Windows 10: Can I activate after clean install when using W10 upgrade ISO?

I am in the process of updating my desktop to W10 from W7. I have installed W10, but it will not activate.

Here are the steps I have taken.

I downloaded the W10 ISO using the Media Creation Tool after entering my W7 license key. I did this about a year ago after seeing the CNET article. I burned the ISO to a DVD. It is version 1909.
I added new drives to my system for new installs. My old W7 drive is currently disconnected.
I did a clean install of W7, then a clean install of W10 in separate partitions, using a local account only. I have not activated either install.

From what I am reading, I should have a digital license, but Windows says it can not find one. I just went through a dialog where I entered my MS One Drive account logon info, and it said there is no digital license. I can't recall using this MS account when downloading the W10 ISO, I don't normally use it. It sounds the the digital license would normally be stored on a Microsoft server associated to my MS account.

I know that some hidden folders were created on my old W7 partition when I did the ISO download. Would they contain the digital license?
If I had installed W10 with my MS account, would that have made a difference.

Before submitting this post (I am posting from a Mac), I went back to my desktop to check a few things.
- I woke up my W10, and it wanted me to log on to my MS account and forced me to create a PIN. I hate it when they do that. I was able to switch back to my local account.
- I activated my new W7 install. (I just realized that might cause me grief if I now need to go back to my old W7 on my old drive)
- I rebooted back to W10, and retried the activation, this time noting the error code. It is 0xC004F213.
- I went back to W7, and tried the Media Creation Tool to download. I notice this time it does NOT have an option to upgrade using a W7 product key.

Should I have a valid license key somewhere, and how can I find it?
Any insights are appreciated.
Thanks.

:)

 

Windows 10 not activated after upgrade + clean install

This is what happened:

• Upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
• Windows 10 activated but my Internet doesn't work - problem with Ethernet Adapter driver.
• Rolled back to Windows 7.
• Decided to do a clean install of Windows 10, but Media Creating Tool didn't work.
• Downloaded Windows 10 ISO image from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/techbench
• Free upgrade again to Windows 10, activated and still no Internet.
• Proceeed to do a clean install using the W10 ISO file from TechBench.
• Clean install complete, but Windows 10 is NOT activated - Error code: 0xC004C003.

Please help!

 

Clean Install Workaround for Vista

You may remember this news story on techPowerUp! a couple of days ago relating to the lack of clean installs when using the Upgrade Editions of Vista, which required an old OS to be installed. However, Paul Thurrott has managed to find a workaround for this issue, which ironically lets users do a clean install Vista without any previous version of Windows, albeit a little tedious. Here are the steps:

• Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD as normal
• When prompted for a product code, leave this blank
• Select the version of Vista you have purchased and let Vista install
• When you boot to your desktop for the first time, run the Vista setup from Windows
• This time enter your product key
• When asked whether you want to do an Upgrade of Custom install, select custom and choose a clean install
• Windows will now install for a second time and you should be able to activate it

Remember, these steps are only advised for use in order to achieve a clean install of Vista, it is only legal to use the upgrade editions if you have previously purchased the appropriate version of Windows.

Source: DailyTech

 

No More Clean-Installs for Vista Upgrades

When users were upgrading to Windows XP, the procedure was that users could simply insert their old Windows 98 or Windows 2000 CD at the appropriate time during a clean install without the need for the old OS to be installed at the time. However, Microsoft has decided to change this for Vista, and now requires a fully installed and activated version of your old OS already on the machine. This comes as an attempt to prevent illegal use of upgrade CDs, but could be inconvenient and time consuming when the time comes to reinstall. The new procedure for a reinstall is as follows:

• Install your old copy of Windows XP
• Activate it either online or over the phone
• Install Vista

Source: DailyTech