To Clean install wo upgrading, you need GenuineTicket.xml generated on an activated qualifying system.
But you had a raw HDD.
You could try the old HDD and generate the xml file, then put that on the install media
replace the old HDD with the new HDD and follow
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums
or
You could Activate Windows 10 by phone
Navy might have a method I'm not aware - he often does (or reminds me of one I've forgotten)
Hi Bart and LCDR,
Take a look at this that LCDR and alpha were involved and tell me what's different.
https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...ctivation.html
Without knowing what error is received when the product key is attempted to be changed, it's hard to troubleshoot further. More than likely, though, Windows 7 will have to be installed temporarily and activated with the product key from the sticker. The sticker should activate just regular Windows 7, it doesn't have to be the manufacturer's recovery disks. Then grab the genuineticket.xml file to activate the Windows 10.
As I remarked earlier, owner found recovery discs and I reinstalled Windows 7 on the new drive.
It installed activated as is normal for recovery, either from discs or HDD recovery.
I then just upgraded to 10 with no problem.
This is normal.
I'm still curious as to why I couldn't do the clean install as I've done many times without a problem activating.
Oh well.
Thanks for all the help.
And we didn't need Brink.
Pete
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