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#21
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
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.
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.