Surface Pro 3 Windows 10 Upgrade Clean Install and Recovery Partition

Anonymous
2015-07-17T19:54:51+00:00

I read that you can take your Surface to a MS store to have them install Windows 10 on it. Has anyone read the details, I can't seem to find out if this is going to be a new, clean install or an upgrade. And, will it update the recovery partition similar to what we have for Win8? I would guess I can use the iso files and do a clean install myself, but, I'm doubt I'd be able to update the recovery partition from the iso.

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

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Anonymous
2016-03-28T17:43:58+00:00

For Surface Pro 3, it is possible to perform a clean install of Windows 10 through the use of a downloaded recovery image. This will put your device into the same state as it would be in when purchased new with Windows 10 installed.

Until the free Windows 10 upgrade offer ends on July 29th, 2016 you can use the Windows 10 recovery image on a Surface Pro 3 that has never had Windows 10 installed and it will activate using the product key that came with the device. After July 29th, 2016 the Windows 10 recovery image will only activate on devices that came with Windows 10 or had previously installed and activated Windows 10.

To use the recovery image:

  1. Go to the Download a recovery image for your Surface page and select your product.
  2. You should see the original Windows 8 image that shipped with your Surface, as well the new Windows 10 Version 1511 image.
  3. Click Download and follow the rest of the steps to create the Windows 10 recovery drive and use it to reset Surface.
  4. For more detailed information, see our Restore or reset Surface article.

 

Hope this helps,

Greg

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-08-07T16:18:44+00:00

    And wouldn't be it ok if I:

    • do the upgrade on Windows 8.1 version (probably most of us did it already so device is already activated - information stored on MS activation servers)
    • install clean Windows 10
    • later on install Surface 3 Pro drivers?

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-07T15:57:41+00:00

    Either way it is a "buy". A cash outlay of $200 or even more money in time spent to backup, downgrade, upgrade, restore programs and data. This is a PC I use for my business even though the most of my work is run in a vmware guest os. If I don't make it to the mall today, I'll just get it from Amazon. I don't trust getting it from the store now since I was fooled the first time.

    I didn't know they'd swap out the SP3, thought they'd just load the software on the machine. That's worse as I'd worry if my data was actually securely wiped and how beaten the "new" machine was by the prior owner.

    Thanks for the advice. Just more pissed at myself in buying that this was a new MS and not just a retread.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-08-07T15:02:09+00:00

    Can't agree more. They should provide Windows 10 recovery drives for all of their Surface line (not RT obviously).

    Barb, any idea when will this be done?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-08-07T14:42:56+00:00

    As far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong buing is not necessary). Once you do free upgrade and activate your Windows 10 then you should be able to perform clean install on the same maschine.

    As far as a I see the only problem is to get Windows 10 + Surface 3 Pro drivers. Solution? Microsoft should publish Windows 10 recovery drive for Surface and then problem is solved.

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