Reset PC, removed Win 7 to Win 10, now facing activation error

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 3
    Win 10
       #1

    Reset PC, removed Win 7 to Win 10, now facing activation error


    Hi, i'm facing activation issues as the title suggests.

    What I did was upgraded my Win 7 to Win 10 via the bottom right prompt. Activation successful but some things were not working correctly. So I then did a reset PC from scratch and removed everything. PC started with Win 10 but now not activated. I've tried clicking "Activate now" over the span of 4 days with still an error message to try again later. I've also tried inserting my Win 7 product key but it won't work. Now I'm trying to go back to previous build in attempts to again upgrade from there but it says no other operating system installed.

    What should I do to activate my Win 10? I like the interface but this issue is super frustrating!!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,421
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    There have been some people whose activations did not get saved correctly on Microsoft activation servers. You pretty much have 3 choices:

    Reinstall Windows 7 and do the upgrade again. Hopefully the activation will save to the activation server properly.

    Download and install/upgrade Windows 10 build 10565 and attempt to activate that by entering your Windows 7 Product Key. Microsoft included the ability to accept Windows 7/8/8.1 product key in build 10565.

    Call Microsoft and explain your situation and hopefully you will get someone on the phone that will activate it for you.

    Seems like once you get a good solid activation saved on MS activation servers there aren't any problems in the future.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you NavyLCDR. I will try opt# 2 and update how it goes.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15,010
    Windows 10 IoT
       #4

    Keep in mind, that build 10565 is an Insider Preview build. The current Consumer build is 10240, last I checked. Just so you know what your installing.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Oh, great that I haven't done it. Thanks alphanumeric!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15,010
    Windows 10 IoT
       #6

    I mentioned it in case you don't want an Insider build. Also as far as I know, 10240 will not accept Windows 7 or 8 keys on a clean install. Not yet anyway. Rumor has it that could happen, next week some time. Might want to wait a bit and see what happens. If they release new ISO's that accept those keys your problem is solved, you will then be able to clean install the consumer build 10240 and activate with your Windows 7 key.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #7

    alphanumeric said:
    If they release new ISO's that accept those keys your problem is solved, you will then be able to clean install the consumer build 10240 and activate with your Windows 7 key.
    Really?? (Not disputing what you're saying; just amazed that this will be possible).

    Any way to know that MS HAS included this feature in a new ISO -- without doing the clean install?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,453
       #8

    Mark Phelps said:

    Any way to know that MS HAS included this feature in a new ISO -- without doing the clean install?
    WZor said:
    MSU TH2 put to RTM build 10240 without vatermarkov to go 18/11 on the public, insiders Halloween ?, report 2/11
    So we assume, if the functionality is present, once that update is applied we can try "change product key" and it should accept our Win7/8 keys.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 15,010
    Windows 10 IoT
       #9

    Mark Phelps said:
    Really?? (Not disputing what you're saying; just amazed that this will be possible).

    Any way to know that MS HAS included this feature in a new ISO -- without doing the clean install?
    If they do it, I don't think it will take long for word to spread. Somebody here will test it pretty quickly I would think. Right now its a "Rumor has it" deal. As far as I know it's already been done in build 10565.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #10

    As previously mentioned you can clean install 10565 and activate it with a 7 key. Once this is done you can clean install 10240 (RTM version) and skip entering the key and it remains activated.

    I've done this and it works fine.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:48.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums