PSA: Now is not a good time to do a clean Windows 10 install

With Windows 10’s launch just around the corner, not to mention the release of the RTM build to Insiders, some might decide that now’s the time for a clean install. But Microsoft is warning users against that.

As build 10240 represents the build that will be distributed to OEMs and partners, albeit without some updates that are coming soon, many enthusiasts might think this would be a good time to do a clean install ahead of the official launch. But Microsoft is cautioning people to not do that, because they might lose their activation.

@TimWesterhoff98 We"ve removed ISOs and keys. At this point there isn"t a supported clean install path. Just upgrades from here until 7/29.

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) July 15, 2015

The Windows team has pulled all the Insider builds as well as their ISOs and is only allowing upgrades to Windows 10 10240 via Windows Update. This is specifically designed to stress-test Microsoft’s systems ahead of the official release later this month. But this also means that activating any of the previous builds no longer works.

In other words if you were thinking you might do a clean install on a device like the Surface 3, this isn’t a good time. Your only option would be updating from an existing Insider build that’s already activated.

@7RichH No, but you"ll be able to upgrade your SP3 on 7/29.

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) July 15, 2015

Either that, or, as Microsoft recommends, simply wait a couple more weeks until Windows 10 officially goes out to all users and then you’ll be getting the final bits, as well as any updates that will be pushed in the meantime.

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