win 10 upgrade asking for product key

Hi, on my work laptop, i have received the win 10 app and it was ready to upgrade, As it was my work laptop I did not at the time but I did use the download to create a USB and I have updated two personal PCs with no issue.
I now have permission to upgrade the original work laptop so I am running the setup.exe file on the usb. Upgrade starts but it then asks for the product key. I enter the win 7 key that I have (from a key finder program). The upgrade then states 'this product key did't work' No option to skip just re-enter.
I do recall the update process starting and I canceled it.
Win 7 professional is genuine. fully updated with sp1.
Win 7 is working fine.
Win 10 app now states it will notify me when it is ready to install.

Could the canceled upgrade have already noted the win 10 product key in some way?

Any help would be great.

An upgrade to Windows 10 running properly will not ask for a product key. Are you sure the version on the USB is the exact same version as the previous operating system on the computer you are trying to upgrade? Pro or home; N, standard, or Single Language Version? If you continue with an upgrade that is asking for a product key, it will not activate.

A clean install will ask for a product key, and that can be skipped. Unless you have purchased a license for Windows 10 that has it's own unique product key, you should never enter a product key when upgrading or clean installing Windows 10.

Hi,

I am trying to upgrade - not clean install. The copy on the USB is the one win 10 app downloaded so should be right for the computer. I have found the hidden folder on the C drive @Windows_WF and run the setup from there but I still get the request for the code.

It must be due to the canceled install that started. Any ideas on how to clear this and start afresh. I cannot do a clean install of win 7, Too much company stuff will need to be reloaded.

Scotty h said:

Hi,

I am trying to upgrade - not clean install. The copy on the USB is the one win 10 app downloaded so should be right for the computer. I have found the hidden folder on the C drive @Windows_WF and run the setup from there but I still get the request for the code.

It must be due to the canceled install that started. Any ideas on how to clear this and start afresh. I cannot do a clean install of win 7, Too much company stuff will need to be reloaded.

You really ought to back it up (image the drive) before proceeding. If your company has some sort of IT department, they may be able to assist you.

In a normal upgrade, you are not asked for a key. That suggests that the version of the upgrade package doesn't match that of Windows 7.

I suggest using the Media Creation Tool. Make sure that you match language, bitness, and version.

Is the company using some sort of volume activation key or Enterprise version? (which are not eligible for free upgrade)

Thanks All,

Solved now. Not sure what I did but went back into windows update and it gave me the option to upgrade. Followed the links and upgraded quickly and easily. Windows 10 all working.