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So, I have a few questions about a pretty straightforward scenario: I purchased a new laptop - namely, Dell's XPS 15 9550 - which came with Windows 10 Home (x64), and also, as usual, with a lot of other applications and bloatware which I neither like nor need, so I want to format the hard drive and do a clean Windows install.
Problem 1: Since I do not have any Windows 10 installation media, how can I reinstall Windows?
Problem 2: Since I do not have the Windows serial number that the laptop came with, how do I activate them again?
Problem 3: Since this laptop is the property of the company that I am currently working for, and not mine, I am concerned about whether this will void the laptop's warranty. Will it still be under warranty, or will I have to do a complete factory reset before I hand it in?
I thank you all very much in advance for your time.
pazof
Posted 2016-01-08T11:36:52.390
Reputation: 111
1Are you even authorized to change your laptop’s software if it’s company property? – Daniel B – 2016-01-08T11:41:07.157
Windows 10 will automatically activate in the case you describe you can skip entering a product key but if you are not authorized to manually remove the bloatware please don't attempt to do this yourself – Ramhound – 2016-01-08T11:44:02.827
@DanielB Yeah, they don't care what I do with it as long as I return it to them in the same state as it was on purchase time - so provided that I don't erase the recovery partition, I guess I can do whatever I want and when the time comes, I just factory reset it and voila. – pazof – 2016-01-08T12:05:01.523
@Ramhound What do you mean, they will automatically activate? How will Microsoft know that it's an original copy and not a pirated one if I do not use the vendor's original installation media - or pretty much any means whatsoever that prove that it's a legit purchase? – pazof – 2016-01-08T12:09:09.190
@Ramhound UPDATE - unless what Gene suggests below - that the Windows key is embedded into the UEFI system - is indeed the case. – pazof – 2016-01-08T12:14:41.157
Yes; I know it is true....Windows 10 will automatically reactiavate on any machine it was activated on in the past. How Windows 8+ keys work is well documented I expect people not asking that specific question to know they are embedded and automatically detected – Ramhound – 2016-01-08T12:30:53.760
Make your Dell recovery media before you clean install, as clean install will break the recovery partition....http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/SLN297924?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04#Refresh
– Moab – 2016-01-08T13:40:31.727