Another Activation Problem

CTPhil said:

It says to enter another key or go to the Store.

That PC has internet access right?

You used the latest ISO from here, right? https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...load/windows10

Earlier versions of Windows 10 would not use Windows 8/8.1 keys. If you have an older version of the MCT saved, delete it and download the latest version from the link I posted. You need the latest tool to get the latest ISO. If you were prompted to enter a key during the install, and had to do a skip, that's a tip of that you have an old out of date ISO.

CTPhil said:

I am connected, yes. No I didn't use the .iso in the link, I created a Win 10 flash drive mid February using the Media Creation Tool, too old?

Yes, it could be the early build that doesn't use windows 8 keys on a clean install. Re download the (newest) tool, then use it to get the latest ISO, or create a new install thumb drive. Then do a clean install on that PC that has the Windows 8 OEM embedded key. Also check your other PC's with showkey. If any of the others have an OEM key, use that same newly created thumb drive on them. Installing from a thumb drive is a lot faster than doing it from a DVD. Even if you don't count the time taken to burn the DVD.

At some point, forget exactly when now, Microsoft redid the Windows 10 install media so you didn't have to actually upgrade first, to get your digital entitlement. They let you clean install and activate with a Windows 7 or 8/8.1 key. Originally, you had to do an upgrade to get a digital entitlement. Then after that, if you wanted you could clean install. I think when they saw a lot of failed upgrades they rethought it.

No problem, glad to help. Weird that one has an OEM Embedded key and the other one doesn't though?

More luck (or OEM lazyness) than anything else, bud.

A Win 8 to Win7 downgraded PC should not have any traces of Win 8 TBH, having said that, such a PC should have a COA key... so six of one is half-a-dozen of another...