Product key not recognized

According to my computer, Windows7 is activated and is a genuine product. But when I attempt to download W10, it does not recognize the 25 digit Product Key. I don't know what to do.

Where are you trying to download Windows 10 from? A product key has never been required to download Windows 10.

First off, to determine if you Windows 7 is genuinely activated please open an elevated ("run as administrator") command prompt, run:

slmgr /dlv

and post the results. There will be no unique identifying information in it, so you don't have to blank anything out. You want to see something about RETAIL channel activation in the results. If you see KMS in the results instead then you Windows 7 activation is likely false designed to fake a genuine activation.

NavyLCDR said:

Where are you trying to download Windows 10 from? A product key has never been required to download Windows 10.

I guess that the OP is using "download" as a synonym for "install". Not unusual.

I've never encountered this, but would the Win10 installer ask for Win7 license key, if the copy of Win7 that was being upgraded was activated by some illicit means?

bobkn said:

I guess that the OP is using "download" as a synonym for "install". Not unusual.

I've never encountered this, but would the Win10 installer ask for Win7 license key, if the copy of Win7 that was being upgraded was activated by some illicit means?

OP said it was genuine -- but your guess is probably correct -- however -- Win10 would not activate using my Win7 key on my HP laptop, claimed it was "invalid". I had to resort to using the GenuineTicket method documented here in these forums. I would STRONGLY recommend that approach for anyone attempting to update a Win7 PC to Win10.

bobkn said:

I guess that the OP is using "download" as a synonym for "install". Not unusual.

I've never encountered this, but would the Win10 installer ask for Win7 license key, if the copy of Win7 that was being upgraded was activated by some illicit means?

The KMS spoofing method of activation will make Windows think it is contacting a KMS volume activation server for activation and will show as a genuine activation - but it will be using an invalid product key that cannot be used for normal activation with Microsoft - so when the user does a clean install, which wipes out the KMS spoofing, they find that they can't use their product key to activate it.

George D E said:

According to my computer, Windows7 is activated and is a genuine product. But when I attempt to download W10, it does not recognize the 25 digit Product Key. I don't know what to do.

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to respond to my query. I have to say some of the suggestions assume a tech capability beyond me.

I think I will find the original receipt, go back to the shop, and ask them for the Product Key, then try again. I suspect it was an unauthorized copy. Maybe that will work.

George D E said:

I think I will find the original receipt, go back to the shop, and ask them for the Product Key, then try again. I suspect it was an unauthorized copy. Maybe that will work.

A legitimate license for Windows 7 would have come with a certificate of authenticity with the product key printed on it.

Ztruker said:

You didn't answer the original question.

Check and make sure you are downloading and installing the version that matches what your Windows 7 is.

The OP also did not post the results of slmgr /dlv either. I'm betting it is a KMS activation done by this computer shop.