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My hard drive crashed and now I have to replace it. What do I do with all my software?

Anonymous
2019-03-05T01:48:15+00:00

I literally just downloaded Micrsoft Office Home and Office 2 days ago. Today, my hard drive completely died in my Dell laptop, so I am going to have to replace the hard drive. The thing is, the hard drives don't come with Windows 10 on them. So, can I transfer my windows 10 certification to the new hard drive and will it allow me to install Microsoft office to the new hard drive? I cannot access my laptop at all to uninstall or get my product key for Windows 10 (it was automatically installed by Windows 3 years ago when it was a free upgrade). I really don't know what to do after I replace my hard drive.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-03-05T02:12:18+00:00

    You can just do a clean installation of win 10 first,

    As you are using dell notebook, the win10 usually come with as a digital license (unless you customized your dell order to remove window 10). You will be fine,

    When you do the clean installation of win 10, click the option for "I don't have a Product Key," or it may give you a "skip for now" option. It will be fine.

    For the office, since your hard disk is dead and didn't uninstall it, (depends on the office version), you may need to call Microsoft to release the license that bounded to your old windows.

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  2. DaveM121 871.8K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-03-05T08:53:14+00:00

    Hi Misty, this will be no Problem . . .

    1.

    Re-install Windows

    You can reinstall Windows 10 at any time and it will not cost you anything !

    Since you previously had Windows 10 installed and activated on that PC during the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC', and activation will not be an issue, your PC will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Activation Servers

    Make sure you install the same Edition of Windows 10 (Home, Pro . . . etc.) you previously had installed to avoid Activation issues

    Click this link:

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

    to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 8GB) using that tool

    Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS) to begin installing Windows 10

    If you have problems booting from a boot disc, you may have UEFI BIOS:

    Insert the Bootable Installation Media, then go into your BIOS and make the following changes:

    1. Disable Secure Boot
    2. Enable Legacy Boot
    3. If Available enable CSM
    4. If Required enable USB Boot
    5. Move the device with the bootable disc to the top of the boot order
    6. Save BIOS changes, restart your System and it should boot from the Installation Media

    Re-install Office:

    You need to deactivate your previous Installation to keep your Activation count correct and then re-install Office

    Go to https://office.com/myaccount and sign in using your Microsoft account, if prompted

    Select Install

    Under Install information, locate the PC which Office was installed on

    Select Deactivate Install to deactivate the Office installation

    Then, click Install to install Office

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  3. Sumit D - IA 167K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-03-05T02:23:34+00:00

    HI Misty,

    I am Sumit, an Independent Advisor and a 2-Year Windows Insider MVP here to help.

    With Windows 10 you get a digital license where your activation information is stored on MS servers. As soon as you do a clean install, Windows would automatically activate when it connects to the Internet, for the first time-provided you install the same version as was installed before. If you are asked for a key, skip it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-03-05T01:53:30+00:00

    Hi, MistyAckerman

    My name is Phillip and I am an Independent Advisor. I hope it helps.

    Depending on the type of Windows 10 license you have installed, you might be able to transfer it to a new computer if needed. Over the years, Microsoft has distributed its desktop operating system through different market channels. New computers will often come preinstalled with an OEM license. There are many other channels Microsoft distributes Windows in, these include Retail, Volume License, Academic, and subgroups such as Upgrade licenses. Check these links, I hope it helps.

    https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-...

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windo...

    Then reinstall Office by logging into www.office.com/myaccount with your registered email address and click Install Office.

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    Hope this helps. Keep us posted on the status for further assistance.

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