Clean Install after upgrade from 7 don't work !! Can't activate the OS

AllanP said:

Never saw your post before installing. I would have wiped it also except I had a Linux partition and a backup partion. W10 seemed to do a good job of selecting the right partition and doing a 500Mb system partition so I let it go for it.

Well that's fine. Question is did it work for you?

99taws6 said:

Well that's fine. Question is did it work for you?

Yes all went very well; a few programs yet to install and probably a bit of tweaking.

AllanP said:

Yes all went very well; a few programs yet to install and probably a bit of tweaking.

Awesome glad it worked for you. Hopefully the rest of the experience goes well. I personally have been enjoying 10 almost 6 months now and I wouldn't go back. Microsoft has been quick to fix problems so far

Brink said:

When you upgrade with the free reserved copy from the GWX app on an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, Windows 10 has a generic key included that will activate it.

If you clean or upgrade install Windows 10 without doing the above first, Windows 10 will not be activated.

I know this post was from a while ago but it seems relevant to my situation. I did a clean install using Media Creation Tool in Windows 7 to install Windows 10 without doing the "internal" upgrade first. I can't activate 10 now and I have no idea what to do. I don't have the key for 7 since it was a clean install. What options do I have?

here is the tutorial for accomplishing this Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First

pivlit2 said:

I know this post was from a while ago but it seems relevant to my situation. I did a clean install using Media Creation Tool in Windows 7 to install Windows 10 without doing the "internal" upgrade first. I can't activate 10 now and I have no idea what to do. I don't have the key for 7 since it was a clean install. What options do I have?

If you don't have a Windows 7 product key, then how was it activated previously on that computer? But, now since you did a clean install wiping away the traces of Windows 7, if you don't have a COA sticker on the computer with a Windows 7 product key printed on it, you are going to have to purchase a Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 that comes with a product key.

NavyLCDR said:

If you don't have a Windows 7 product key, then how was it activated previously on that computer? But, now since you did a clean install wiping away the traces of Windows 7, if you don't have a COA sticker on the computer with a Windows 7 product key printed on it, you are going to have to purchase a Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 that comes with a product key.

The computer already had Windows 7 (genuine and activated). The tutorial in the Microsoft help forum talked about doing a manual install with the Media Creation Tool to USB. The process of upgrading by clicking on the Windows 10 icon in the taskbar wasn't working because it was stuck on "Starting Download" for days. There is a sticker but since this is an older laptop, you can't read it anymore.

I just find it silly that since the upgrade wasn't working, that I'm the one that has to pay money because a moderator on the Microsoft site recommended a straight manual, clean installation via USB.

Clintlgm said:

here is the tutorial for accomplishing this Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First

The clean install was already done. That's what I'm having trouble with - the activation with no traces of Windows 7.

Well then your locked in either decipher the COA sticker or somehow other find what that Key was or find an unused windows 7 disk with key to use to Activate it. Yes too bad the MS Tech you worked with didn't have you located the your win 7 key before proceeding with the clean install.

Clintlgm said:

Well then your locked in either decipher the COA sticker or somehow other find what that Key was or find an unused windows 7 disk with key to use to Activate it. Yes too bad the MS Tech you worked with didn't have you located the your win 7 key before proceeding with the clean install.

Either way, thanks for your help!