Before you start, it wouldn't hurt to run showkey plus from this forum and write down any product keys it finds and what they are for:
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums
Then see Post #9
Especially important is your Windows 8.1 Pro key in case something goes wrong.
Go to Settings/Udpate and Security/Activation and see if you are activated. If it is activated then you can simply reinstall Windows 10 without going through a lot of other stuff. Post back with the activation info.
This is not necessary at all.
1. You can download the installer for W10 from the Windows website. There's directions here on this website on how to do this. Basically, if you follow the instructions here and on the Windows website, it will take you to a download. The download is a tool that will allow you to create an installer for W10 professional on a blank DVD or blank USB flash drive. Once you do this you will have a fully legitimate W10 installer that can be used to install W10 into a blank hard drive.
2. Transfer important files from your current hard drive to a backup drive.
3. Completely wipe your hard drive clean. Such as using dban.
(If you never did this before, there is a website where you can get dban. There are directions on how to download dban, and create a bootable dban CD. You boot into the dban CD. When you're booted in the dban environment, it will show the drives on the system. Choose the drive you want to wipe, and it can completely wipe the drive using the Department of Defense method. For extra precaution, I personally disconnect any other drives that may be connected so that only the drive I want to wipe is connected. It might take a long time to wipe, so make sure you have time set aside to do this.)
4. Once your hard drive is completely wiped celan, use your W10 installation disc (or usb) to do a clean installation of W10 onto your hard drive. If it asks for activation key, you can skip it, and continue.
5. When everything is installed configured, and you can access the internet. Go to the activation section, and activate it.
You now have a clean installation of W10 and activated.
You issues are likely due to the repeated upgrades from one OS to another to another. A lot of issues can be solved by doing a clean install.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9...-download.html < Download 10 Pro
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html < When asked for a product code click skip
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html
You can if you want, I do. All 4 of my PC's have the same generic 10 Pro key. I enter the key automatically with a PID.txt file, for two reasons. One, it speeds things up as I don't have to click skip several times. Two, it automatically installs Pro instead of asking me if I want Home or Pro when using my MSDN multi edition ISO's. It won't hurt anything as long as you enter the correct key, the one you got via the free upgrade. Or, just leave it blank and click skip. Your choice.
Because you are likely confused, let's take a summary. If you have activated Windows 10 Pro, then you can format the disk and install Windows 10 Pro directly, without installing 7 or 8 first. Just create a bootable USB Flash drive as described in the other posts, backup all your data and start setup. When at the partition screen, delete all partitions and continue. Next you will be asked for a key, you don't have one and you don't need it, click skip. When setup is complete, connect to the internet to activate. Just as simple as that. The only "difficulty" is creating the USB drive and making sure you copy all your files before you format the disk. Everything else is almost automatic.
If I create a bootable flash drive for windows 10 and install it. It will remove everything including the previous versions of windows 7 home premium and windows 8 pro as well as 8.1 correct.
Ok my windows 10 pro is activated and I'm currently making my bootable windows 10 pro flash drive. Currently 0%.
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