Secondary license not working?

NavyLCDR · 09 Sep 2020

Try this:

On your friends new PC, make sure it is not connected to the internet in any way - no WiFi, no Ethernet.
Go to the Activation Screen in Windows 10 Settings under Update and Security and select Change Product Key.
Enter this product key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
If the above product key is not accepted when the computer is not connected to the internet, then you have installed the wrong edition of Windows 10.
If the above product key is accepted, then connect the computer to the internet.
Change the product key again to the product key that was purchased.

If the product key that was purchased is not accepted this time, that would indicate that it has been blocked from online automatic activation by Microsoft.

You might find this page helpful:
https://devicepartner.microsoft.com/...r-personal-use

Octopuss · 09 Sep 2020

Yes, that is the generic W10 Pro key. I use it for every installation and only enter the real key afterwards.
And yes, I did all that, I always do.
It just won't activate just like the error messages say.

NavyLCDR · 09 Sep 2020

Then the Product Key has been blocked by Microsoft.

Octopuss · 09 Sep 2020

Which makes no sense since it's in original Dell packaging and was sealed. Meh...

NavyLCDR · 09 Sep 2020

You could run the product key through showkey plus and verify what edition it is for:
ShowKeyPlus

One way to get blocked product keys to work for Windows 10 is to install the original OS the product key was for, Windows 8 or 7. Activate that OS with phone activation. Then upgrade that to Windows 10.

Berton · 09 Sep 2020

I was with the Microsoft Partners Program for many years [until it was discontinued] and never knew of "secondary" Product Keys. The Partners Program provided 10 keys for most of the available programs for use in demonstrating and selling computers with Windows, still have available a few of those keys. It was actually just one key for each program but could be used up to 10 times each.

The only issue I've had with using an older key was with Win8 Ultimate in using it to change from Win10 Home to Win10 Pro, identified as Win10 Enterprise and wouldn't activate since it couldn't find the proper Server to verify. To the best of my recollection the Enterprise Product Key is tied with Volume Licensing.

Octopuss · 09 Sep 2020

NavyLCDR said:

You could run the product key through showkey plus and verify what edition it is for:
ShowKeyPlus

One way to get blocked product keys to work for Windows 10 is to install the original OS the product key was for, Windows 8 or 7. Activate that OS with phone activation. Then upgrade that to Windows 10.

That looks like a neat little tool.
It says "Win 8 RTM Professional OEM:DM".

Being OEM shouldn't be an issue if the key wasn't activated before, plus I tried activating Win 8.1 Pro with it with no luck.

@Berton By secondary I mean old keys from old computers that are resold, which is legal in Europe. In this case, it's supposedly brand new key even.

NavyLCDR · 09 Sep 2020

Did you try activating the Windows 8.1 Pro using phone activation?

Octopuss · 09 Sep 2020

Yup.
The voice said they couldn't confirm (or whatever the word was) the activation id.

Berton · 09 Sep 2020

A further comment, or rather a remembrance, I have a copy of Win7 Home Premium Upgrade 32-bit Family Pack that was for 3 computers using same key. It carried a 30-day use before having to activate. What I can't recall is if it still has one install available, last recorded install was 5 years ago.