Product Key on Clean Install

Blue Owl · 04 Aug 2015

After I did the free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, I did a clean install. Seems like everything is fine, except I had to enter the Product Key to finish the installation. The clean install is activated.

I understood from what I have been reading here that once I did the free upgrade, I could do a clean install, skip the Product Key prompt and Windows would get the Product Key. I skipped at the beginning of the install, but could not finish at then end without putting the the product Key. I did and it finished.

Did I do something wrong? Or did I misunderstand? Wanted to clear this up before I go any farther installing all my apps, etc., in case I have to re-install because I did something wrong.

Thanks

LittleJay · 04 Aug 2015

Which product key did you enter? I don't remember seeing any when I did the upgrade first and when I clean installed W10 later, it activated automatically

Blue Owl · 04 Aug 2015

LittleJay said:

Which product key did you enter? I don't remember seeing any when I did the upgrade first and when I clean installed W10 later, it activated automatically

I ran "KetFinder" on both my PCs after the free upgrade.

wrogg · 04 Aug 2015

I downloaded the Files as all three PC's had the "we are validating your PC and working closely with our partners" message.
As soon as Windows 10 was installed (I forgot to check if it was activated) I clicked delete everything reset.
It activated with the code, took a while as the servers were busy but I never entered any code at all during installation. It now says it's activated.
It makes it's own code, that is tied to that PC. I believe when the PC dies you have to buy new Windows.
That's why I'm keeping Windows 7 on my gaming PC that get updated every 6 months.

LittleJay · 04 Aug 2015

Blue Owl said:

I ran "KetFinder" on both my PCs after the free upgrade.

Thanks for the response! Strange that you needed to enter a product key to activate and I didn't. And from what I've read so far, I think auto activation of a clean install is what is suppose happen, after you do an upgrade first.

I got the prompt at the very beginning and clicked "skip". The on the final screen of the install I got the prompt. "It now time to enter the Product Key". I did and clicked finish.
Maybe I could have just clicked on "finish" without entering the key

I see what you are saying. I skipped the prompt in both cases and it did indeed activate, so you probably could have as well.

Blue Owl · 04 Aug 2015

wrogg said:

I downloaded the Files as all three PC's had the "we are validating your PC and working closely with our partners" message.
As soon as Windows 10 was installed (I forgot to check if it was activated) I clicked delete everything reset.
It activated with the code, took a while as the servers were busy but I never entered any code at all during installation. It now says it's activated.

Did you get any prompts to enter the Product Key?

I got the prompt at the very beginning and clicked "skip". The on the final screen of the install I got the prompt. "It now time to enter the Product Key". I did and clicked finish.
Maybe I could have just clicked on "finish" without entering the key