If I understand you did a clean install without upgrading is that right? If you did do that you need to reinstall W7 and activate it then do an upgrade after you upgrade then you can do a clean install not before. see this story for more details.
Microsoft quietly rewrites its activation rules for Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
Sorry but the tech guys are right. You won't be able to do a clean install using win 7 key unless you do an online upgrade first.
- A Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key cannot activate Windows 10. Windows 10 uses its own unique product key.
- By default, Windows 10 builds are pre-keyed, meaning, you do not have to enter a product key and should not be prompted to enter one as long as you upgraded from an activated Windows 7 or Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 license or Windows 10 Preview build.
- If you perform a clean install on first attempt, you will have to start over from an activated Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 installation.
- If you are prompted to enter a product key, clickDo this laterand give it a few days, Windows 10 will activate automatically.
THIS IS NOT A CLEAN INSTALL!
Install Windows 7 - ACTIVATE. Its activated. Its mine. I bought it. Its legit.
Then I stick in the Windows 10 disk and install FROM WITHIN WINDOWS 7 THAT IS ALREADY ACTIVATED. How in the world is that considered a clean install?
Please help me understand how I f---ed this up? This is exactly what the first technician told me to do.
I don't think you messed anything up. I did almost exactly what you did and my upgrade activated. I had windows 7 pro installed on a home built computer. Downloaded the ISO file using the Windows Media Creation Tool. I extracted the ISO file to a second hard drive and ran setup.exe. The upgrade succeeded and activated. I burned a DVD using the downloaded ISO file, booted the computer from the DVD and did a clean install which also activated.
In your case, it seems like everything is correct so maybe it is just a matter of hitting the Microsoft Activation Server when it is actually working correctly and handing out licenses.
Microsoft needs to admit they messed up and just come out and say "We don't care how Windows 10 was installed, we will activate it."
Its time for me to quit the internet and computers. Clean install to me is format adn start over. Not install from a GD activated system.
Ok...let's regroup now that Ive burned up about 3 gb of my internet.
You say I need to install windows 7 and activate.
Then what?
I put in the windows 10 disk and...... which option of the three do I select?
Oh Christ...now I can't even use their own ISO on a DVD to upgrade?
Wow.
The first one.
Read the Full story that will explain a lot.
Microsoft quietly rewrites its activation rules for Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
Look at the Admin's (Brink) post (#2) here: https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...tml#post337478
Quote