Why no request for an activation code

ICIT2LOL said:

After two installations in two weeks both times I have booted from a Windows 10 Pro DVD only to find that not only does it not ask for an activation code first but has caused me to make tow VERY long phone calls to Microsoft to get it put right that is that apparently any installation media even labelled as Pro will default to the Home version.
Does anyone know what the reason for this is for ??

Starting with Windows 8, all PCs supplied with an OEM pre-installed Windows will have its key embedded in the bios. When you clean install W10 by booting from the install media Setup will read this key and automatically install the edition (Home or Pro) that matches the embedded key. I would recommend downloading the latest install media from Microsoft rather than using your DVD (which is most likely for an old version and would subsequently require upgrading to the latest version). You can read the embedded key with ShowKeyPlus

For older PCs or those without an embedded key, you can skip entering a key when asked, then choose the edition to install. If the PC has an existing digital licence for that edition it will activate automatically as soon as it can contact the activation servers.

Now if your PC has a Home key in its firmware but you subsequently upgraded it to Pro then a clean install will install Home again. Because your PC has an existing digital licence for Pro, obtained when you first upgraded and stored on the Microsoft activation servers, then you can upgrade the newly installed Home to Pro just by changing the installed key to the generic default Pro key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

These are trial and error steps to see whether commands can fix the underlying problem.

Run these to view and save current information:
Activation troubleshooting


Again this is trial and error:

Open administrative command prompt and copy and paste:
slmgr.vbs /upk

Then reactivate.
How to Use Slmgr to Change, Remove, or Extend Your Windows License


These are various commands:
C:\WINDOWS\system32>slmgr.vbs /upk

C:\WINDOWS\system32>slmgr /ipk

C:\WINDOWS\system32>slmgr /ato

C:\WINDOWS\system32>slmgr.vbs /ato

C:\WINDOWS\system32>slmgr /dlv

C:\WINDOWS\system32>slmgr /dli

C:\WINDOWS\system32>slmgr /xpr

ICIT2LOL said:

Thanks for the replies folks and I think what I should have done in hindsight was to try and put in the activation key number in Settings using the info on the DVD sleeve but it is done now and at least I have my old set up back again as the old drive was corrupted anyway. See what I mean in the pic.

Your screenshot shows Windows 10 Pro is activated with a digital licence. This means you do not need a key to do a clean install, the digital licence will provide the activation. Should a clean install give you Home again, then just change the installed key to the generic Pro key and it will upgrade to an activated Pro.