Sell your PC running Windows 10
Sell your PC running Windows 10
You're preparing your old Windows 7 system for a fresh Windows 10 setup. Your current Windows 10 Pro installation will recognize your Windows 7 key, but you'll need to reinstall Windows 10 properly. The article you found suggests a self-reset option, which can help avoid formatting issues, though it may not fully restore all settings. It's generally safe to proceed with the upgrade, but ensure you back up important data beforehand.
Ensure the Windows 10 key is linked to the motherboard. A key may not always be necessary during the reinstallation process.
I purchased a new SSD and used the media creation tool for Windows 10; I was also interested at first, because on another SSD, Windows 10 was a free upgrade from Windows 7 like in your situation, and it didn’t require a Windows 10 key. During installation, it asked for a key but let you bypass that part. Since my Microsoft account is connected to the install, it’s technically activated automatically.
You're unsure about your Microsoft account status. You can set it up, adjust settings, and then sell it if needed.
My laptop came with an 8 that was quickly upgraded to 8.1 and later to Windows 10. I have the freedom to switch between all three versions whenever I like. You can easily download the right version of Windows 10 using the installation tool, and you won’t need to enter any key. With two drives on my PC—one with 8.1 and another with 10—I can change between them at will, both are active without any issues.
You don’t have to connect it to your account. Just reinstalling Windows 10 and ignoring the key will help—this has helped on several of my systems. After the initial setup, any further reinstalls or resets don’t require re-entering the key.