New
#11
Showkey
will check a key if you enter it into the program, even on a different machine - it does not need to have the key installed to identify what type it is!
Also you have to realise that sometimes the Microsoft licence servers will accept a key only to reject it at a later date, this is due to the way that the licensing operates. The system will check the status of the key against the latest database every 90 days, this is done to keep up to date with the latest pirate keys and technologies. this does mean that a legitimate OEM key may be accepted at first when transferred but fail with a subsequent run of the checks, (when databases are updated).
The use of Showkey gives a much better specific check of the status, and type of licence than the "Suck & See" method, and will better prevent the additional work required if a key is rejected at a later date
And that is definitely a possibility. Sometimes when the Windows 8 product key is entered to attempt to activate Windows 10, Microsoft will respond that the product key is in use on another computer. When that happens, Windows 8 (or Windows 7 as applicable) must be installed temporarily on that computer either on a spare hard drive or on a separate partition. Use phone activation to activate the Windows 7 or 8 on that computer. Then you can go back and activate Windows 10 on that same computer with the Windows 7 or 8 product key.
When I built my new computer a few months ago, I didn't even bother taking any chances. I installed my retail Windows 7 on it, activated it over the phone, grabbed the genuineticket.xml file and then clean installed Windows 10.
Assumptions can be proved or otherwise refuted by actually trying them out - the acid test.
Faint heart never won... as the saying goes.
Your situation may need to be decided by a telephone call to the Windows Activation centre whose function is primarily to facilitate tricky activations rather than weed out those who would unfairly try to run Microsoft products illegitimately, who generally employ more cowardly, covert methods than straightforward asking agents what could be going wrong.
Thanks NavyLCDR, have now triggered the upgrade with the generic key & successfully entered Windows 8 pro product key.
I am now running Win 10 pro which says is activated.
Will keep an eye on it over the next few weeks - 90 days to see if it remains so.
Thank you so much to all who helped & offered advice.
Last edited by Bastet; 29 Apr 2016 at 12:32.