Activation Key no good

Gateway Desktop that developed bad sectors on the hard drive. Would not boot and I couldn't clear even after removing and slaving drive.
Tried a clone with Acronis True Image but wouldn't work.

Using media creation tool, created a USB install.
Install went OK. Did not enter key when on installation. Skipped.
After install tried to validate using Product Key from sticker on PC.
Didn't work.
I thought I had done this before and by not entering the key when requested, it worked.
Not in this case.

Suggestions?
(I don't have a Windows 7 recovery disk for the PC)

Hi Super,
This is just a plain old Gateway that was never messed with.
I got it as no boot which is when I found the bad HDD.
I just stuck a new HD in and booted and installed from the USB media creation tool.
I seem to remember that when we did this before, we didn't enter the key when asked and the beast activated itself with the "baked in" key. Guess not in this case.

Run winver and post the results here. Then open command prompt (admin). Run slmgr /dlv
post those results here. We can help determine what is wrong then. Results should look something like:

Here you are.
There's also what I think is the generic key. Found it using the .vbs script. It's not the same as the Sticker Key. Tried activating with it, no good.

Owner just called and said he found the recovery discs made when PC was new. (I try and do that for all customers).

I was able to get the old drive where I could get the Desktop, Docs, Pics, etc. off so I'd like to find out why I couldn't do this clean upgrade.
I've done some others where I take a new HD, used the 10 iso, and had it activate. Wonder where I went wrong here????

Pete

You should be using the Windows 7 product key on the sticker. It needs to be a product key for a Windows 7 version that would upgrade to Windows 10 Home. You should be going to the activation tab from Updates and Security under settings and using the change product key function there.

From my first post:
After install tried to validate using Product Key from sticker on PC.
Didn't work.

I don't know where else you would go to validate other than "Updates and Security-Change product key."
Did all that.
I guess that's why I'm asking for help.
Should have said I've been an "Insider" since Oct-2014. I've done many of these and this is the first one where I can't activate.

What version of Windows 7 does the sticker say it is good for?

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