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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

59 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-07-29T13:17:02+00:00

    I am planning install Windows 10 on my Surface Pro 3, and downloaded the ISO file. 

    Now I am confused about one thing,

    how do I find and reuse my current windows (win 8.1) serial key in Windows 10 ?

    If anyone already updated their SP3 to Win 10 using ISO please share the procedure.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Barb Bowman 80,810 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2015-07-18T10:53:50+00:00

    On Fri, 17 Jul 2015 19:54:51 +0000, MichaelGerbasio wrote:

    >>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.

    I did see an announcement that a MS Store would upgrade any PC with a legit

    license to 10 and also heard that Best Buy would be doing the same.

    If you have a local physical Microsoft Retail Store, you might stop by and ask

    them. I suspect this will an upgrade. Microsoft is going to be selling SP3's

    with Windows 10 pre-installed at some point after launch, and that means that

    there should be a downloadable recovery image for the SP3 with W10 available at

    some point. (It would be nuts to sell a new SP3 with W10 preinstalled and only

    offer an 8.1 recovery image).

    Installing W10 as an upgrade will create a Windows.Old folder which will allow

    you to go back to your prior OS (for a limited time). The 8.1 recovery bits are

    "replaced" during the upgrade so that you can refresh/reset Windows 10.

    __________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Barb

    Windows Experience MVP

    My Blog - http://digitalmediaphile.com/

    Please mark as answered if this answers your question

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-17T23:35:00+00:00

    Right now, the drivers are Windows 8.1 - BUT, they may work on Windows 10 final.  It may take about a week or just a few days for Microsoft to get the Windows 10 drivers available.

    You can get them here and have them on standby.  The ISO image should be available right off the bat if not a day or two later from the initial release.

    Surface Pro 3 Resource Drivers:

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38826

    As for the Asus, they use standard, generic components and should have no problem with it.  I had the T100 and that rascal was great but the screen (10.1") was just too small.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2015-07-17T23:19:46+00:00

    Thanks. I didn't know the drivers weren't available. With the ASUS VivoTAB Note 8, I was able to get the drivers so it wasn't a problem.

    I'll see what the options are with the final release. thanks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments