Can't repair PC, can't re-install Win10, stuck with viruses.

happyten · 29 Nov 2015

I had windows home, the strange thing is the USB installer is only wanting to install pro it seems. I enter the home key and it still says its not a valid key. I thought the USB key was universal but guess not. I forget where to download the setup program but I'll do some research and see if I can find a way to make the key Windows 10 Home. In the meantime I'll also try activating online during install, the reason I didn't the first time is because I was too lazy to type in the Wi-Fi passcode. ;P

NavyLCDR · 29 Nov 2015

There is a different generic key for each version of Windows. The product key you enter when asked during install determines which version is installed. Or you can skip entering the product key during install and the installation program will ask you which version you want to install and if you install the version you have an entitlement for it will activate automatically by retrieving the entitlement from Microsoft activation servers. You should have entered the Home product key during installation, because that is what version of Windows 10 you are entitled to. Unfortunately it is impossible to downgrade from Pro to Home.

Windows 10 Home key is
YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7

Windows 10 Pro key is
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

So, until you either do a clean install of Windows 10 Home, or purchase an upgrade to Pro, you are stuck with a non-activated version of Windows 10.

essenbe · 29 Nov 2015

You can select which ISO you want and download it from Techbench Tech Bench

happyten · 29 Nov 2015

The installer still wants to install windows 10 Pro, not home. I enter the home key it says it's not valid for that product. I tried to connect to wifi this time but Wifi won't connect in setup, it says it's taking longer than normal to connect and then fails to connect to the network.

urgh

essenbe said:

You can select which ISO you want and download it from Techbench

essenbe said:

Tech Bench

thanks but the iview cyber pc doesn't have a CD/DVD drive. I need to find the MS tool that made the key for me I think.

edit* Found it

Windows 10

edit again**
it just makes the same thing I have, windows 10 Pro
seems I am out of luck.
but it's ok I have a plan!

I'll install all my necessary drivers, make a drive image using the windows built in backup, then just restore the backup each time windows expires this should work right? otherwise I'll just reinstall fresh each time. ma-ma mia

NavyLCDR · 30 Nov 2015

Your plan to make a drive image and go back in time won't work for a couple of reasons.

1. Windows 10 won't expire. From day 1 non-activated Windows 10 has certain functions that are disabled until it is activated. The nagging to activate Windows will increase over time.

2. To go back in time to the date/time of your backup you have to do two things. You have to restore the backup - and before you boot into it you have to change your system date/time to the same date/time the backup was made. As soon as you connect to the internet and your programs and Windows start detecting that their is a huge difference in your system time and the time from the internet, things will stop working.

Tens of Millions of clean installs of Windows 10 Home have been made from the ISOs available here:
Windows 10

or here:
Tech Bench

Follow the steps for a clean install here:
Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

It is only during a clean install that you can select which version of Windows 10 to install - if it doesn't detect a Windows 8 or Windows 10 product key in bios first.

bobkn · 30 Nov 2015

I'm not sure what you have for a USB installation device.

For build 10240 (the original released version), there were separate ISO files for Home and Pro. I assume that the USB drive made directly by the Media Creation Tool were the same.

For the Threshold 2 release (10586), I believe that there was one ISO for Home and Pro. The advice that you should follow probably depends on which Win 10 release you have.

You think that Microsoft makes it possible to run an unlicensed version of Windows indefinitely? Actually, there may be a way: join the Windows Insider program. Your copy of Windows would be time bombed, but you ought to receive a new version before the old one expires. The downside? Constantly running a beta OS.

NavyLCDR · 30 Nov 2015

bobkn said:

For the Threshold 2 release (10586), I believe that there was one ISO for Home and Pro. The advice that you should follow probably depends on which Win 10 release you have.

The current Media Creation Tool from the "Download Tool Now" button on this webpage will download a combined Home and Pro version:
Windows 10

So, if you select both 32 and 64 bit Windows 10 you will get a 4 in 1 installation USB - 32bit and 64bit each of Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro.

If you boot from the USB, it will always ask you if you want to install 32bit or 64bit (if you downloaded both). Then if it does not find a product key stored in the bios and you skip entering a product key it will then ask you if you want to install Home or Pro.

spapakons · 01 Dec 2015

Also the ISO from Microsoft Tech Bench contains both Home and Pro versions, so downloading both 32-bit and 64-bit ISO you get all four versions for each language.

azasadny · 01 Dec 2015

Lots of good, helpful info here!

happyten · 01 Dec 2015

Thanks for the info and help guys.
it was all way over my head, I don't understand Windows Licensing or why it's so picky. Linux just installs, no questions asked. Why can't Windows be like that? I can understand from the start they needed to make money but after making 20 billion dollars why not give the licensing a rest. I am grateful for the free upgrade to 10 though so I won't complain too much

but guess what! I found the stock recovery firmware for the device
firmwarecyberpc

this restored it like new with windows 8.1, so I can upgrade back to 10 again and all is good