Damaged disc

The 64 bit windows 10 installation disc I have is beyond help-so they tell me. I have the activation number that has never been used along with the UPC code as well.
Can any Win ten be used to install? I want to install it on my windows 8 pro machine.
Perhaps, I could install it from a Windows.com download?

All this info is based on whether this is a retail disc. Keep the activation number in a safe place for future use, as you can use on any one one device at any time. Is the disc Home or Pro ? Get an ISO here (select Win10, covers Pro and Home but activation number will only be good for version on your retail DVD) -
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft.../windows10ISO/

I agree that it can't hurt to try and see if free upgrade will go thru. One advantage is, if it does, he can get Win10 Pro w/o having to buy a Pro DVD (assuming he has a retail Home). Just needs to hit 'Skip' or 'Activate later', which ever dialogue comes up.

Thanks for the advice-I guess that means burning it to a disc.

Another thing: This might want a separate thread but I bought windows 8.1 full version and now I'm told to get another (buy) activation code although the code is on the disc when I installed it.

Whats up with that? I have been a loyal costumer for Microsoft for 20 years! .Anyone remember Windows ME or 95?

"I guess that means burning it to a disc."
So, the copy you bought was a downloaded copy ?

"I bought windows 8.1 full version and now I'm told to get another (buy) activation code although the code is on the disc when I installed it."
You can only use that code on only one device at any time. You do not need an activation code for a 10 upgrade but you do have to install 8.1 from the full version first and activate it.

To get better advice, you need to clarify just what the 64 bit windows 10 installation disc that you refer to in post 1 is, a physical DVD from a retailer or a downloaded copy that you burned or just a downloaded ISO.

OK-I have the windows 10 disc but but the 64 bit is damaged I have never installed it nor used the activation code.

The windows 8.1 disc that I bought didn't come with a code because it's on the disc. So I can't upgrade with the code-that is on the disc. How can I find it without buying a code from Microsoft.
It continues to tell me to that I need to activate and the code is on the disc. It runs fine and I still get all the updates but every week or so it ask me 'activate'. It's really not a big deal I just don't know how the get the code from the disc and use it. There are programs that say they can 'find' it-one of them is called Keyfinder but I don't trust it seems like some kind of malware loader.

Full retail versions of Windows, whether it is Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10 come with PRINTED product keys. They do not come with product keys "on the disc". The only Windows discs that come with product keys "on the disc" are manufacturer OEM discs that only work with the specific computers they were made for because the "product keys on the disc" are not standalone product keys that will activate by themselves - they are product keys that are matched against a product key stored in BIOS/UEFI and the combination of the two activates the Windows. This is called OEM:SLM which stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer:System Locked Pre-installation. The product key is pre-installed - half in bios, half on the disc and it is locked to that particular system.

If you have a PRINTED product key for Windows and no good disc for it, then you will have to download the version of Windows that product key is good for and burn your own disc (or USB flash drive) for it.