Had to clean install after a corrupt upgrade, how do I re-obtain a key


  1. Iarehealer
    Posts : 2
    10
       New #1

    Had to clean install after a corrupt upgrade, how do I re-obtain a key


    Hey guys,

    I have a laptop that was originally on Windows 8.1. I upgraded it to Windows 10 recently, however there were a variety of deeply embedded issues. I tried every troubleshooting method I could find, tried to revert back to 8.1, and tried to repair and reset Windows 10. Nothing was working, so I had to use installation media from doing a clean install on my PC to install a fresh version of Windows 10 on my laptop.

    I was forced to format the hard drive, and delete all the partitions to even get the clean install to work (the upgrade did a real number on my initial system), and because of this I'm now unable to activate Windows 10. The upgrade was the Home edition, and I clean installed the Home N edition (as far as I'm aware there's little to no difference). I made a note of the product key that was listed in the upgraded 10 before the clean install, which I assume was my product key from 8.1 that carried over, as it is 20 characters long and not 25.

    Is there any way I can activate my clean installed Windows 10 Home N in this situation?
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  3. Word Man
    Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #2

    Iarehealer said:
    .... The upgrade was the Home edition, and I clean installed the Home N edition (as far as I'm aware there's little to no difference). ...
    That's the fly in your ointment! You established a digital entitlement to the (non-N) Home edition when you first upgraded. You need to have that same edition to do clean install and have it instantly recognized and activated by MS activation servers without providing a product key (or insert original Win 8.1 product key for activation).

    There may be little difference between the 2 editions as far as you and I are concerned but it's a significant difference to the MS activation servers.

    You need to re-download the correct edition.

    P.S. - Welcome to TenForums!
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  4. Iarehealer
    Posts : 2
    10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Ah okay. I figured that would be the case. Luckily my product key for the Pro N edition allows me to use it on multiple devices (3 I think) because I'm a student and got it from Dreamspark. I didn't think it would work but my laptop is now saying it is activated and has updated to the Pro N edition.

    Thank you for the super fast response though, it is much appreciated and the information is very useful.
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  6. Word Man
    Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #4

    Iarehealer said:
    Ah okay. I figured that would be the case. Luckily my product key for the Pro N edition allows me to use it on multiple devices (3 I think) because I'm a student and got it from Dreamspark. I didn't think it would work but my laptop is now saying it is activated and has updated to the Pro N edition.

    Thank you for the super fast response though, it is much appreciated and the information is very useful.
    Aha. Understood. You're quite welcome, Iarehealer, and good luck in your studies.
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