New
#20
If it's actually for the same PC you are trying to activate on, you should be able to just activate by phone instead of having to do a clean install.
On a new PC, then yes a clean install will be needed.
Thanks. I've done as you suggested and installed 8.1 onto the PC in question and following automated phone activation W8.1 is now activated.
I now want to clean install W10 and so I understand I now need to enter the W8.1 product key into the W10 initial screen... which it does say 'if you are installing a different version..... etc'.
That's going to be a 5 or 6 hour install again (buggy driver). I just glad I didn't put the time in setting the first W10 install up with all my software and so on.
Lets hope so. I'm just at the early stages of the install (only 1 hour in) and so haven't found out yet.
Well... W10 has activated OK :)
So I did have to install 8.1 first, activate using the automated phone service, and then clean install W10 entering the W8.1 product key at the start of the W10 installation. So as Nipax suggested, simply clean installing W10 doesn't seem to work without first installing W8.1 that the license key relates to.
Thanks :)
Hi..
I have a situation.. I had 2 computers running Windows 7 pro.. I upgraded 1 to Win 10 and it was Activated.. In error, I used the same product key for Win 10 to activate the 2nd computer.. and it went through.. So now I have 2 computers with the same Windows 10 product key and both Activated... I tried to change the product key with a Windows 8.1 key that my school provided me with...once I input the win 8.1 product key...it goes through and I get the message, "Windows is activated"...but it does NOT change the product key.. so both computers have the same Product Key.... will this be an issue later even though both are activated?
On the activation tab of the updates & security settings menu, do the computers show as activated with a digital entitlement? If they do, then you are good to go. The digital entitlement is stored on Microsoft activation servers.