Windows 10: Activate Windows 10

Hello Almondman,

Only if you had originally upgraded to the Insider Preview from an activated Windows 7/8.1, and not clean installed since then.

Otherwise, you'll need to install and activate Windows 7/.8.1, and then upgrade to Windows 10.

 

Hello Patrick,

Does it show as activated in Settings -> Update & security -> Activation?

You won't be able to activate Windows 10 with a Windows 8.1 key though.

 

I was messing with this for 5 hours last night. I figured out that you need a windows 7 sp1 that is up to date on updates or Windows 8.1 that is up to date with ALL updates except .net Frame work updates. You also need to have the update installed for the windows 10 notification and reserve your copy of windows 10. Also the windows 7 and windows 8.1 would have to be activated. Then start the windows 10 setup from a bootable USB flash drive or DVD-R with windows 10 while your on your up to date windows 7 and 8.1.

If you are reverting back to a non up to date windows 7 and 8.1 and ran the Windows 10 installer on it the Windows 10 installer will use a generic key that is blocked from getting your free copy of windows 10.

When you reserve your copy of windows 10 the notification program injects a unique key during windows 10 installation which will automatically activate.

To tell if you botched the upgrade with the generic key is that the last 5 digits of the key would be either H8Q99 for home edition of 10, 3V66T for Pro edition, Windows 10 home single language YTDFH and last Windows 10 enterprise 2YT43. You will find this in the settings of windows 10 under activation option.

 

So I must buy the Windows 10 Key, Correct??

 

Nope. You would just need to install and activate your Windows 7 or 8.1, then upgrade to the free Windows 10 from within the activated Windows 7/8.1.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html

 

Like Brink says. Install your windows 7 sp1 or 8.1 you had. Update the windows 7 and 8.1 with all updates first. The windows 7 and 8.1 will have to be activated too for this to work. Usually not an issue on Prebuilt OEM computers. You do not need the .net frame work updates just everything else. Make sure you got the windows 10 notification update installed. You will know when you got it there will be an Icon near your clock to reserve the upgrade to 10. Make sure you reserve a copy of windows 10 before you begin. Then run the windows 10 setup from an ISO that was copied to a DVD-R or USB stick using rufus 2.2 or some other USB creation tool instead of waiting for the notification tool to download the windows 10 for you. I recommend you use the keep files and settings option so you can return to the previous windows version.

You can get the ISO/DVD image file here.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9...-download.html

 

Thanks for your patient Mentoring here. When I was in 7 forums you were there. Than I ordered several copies of Win 8 when You could get them for $100. I sort of skipped 8 forums and here I am again. I am using a portable DVD to downgrade to windows 8. I will do what it takes, thanks for the help. I will keep you posted. Thank You, Thank You - Nice!

 

You're most welcome Patrick. I look forward to hearing how it went. *Smile

 

I installed windows 10 pro from the iso file from microsoft. Everything is ok but i wanna personalize my windows. It asked me for activation key. I tried W a lot of keys and nothing... Only 1 worked: NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43 and then my Win10 pro became Win10 Enterprise. It says my current key is this but when i click the button ,,activate" i got this error: 0xC004F074: The Key Management Server (KMS) is unavailable" I tried ALL the cmd fixes and things and stuff and i am going to give up. I don't know how to remove this error. Please guys tell me what to do, please. As i read comments above, a man/girl said that he or she also had problems but magically it worked on the next morning and windows got activated. Please tell me all that you know. Thanks!

 

Hello iTeddy, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Did you do an upgrade install to the free Windows 10 from within an activated Windows 7/8.1?

If not, then that is why your Windows 10 is not activated.

 

My windows 7 ultimate was genuine activated. It was activated.

 

Another couple of questions for Brink.
I have a 8.1 installation on a hyper-v virtual machine that has the get windows 10 app. So, after I do the upgrade to an activated windows 10, I will be able to do a clean install and in would be activated?
And then would I be able to do an activated clean install on my main machine in a dual boot install? I would think that if I called MS and told them there was a hardware change it would work. What do you think?

 

Almondman,

You would be able to do a clean install in the same VM and still be activated, but not on the host (main machine). These are treated like two separate computers.

 

But calling MS to activate because of a hardware change wouldn't work for the host machine, is that your opinion?
Also, thanks for all you do.

 

I wouldn't think so, not to mention that you would eventually get both invalidated if you ran both at the same time.