New
#2040
"And most importantly, I have NEVER EVER upgraded from Windows 7 SP1 or 8.1. I want to start a fresh install of an Insider build on this new machine." IMO this is why you are not activated.
From Shawn Brink
Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer or Media Creation Tool on an activated Windows 7 or 8.1 PC, you will be able to reinstall, including a clean install, on the same device. You won’t need a product key for re-activations on the same hardware. If you make a meaningful change to your hardware, you may need to contact customer support to help with activation. You’ll also be able to create your own installation media like a USB drive or DVD, and use that to upgrade your device or reinstall after you’ve upgraded.
You do not get a product key with the free upgrade of Windows 10.
The activation for the free offer of Windows 10 is registered on the Microsoft activation servers, and is referenced by the hardware (motherboard/CPU/graphics card) of the PC it was upgraded on.
You have to do the upgrade to Windows 10 first and then you can go back delete or format that Windows 10 upgraded partition and start with a bare metal clean install of Winodows 10. I know it seems like a long way around, but the upgrade must happen first.
First thing I did upon boot, Alpha, was to configure to receive Insider builds since day of fresh install via Windows Media Creation Tool which would have given me the latest 10240 build ISO. As of 11 days ago anyway. See snip below.
Still holding for someone to answer to see if there are new keys.
Attachment 28635
And that's means even if I just want to test Insider builds on a new fresh machine, right?
OK, so since I was just doing this for kicks, I'll opt out, or else wait and see if an Insider build becomes available. I don't want to have to obtain Win7 or 8.1, just so I can install this (even $10 is better spent on a meal...lol). I'm otherwise happy with Vista.)
Now I am going to find out first what this new cumulative update is, and then I'll see if an Insider Buld becomes available this week. Besides, the activation server just mihgt make me lucky this week. We'll see...lol
Most people won't give up a windows 7 or 8.1 key just to keep testing windows 10. I will not do that myself.
@jody-thornton
I am curious to know if the enterprise version still activates on a clean install but has an expiration date. You might want to test that if you can't activate your insider build.
Hi, Jody and all. After much time on the phone with MS tech support I found no one with an answer concerning help or any new released keys for the Insider builds/OSs. They just kept passing me along. I finally gave up. It seems to me the old generic keys are indeed blocked. Hopefully for the time being anyway. I'm quite sure they'll address this issue in due time.
Anywho, it looks as though we'll have to wait. Those upgrading from another OS seems to take precedence. I'll have to live with no personalization for a while. No big deal. I still get to use 10.
Good luck to all.