 10 :
If you upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, all good.
If you want a clean install, you MUST upgrade to Windows 10 at least one, then clean install using SIMILAR EDITION OEM installation media, it should not ask for any key.
For more details, for these links :
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/reinstalling-windows-10-after-upgrade/578d0b7f-57e4-4893-b9d1-6cfac0d6290a
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/windows-10-clean-install-window-8-oem-key/21ad0fcc-f759-4d46-9924-84ea9ba47cfd