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Hi Scott - Ok but what of the license?. Does Windows 10 recognise certain hardware settings unique to that PC which makes it eligible for a free license?
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Yes, but a new HD is not one of them. &nbsp;If you changed out the CPU, system board, video card, memory, etc. all at the same time, you'd essentially have a new computer. &nbsp;But when you put in a new HD, it will activate without issue.<br />
<br />
I've done this dozens of times.
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Also the process above installs recent drivers so that should help as well.
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Ok thanks - My concern was activation . I know that i could select the install over USB drive or DVD - what is the simplest option? I am guidng a user remotely as we are in different countries, so i want to give them the easiest way to install Windows 10 on the new disk.
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Normally now USB is the best way. <br />
<br />
You should get the user in the other country to run the link and get the ISO for their country / language.
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Whichever is easiest for your user, if the machine doesn't have a DVD drive then USB, otherwise it is all really the same.<br />
<br />
You easily can burn an .ISO to a USB drive using Rufus...<a href="https://rufus.akeo.ie/" rel="ugc">https://rufus.akeo.ie/</a>
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Once you have the OS installed and on the internet, you can connect to it remotely and take it from there.<br />
<br />
There are a number of free remote help programs...Team Viewer being one of them.
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Does the media creation tool handle everything ? In terms of getting the ISO onto the USB drive and making it bootable or do i need &nbsp;a 3rd party tool in between?
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The media tool does everything (for me).<br />
<br />
(a) be sure country and language is correct.<br />
(b) you will have to go back and install some drivers. Be sure to install Chipset.
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just right click on the file and select burn ISO Image in Windows.
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I've always downloaded the ISO and burned it with Rufus...<a href="https://rufus.akeo.ie/" rel="ugc">https://rufus.akeo.ie/</a><br />
<br />
But the media creation too might do it. &nbsp;I know it will burn the DVD.
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just right click on ISO file and select burn ISO Image and make sure a blank DVD is in tray.
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Ok Gents , thank you for tips - all makes sense and will get to it.
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Thank you and good luck with your installation.
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Hi All - I am back again - <br />
<br />
Slight glitch- The Windows 10 ISO appears to be too big for a DVD and the client doesnt have a dual layer burner. The two USB drives he has plugged in dont seem to be recognised by the WMCreation Tool! <br />
What's the next best procedure?
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Get a new large USB key and that should do it. Windows 10 does recognize a USB key,
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Hi John - i ended up using Rufus to install the ISO onto the USB drive. It was then detected by the Dell and seems to be installing - so far so good. Thanks.
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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
Hi - <br />
<br />
I have client who is about to fit in a new Dell drive into his Dell laptop. The old drive had Windows 8.1 on factory install, later upgraded to Windows 10 when it was still free. <br />
Since then the HDD failed and so he had to order a new one. Of course there are no discs with the Dell to install the OS because it was on a recovery partition on the old HDD. How can i get the OS installed again and licensed with Windows 10 as it was before?<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
Dominic
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Hi - 

I have client who is about to fit in a new Dell drive into his Dell laptop. The old drive had Windows 8.1 on factory install, later upgraded to Windows 10 when it was still free. 
Since then the HDD failed and so he had to order a new one. Of course there are no discs with the Dell to install the OS because it was on a recovery partition on the old HDD. How can i get the OS installed again and licensed with Windows 10 as it was before?

Thanks
Dominic

Re-install OS after inserting new HDD

Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system featuring the "universal application architecture" (UAP); apps can be designed to run across multiple devices with nearly identical code, including PCs, tablets, smartphones, embedded systems, Xbox One, Surface Hub and HoloLens. Windows 10 also includes a virtual desktop system, a window and desktop management feature called Task View, the Microsoft Edge web browser, support for fingerprint and face recognition login, voice-based search (Cortana), new security features for enterprise environments, and DirectX 12 and WDDM 2.0 to improve the operating system's graphics capabilities for games.

Windows 10

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