You have a regular, permanent license. You shouldn't lose it if you join the insider program again. Not saying you won't lose it.... What I would do is create another partition and do a clean install of Windows 10 10240 on that, dual booting, then use that one to join the insider program.
It seems you are right. After the successful RTM install, deleting windows.old using the recommended way, fried the partition. I was able to reinstall with the same RTM 10240 ISO, but now I have 2 windows.old files, the second 1 being close to 20 gb. That aside,
How did I get a valid RTM in the 1st place?
(edit: the reinstall was a day or 2 after the successful RTM installation, Sep 1, or thereabout}
An oversight is possible, and so are other things. I want to know why it happened, and why the OP is struggling in a quasi similar situation.
edit: I am also curious what happens with a retail upgrade, like what was scheduled for Oct, and is now pushed back to Nov.
NavyLCDR hasa very goodan EXCELLENT suggestion in post# 51 that preserves your current install and provides a safe place to test other suggestions.
There are two issues being discussed in this thread - both very interesting.
1) Lockes cannot activate a Preview install
2) mrpumpkin has an activated Retail install, even though the intent was to install a Preview build.
Thanks for posting the slmgr screen shots Mr P - that helps my understanding a lot - although it is still confusing why your install is that way. Everything I see indicates that, yes, you have a Retail install, but I'm still learning things
I'd like to see what your machine has for the self host key (see post# 45 for output example). Please query the key and post the text or a screen shot. Thanks.
reg query HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost /s
I missed the 10.0.074 key part in your post. The screen shot shows a partial 10.0.240 Pro key.
You say that you need the 074 key to activate - why that key? Did you try other Preview build keys and the 074 key worked?
Did you enter the 074 key at install time or afterwards (Settings > Activate or Cpl> System > change product key)?
As Alice said: "Curiouser and curiouser!"
Thx to you and others that are taking an interest in this.
I ran the reg query HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsSelfHost /s command and came up with a path I then followed?
Here is a more linear report of my experience:
*Joined insider in feb
*reformatted with 10074
*upgraded via windows upgrade to 10240
>after RTM release, insider "fix me" button appeared. Only option was to opt out.
* fresh install of 10240 from media creation tool
>would not activate
*reinstall 10074 ISO using the key 'during installation'
>activated, accepted MS account, would not upgrade past 10074
* used registry hack to update 10074 to 10240
*10240 was activated
>would not allow MS account sign in
*created new user account and deleted old one.
> insider "fix me" button allowed sign in, but would not "stick"
*tried PC reset
>no change
*ran scf..dism = errors...
*opted out of insider builds in upgrade settings
*nixed the Win 10 partition with mini-tool
"reinstalled RTM (Media creation ....) on new primary space.
And .... all is good. No SFC scannow errors.
Sure looks like a Retail install to me.
Your goal is to have the current install remain Retail and participate in the Insider program - right?
Your best option, Mr P, is to follow NavyLCDR's suggestion in post# 51 - create a new part and install Windows 10 Preview there.
It's beyond the scope of a technical forum to figure out the why, so I'll focus on the how.
You already have the Retail ISO (Media Creation Tool). Use that to install Win10 to a new partition - this will be your Insider build.
Don't enter any keys during the install - that gives you an evaluation install.
I recommend creating the initial account as a Local account and then create a 2nd account that uses your MS account credentials.
Use the 2nd account, MS account, to sign-in to the install you just completed
Sign-in to the Insider web site or install the Insider hub and sign-in there.
Then join the Insider program on that install.
If the button is not [ Get Started ] do NOT press the button.
Post what you see - thanks.
This is my 1st dual boot experience. Is this normal?
I'm in win7, and I launched firefox developer edition, which is only installed on my win 10 partition. Both are primary partitions. I had complete access to the win 10 file system from win 7, and was able to launch the browser from the win 10 directory.
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