On both my main machines I was running Windows 8.1 and I then removed that and installed the Windows 10 insider program.I kept installing new builds until RTM came along. Once Windows 10 was released I unenrolled from the program and both machines were still activated.
I performed a clean Windows 10 install on one machine and now it is asking for Windows 10 to be activated and I don't have a key - am I basically screwed?
This method will give IMO the best way of updating your system to W10 via an "Almost" clean install.
1) Re-install CLEAN your old legacy OS -- at boot delete all the Windows partitions so there's NOTHING on the HDD (or Windows "C" partition.
2) Ignore / skip the prompt for Windows 10 is available.
3) let the install finish together with any updates the system finds during the install. DO NOT INSTALL ANYTHING ELSE at this stage.
4) VERY IMPORTANT -- ACTIVATE WINDOWS via entering your product key (of the OLD OS). You might need to use control panel and enter Change product key if you are using say your old MSDN / TechNet keys.
5) now go into Windows update via control panel and you'll be offered the Windows 10 upgrade
you are now done and activated -- it's as good as a CLEAN install -- plus you'll have the odd driver working that W10 might not find.
If you want REALLY to do a clean install later then there are many ways via ISO etc to do it -- but your OLD OS must be activated first before any W10 upgrade if you want to have an activated product.
A friend's Asus 8.1 laptop was stuck in an automatic repair loop so I suggested that he upgrade to Windows 10.
Because he was unable to access his system, I opted for a clean install and I created a bootable Win 10 usb on another pc. I used this usb to insall Win 10 on his machine, skipping any requests to activate.
I was under the impression that Win 10 would automatically activate on installation. I'm not sure he ever signed up for the free upgrade offer before Win 8 on his machine decided to implode.
I have a HP desktop with W-7 that the HD is failing. (Almost failed)
I can't do a clone or a system image.
I installed a new HD and booted from my latest USB Upgrade from the Windows Media Creation tool.
I skipped the activation as it installed.
Now when I use the original product key, it fails to activate.
I took part in the free upgrade offer from 7 and used the media creation tool to upgrade (probably should have waited for the upgrade notification but meh), It worked my windows 10 is activated but, I noticed that it wasn't a clean install and I'm not too fond of that so is it possible for me to do a clean install and be able to activate it still?
View 4 RepliesMy upgrade to Win 10 all appears to be OK, and at onetime it even said that is was ACTIVATED, but later after I went to settings, it reverted back to saying not activated,,, and one of the other places it still says it is activated, but itne systems it say the it is not actived now.
So, my question is: Do you think if I did a "Clean install" that maybe I would be able to get it activated ?
I have been an Insider since the very first Insider build was released. I had installed each and every build first being on the Slow ring and the on the Fast. I had upgraded from a genuine Windows 8.1 Pro.
When the final RTM build TH1 Professional 10240 was released to Insiders ahead of schedule, I readily installed it and my machine was permanently activated at that time. The product key used was a generic one ending in 3V66T. Many of you may be knowing this.
Today, in fact just now, I formatted my system partition and installed a clean copy of Windows 10 Pro from USB which I had created using the Microsoft Creation Tool. When the setup asked me for a product key, I entered the same generic key as stated above. But now when I go to the Settings, it says the key doesn't work and hence, my machine cannot be activated. I signed-in using my Microsoft account before using the PC.
What the heck! I am an Insider. And didn't expect this to happen. What should I do next? Would the machine get activated itself after some time?
I upgraded from 8.1 (genuine Sony Vaio ) using the media creation upgrade option, it installed and activated to windows 10 pro.
I then used the same media creation tool to download the iso and used Rufus to put it onto a usb so that I could do a clean install.
I installed it and skipped the parts prompting for a product key, however once it loads up when I try to activate it states 0xC004C003 details section says the key has been blocked?
Have I missed something?
If I understood this : clearly, then does it mean that Windows will activate itself from some Windows activation servers that are somehow written into my hardware even if I do a clean install deleting everything in my Windows partition?
Also, since the built-in "Create a Recovery Drive" will take forever or display an error when ''Backup system files to the recovery drive' is checked", I'm trying to create an Installation media. But I'm stuck with which ISO I should download. Now, there's Windows 10, Windows 10 Single Language, Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Home N. I'm running Windows 10 Home at the moment. Which was upgraded from Windows 8.1(I think there was ''Single Language'' written after "8.1", not sure though). Which Version should I download. And if I install the wrong version by chance, will Windows still activate after I find out and install the right version? Please clarify these.... I'm really looking forward to do a clean-install to get rid of all the errors and bugs with drivers and just start over.
*DETAILS: Windows 10 Home Build 10240 [Upgraded via free upgrade, had an OEM version of Windows 8.1 when first bought]
I can not activate my windows 10,I have done all with the genuine file but it won't activate anyway,could it be that I not upgrade it to w 10?,I did a Clean install directly!
View 5 RepliesSince the Win10 Upgrade fails on my HP DV6 notebook, I decided to do a clean install.
But now, it won't take the Win7 product key for activation!!
I called MS and they told me that a clean-install will NOT activate using Win7 product keys and that I have to purchase a product key.
I got this same story from two different MS reps.
I thought you COULD activate a clean-install using Win7 key using build 10586.
I did a clean install of Windows 10 Pro x64 using the method that everyone knows about by now that was written up on various sites today i.e.:
Ran the Media Creation Tool and upgraded my copy of Window 8.1 Professional with Windows 10 Professional. Looked in Control Panel --> System and it said my copy of Windows was activated. Then I ran the Media Creation Tool again and downloaded the ISO. Burned ISO to DVD. Restarted computer, booted into Windows installer on DVD, customized the install by formatting drive, did a fresh install of Windows 10.
Now when I go into Control Panel --> System it says "Windows not activated". When I click on the Activate Windows icon and click the error details link I get the error code: 0xC004C003.
I should note that the Windows 8 OS came pre-installed on my laptop which I bought brand new. I don't think that matters?
While re-installing Windows 10 on my Samsung ativ book 9 (15" core i7), I had two partitions (256 gb ssd) half capacity each one, one holds the os, and the other my data.
when selecting the partition where to install windows 10, it tolds me that I cannot so i googled it, i figured out that i have to clean the partition and then convert it to gpt using diskpart.
so i did but instead of cleaning the system partition it deleted all the disk data in a second.
I have now one unallocated partition (256 gb), i created 3 partition afterwars, 500mb efi, primary for os, and third for my data. windows 10 installated successfully, but my data all gone.
I tried every single data recovery app, but all of them just recover some folders that doesn't have any value like desktop.ini. (by the way, i tried in the days after this data earthquake not to have new data to avoid overwriting the old precious data).
I don't know if the right place, but I'll share my problem. Last days I resized my C: drive in order to put Linux on my free space and dual boot. Since then my windows lost his activation, gave me eroor code 0xC004F012 and don't want to shut down - just log off.
View 2 RepliesMy PC is the HP ENVY TouchSmart M7-J120DX with Beats Audio quad speakers and two subwoofers. After running a clean installation of Windows 10, my volume icon had an error "no audio device output" / IDT High Definition Audio Codec. The troubleshooting option did nothing. I uninstalled my audio device, and restarted my pc. My sound is back, but it seems that the middle speakers are the only ones working. My volume icon and sound device now is labeled "High Definition Audio Device" which now sounds substandard, just like those cheap tinny speakers you can find at the dollar store. How to recover my original great-sounding original speakers!
View 4 RepliesI have a new rig and made a clean install with Win 8.1 Pro.
After that I directly upgraded to Win 10 Pro within running system.
Are there any advantages to do now a clean Windows 10 installation?
I got the update to windows 10, but I want to do a clean installation. How can I create an ISO file and If I install it will it remain activated?
View 1 RepliesI created the installation file for windows 10 via the microsoft website...
I have an unused Win 8.1 Pro Product Key... Can I activate my Windows 10 with it?
I have Windows 7 Pro on a Dell 5420 laptop. I've tried the upgrade multiple times and it always gets to 84% and then the screen goes black/blank. It sits there for upwards of a couple hours. After that it reboots and says Restoring previous version of Windows and I end up back at Windows 7.
I don't know if there's any logs somewhere I could check to try to figure out what the problem is.
Do I have any options for upgrading this laptop if the update from 7 to 10 won't work? From what I've read I need to get the in place update to work in order to get a valid Win 10 key so I might be screwed...?
how can I retrieve my lost data and art work. I have tried everything.
View 9 RepliesMy motherboard manufacturer only has a file for the Windows 10 chipset driver but I remember in the past I was supposed to download the chipset software installation utility first if it was the first time doing a chipset driver on a new comp.
View 1 RepliesMy wifi no longer connects since upgrading to Windows 10. I have restarted the router and modem and turned my wifi on my laptop on and off. Did I miss something? How can I get this working again?
View 4 RepliesI lost access to the equalizer after win 7 install. Now I have installed windows 10. Is there a way to get the equalizer back. realtek sound board. It worked great when I had XP installed.
View 1 RepliesHow can I clean install windows 10 on a new SSD, saving the fact that I had original windows (that was purchased built in with the laptop)? Do I need to find the CD key?I have a generic one as I upgraded to windows 10 for free (or are all windows 10 have generic CD keys?).How can I use my Windows licence on a new SSD?
View 1 RepliesWhenever I try to do anything, like install a program, open some files, I get an UAC warning saying: :"To continue, type an administrator password", but there's no textbox where I can type the password and Yes button is disabled. I found a solution on the forum [URL]..., but I can't enter Safe mode whatever I try, I never get an option to enter safe mode and I can't use msconfig cause UAC blocked it. What can I do?
View 1 RepliesMine was with Win 7. This was done few years back throughWin7 upgrade disk. I have this Win 7 upgrade disk and COA for it. (Bought from Amazon).... Can I revert back to Win 7.....
View 3 Replies
