Upgrading to Windows 10

I ordered a pre-release copy of 10 some time ago with the intention of installing it on my HP Envy 15. In the meantime, I decided instead to install it on an old Acer 4810 which is currently running Windows 7 SP1, this in order to see if I even wanted 10 on my HP Envy. So today I decided to attempt the install onto the old Laptop. The first problem is that Windows refused to accept my product code (purchased separately) for the copy of Windows 7 SP1 (which replaced Vista on the old Acer). I know the code is correct as I have the original packaging and the code is the same as shown by running Belarc Advisor.
I was given the option to skip the product key which I did and things moved on to where I was recommended to check for updates, which MS assured me would make the upgrade so much easier. Well, 3 hours later, the 'Getting Updates' screen is still showing 0%. I'm assuming that this is probably due to every man and his dog trying to do the same thing as me. Do I just wait, and wait, or if I back out and start again, will my Windows 7 still be OK? If it is, I assume I can attempt to carry on without doing an update check. In any case, I had already updated all the drivers, although I assume they would be Win 7 drivers.
Any suggestions pleas?
THanks.

The free Windows 10 upgrade does not use the license key from and older version of Windows.

Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums[2]=Installation%20and%20Setup

You don't need a key to install 10 as an upgrade. If you were asked for a key, you were doing something wrong. (Examples: doing a clean install rather than an upgrade, or installing a version of 10 that doesn't match that of the qualifying OS.)

I don't know, but if the machine has sat for hours showing "Getting Updates", I doubt that your problem is Internet traffic.

Best of luck.

As bobkn eluded to, I would go back to Windows 7 and attempt to upgrade to the matching version of Windows 10 which will not ask for a product key during the upgrade.

As an affirmation of what bobkn posted, you will never be able to enter a Windows 7 product key for Windows 10 - and unless you actually purchase a unique product key for Windows 10, you will never enter a Windows 10 product key either.

Activation of Windows 10 is based upon a matching license from a matching version of a previous operating system (Windows 7 Home to Windows 10 Home, Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro, etc) during an upgrade - or after getting a successful activation from an upgrade, during a clean install Windows 10 will retrieve the activation information for that particular computer from Microsoft activation servers that was stored there during the previous upgrade.

bobkn said:

The free Windows 10 upgrade does not use the license key from and older version of Windows.

Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums[2]=Installation%20and%20Setup

You don't need a key to install 10 as an upgrade. If you were asked for a key, you were doing something wrong. (Examples: doing a clean install rather than an upgrade, or installing a version of 10 that doesn't match that of the qualifying OS.)

I don't know, but if the machine has sat for hours showing "Getting Updates", I doubt that your problem is Internet traffic.

Best of luck.

Hi, The 'upgrade finally went through to completion, the laptop has a very poor spec but within MS requirements. I did select Upgrade as I didn't want to do a clean install, this was only meant to be temporary just to see what 10 was like. I was asked for the product key which it kept rejecting at the start of the upgrade and now that it has finished it is still asking me for the product key. Over the years I have had several codes for old systems and my wife's systems as well but none of them are accepted. It did tell me what the last data block of the code should be but that didn't match what Belarc told me and it doesn't match with the list of codes I have had.. I even tried the original Vista number on the base of the laptop. This is a Win 7 HP and I downloaded the Win 10 Home 32bit version, so I thought they were the correct match?

So, I have to assume that this is a waste of time. It all depends on how long I am allowed to use 10 to allow me to play with it. Is there a time limit for use without a valid code? I shall probably abort the whole thing, I'm not going to risk my (fairly) new HP Envy if this is likely to happen again! I really don't know why this has happened!

So in order to get my Win 7 back again I believe I had to do a Recovery, is that right? I do have the windows.old folder in my C:\root.

Thanks for the assistance bobkn and NavyLCDR.

bertie11,

I'm still trying to figure out why you didn't just upgrade to the free version of Windows 10 offered by Microsoft and then you would have a permanent activation that you could use on that computer for the life of that computer. You can either make an image of the original OS using Macrium Reflect to fall back on if you wanted to go back, or trust the 30 day revert option in Windows 10 itself.

Again, the full free version for the upgrade offered by Microsoft will not ask for a product key during the upgrade and you get a full activation for Windows 10 for the life of that computer.

Well, I thought that was what I was doing! I can only assume I downloaded the wrong version. But having now had a break from watching paint dry I went into Settings/Security and Update and then Activation. I now see that it says Windows 10 is activated, along with the option to enter another key code, presumably if I bought a copy. One of the first things I was asked to do when I started the upgrade was to enter the Product key, so I now assume I should have just skipped that, which I did eventually, but it did ask for the key. By the way, this laptop is about six or seven years old at least, but it has been an excellent machine all that time so I just keep it as a backup/test rig.
I'm giving it a break now till tomorrow but it looks as though I am OK after all! I just need to decide whether to keep it or not.

Thanks again.

hTconeM9user said:

Hi I would keep it I find it 100% better than windows 7, 8,8.1.
I will never go back to any of them.
I have even disabled IE 11 which was giving me a lot of trouble and I just use Edge as my main Browser.
Also if you get the chance try the new office 2016 that also is 100% better and works with my HP Envy 4504 Printer/Scanner as good as gold allowing me to remove the third party Office Apps I used to have to use in order to print

Bertie11:
I really like Windows 10, and will be keeping it. used 7,8,and 8.1for years...
best to you... Cliff M.

bertie11 said:

I went into Settings/Security and Update and then Activation. I now see that it says Windows 10 is activated, along with the option to enter another key code, presumably if I bought a copy.

Good news! You can verify your activation status by opening a command prompt and type "slmgr /xpr" without the quotes. You should get a pop up windows that says "This machine is permanently activated." Then you can type "slmgr /dlv" without the quotes. In the pop up windows you should see something about RETAIL channel and there should be nothing about an expiration date. If you do see an expiration date, then you only have an evaluation version that will expire on the date shown.

Well, that is the clincher! Your commands confirm that I do indeed have an activated copy with no expiration date, excellent news.

As to will I keep it, I shall reconsider after about 25 days as I need to be sure. I don't have a image of the old Win 7 OS as I only used the laptop for browsing and picking up mail if my main laptop was down. There is no data on it of any importance on it and I do have the Win 7 HP disks (32 & 64) and product key though, hopefully MS will allow me to use that key as it is currently unused.

So thank you NavyCMDR, acmanten, hTconeM9user and bobkn, my learning curve continues!