I have an older laptop which was given to me. It started out life as XP ! - but it now has windows 10 and was running quite happily until the creators update trickled down. I have tried everything to upgrade but it always fails.
I am thinking a totally fresh install would now be best. :-
will I need an activation key ?
Where can I find this ?
Anyone who has taken Microsoft up on its free Windows 10 upgrade offer before the expiration date has a "digital entitlement" (or "digital license" as it's called beginning with version 1607) tied to that hardware. That upgrade doesn't expire.
If you activated a free upgrade to Windows 10 or bought and activated Windows 10 from the Store, you have a digital license for your device. This means you can reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 that your device has a digital license for without entering a product key. During reinstallation, if you’re asked to enter a product key, you can skip this step. Windows 10 will automatically activate online after the installation is complete.
Actually, now all licences (apart from volume licence keys) get a digital licence since AU 1607 was released.
For early 1507/1611 builds, you had to re-use the key to activate if you had activated using a retail standalone key (bought from a 3rd party) or system builder licence key.
From 1607 onwards, these keys are now granted a digital licence, as well.
Yep, even installs with my MAK keys get a DL. Volume License keys are the only ones that don't get a DL. I can remember seeing it toggle from Licensed with a Product Code to Licensed with a Digital license after upgrading to 1607.
Just click "I don't have one" when prompted for a key and install the same Edition (Home, Pro, etc) that you got with the free upgrade. It should then activate with the DL it already had.
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