Windows 10 fail - again

Let me start by saying that I have been using the OS for nearly thirty years, always have multiple failures with each new OS.
I have two identical PCs, same OS (7), same MB, Memory 3 gig or larger. I used the media tool to install over a legit Win 7. The first reboot nothing worked. rebooted and desktop OK. I was never able to find LAN port. I then created a DVD, installed it and it worked fine but, it asked for a key, would not recognize the win 7 key, and I understand it is not available w/o purchase. So much for "free,"
I reinstalled Win 7 w/ legit key, used media tool to install win 10. It worked fine, recognized the LAN port, but asked for a key, even though it had the win 7 one, but still asked anyway.
Two choices; re-install Win 10 every thirty days to avoid no-key invalidation, or re-install Win 7 and stick to it.
I choose number two; Win 10 is typical Microsoft rushed out junk.

rsross said:

Let me start by saying that I have been using the OS for nearly thirty years, always have multiple failures with each new OS.
I have two identical PCs, same OS (7), same MB, Memory 3 gig or larger. I used the media tool to install over a legit Win 7. The first reboot nothing worked. rebooted and desktop OK. I was never able to find LAN port. I then created a DVD, installed it and it worked fine but, it asked for a key, would not recognize the win 7 key, and I understand it is not available w/o purchase. So much for "free,"
I reinstalled Win 7 w/ legit key, used media tool to install win 10. It worked fine, recognized the LAN port, but asked for a key, even though it had the win 7 one, but still asked anyway.
Two choices; re-install Win 10 every thirty days to avoid no-key invalidation, or re-install Win 7 and stick to it.
I choose number two; Win 10 is typical Microsoft rushed out junk.

You cannot do a clean install the first time. You must perform an upgrade install over your old OS first, you can then do a clean install after that. If you do an upgrade, with the same edition you are upgrading (home to home, pro to pro, etc..) then it will not ask you for a key. If it does ask you for a key, you're performing the wrong kind of install.

Once you have upgraded, and you have an activated Windows 10 from upgrade, you can clean install and wipe everything, then you click the "skip" link when it asks for a key.

rsross said:

Let me start by saying that I have been using the OS for nearly thirty years, always have multiple failures with each new OS.
I have two identical PCs, same OS (7), same MB, Memory 3 gig or larger. I used the media tool to install over a legit Win 7. The first reboot nothing worked. rebooted and desktop OK. I was never able to find LAN port. I then created a DVD, installed it and it worked fine but, it asked for a key, would not recognize the win 7 key, and I understand it is not available w/o purchase. So much for "free,"
I reinstalled Win 7 w/ legit key, used media tool to install win 10. It worked fine, recognized the LAN port, but asked for a key, even though it had the win 7 one, but still asked anyway.
Two choices; re-install Win 10 every thirty days to avoid no-key invalidation, or re-install Win 7 and stick to it.
I choose number two; Win 10 is typical Microsoft rushed out junk.

You skip the points where it asks you for the key on an upgraded system...

You only enter a key if you've bought a new Windows 10 licence...

Mystere said:

You cannot do a clean install the first time. You must perform an upgrade install over your old OS first, you can then do a clean install after that. If you do an upgrade, with the same edition you are upgrading (home to home, pro to pro, etc..) then it will not ask you for a key. If it does ask you for a key, you're performing the wrong kind of install.

Once you have upgraded, and you have an activated Windows 10 from upgrade, you can clean install and wipe everything, then you click the "skip" link when it asks for a key.

What do you men by "upgrade?" I have legit Win 7 install, with SP! on both PCs. I ran the MS software to establish hardware compatibility. The Win 10 should have gone on completely fine. I understand Ms nbew releases are buggy, same old story as long as I can remember. I understand they are releasing a 1 "gig" fix immediately. The way these installs went, everyone was different. One accepted key, but had LAN problems. Others worked but asked for key. makes no sense.

Nus said:

You skip the points where it asks you for the key on an upgraded system...

You only enter a key if you've bought a new Windows 10 licence...

I think you miss my point; as I replied to Mystere, one accepted the key, but had hdwe problems. Another worked OK, including LAN, but wouldn't take embedded key. This only makes sense if you have worked with s/w and have run into a common problem; all PC hardware is different, and s/w reaction to working with it varies from PC to PC. I am not sure there is s cure for this, if it works for a user, the odds have favored you. If not, fixes are your friend.

Mystere said:

Licensing and Keys work differently in Windows 10 for upgrades.

What I mean by "Upgrade" is when you install, it carries over all your old files and settings. This must be done at least once in order to upgrade your Windows 7 or 8.x license to a Windows 10 license. You cannot install clean, deleting everything and starting fresh.. if you do, it won't activate. That's the rules.

You can install clean only after you have performed an upgrade install at least once on that hardware.

Tried that the first time, it didn't work.

rsross said:

Tried that the first time, it didn't work.

"It didn't work" tells us nothing. When you go to the car mechanic, do you just tell them your car doesn't work?

To be clear, you did this, right?

1. Have a properly activated version of Windows 7 SP1 installed
2. Go to Windows 10 (the ISO download site)
3. Download the tool (32 bit or 64 bit, depending on what you need)
4. Run the tool, select the "Upgrade this PC" option

If you have done the steps above, then you are doing the right thing. What *should* happen next is that the Windows upgrade tool automatically upgrades your existing legitimate, properly activated Windows 7 installation to a legitimate, properly activated Windows 10 installation (asks you a bunch of questions along the way).

More details:
How to upgrade to Windows 10 without waiting in line | The Verge

After that, you can burn yourself an ISO and re-install Windows 10 clean as often as you like, for the lifetime of the system (and by "lifetime", Microsoft means until you replace your motherboard, which has the license information stored in its ROM).

If this is what you did, and you're still experiencing problems, let us know what they are - and let's figure them out!