📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses a user’s struggle with upgrading and reinstalling Windows on an old Dell Latitude D530 after an unsuccessful upgrade to Windows 10, which was later reverted to Windows 8.1. The user seeks advice on activating Windows 8.1 legally and whether the Windows 10 key or the Windows.old folder could help activate the current OS. The responses suggest formatting the drive and reinstalling a clean version of Windows with a proper license, but do not provide a definitive solution for activation using the previous keys.

Michael Morrissey

New Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
1
Thread Author #1
Hi there, I've got myself into a bit of a pickle with 8.1 on my old Dell Latitude D530 laptop. First I'd been using Windows 7 for a long time and, like everyone else I received the offer of the free upgrade to Windows 10 which I did. Then I deleted the Windows.old folders unfortunately Windows 10 became very unstable and I tried and tried to reinstall 3 times which made little difference.

So seeing I had deleted my roll back options quite stupidly. I decided to get an official Windows 8.1 iso which installed fine and works much better but I cannot activate it and was wondering if there's any legal work around for this seeing the problems I've had?

I've left this Windows.old folder intact for the time being so will the Windows 10 key work for me or will I have to buy new 8.1 key ?

Intel core 2 duo CPU T7250 @ 2.00 GHz
Mobile Intel 965 express chipset family
2.00 Gb RAM

Thanks, hope you can help
 

Solution
I recommend you;
  • back up any software or replace the hdd with a blank one
  • download wx iso from here Link Removed
  • remove the 8.1 because you don't have a licence for it.
  • Format the hdd and install WX or W7

ussnorway

Windows Forum Team
Staff member
Joined
May 22, 2012
Messages
4,598
I recommend you;
  • back up any software or replace the hdd with a blank one
  • download wx iso from here Link Removed
  • remove the 8.1 because you don't have a licence for it.
  • Format the hdd and install WX or W7
 

Solution