Windows 10: Activating Windows 10 with Windows 7 "Upgrade" Key

Hey guys I'm kinda stuck here. Our company has a Windows 7 "Upgrade" key that we use on all of our machines and we're trying to find a way to fresh install Windows 10 using that key but it's giving us an invalid response. If we upgrade the machine from the current Windows 7 installed it works fine but clean is a no-go. Anyone have any experience with this kind of thing?

:)

 

Mr Manuel E. Gurule

No key is provided with Windows 10 upgrade. The upgrade will use the key from Windows 7 provided Win 7 is up to date.

 

Windows 10 Change Product key (use win 7 key)

So you're saying that if I want to re-install Windows 10, which I upgraded from Windows 8.1, I need to reinstall Windows 8.1 first, then upgrade to Windows 10?

Can't Microsoft just give upgraders a Windows 10 product key?

 

My guess would be, that it has something to do with the volume license key. I know that you can do a clean install on windows 7/8.1 to 10 with an OEM key.

 

Hi jimmysmalls and welcome to Tenforums.
A validly activated W7 install is eligible for an upgrade to W10. Once upgraded and activated, W10 can be clean installed as often as you like/need. Of course, that sounds like a two-step process for you. *Sad How many computers are you looking at?

 

I think your problem is that you are using an older build ISO. Download the ISO from MS now if you haven't done. I think it's the 1511 build.

 

Probably around 100-150 systems so I was just hoping to make it a little easier. The build I'm using is actually 1511, I thought that was it at first too. Each machine has a Window 7 key on the side that does activate the machine but we were hoping to use our volume license.

 

We have a method here, put together by one of our members, using SysPrep. He has streamlined the method for home users, using tools available to end users, and not large companies. Your 100-150 systems may be a bit much for this procedure, but, based on what you're saying you'd like to do, it may work for you. Please read the tutorial thoroughly, and maybe the last 3 or 4 pages of comments, then post on that thread if you need any help. The member who wrote it, @Kari, will be happy to answer you, once you've digested it all.

Windows 10 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep - Windows 10 Forums

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Thanks for the link, that tutorial is pretty much what we'd like to do. I gave it a shot today and it just refuses to take that upgrade key for some reason. I appreciate the help though.

 

I spoke with @Kari and he said that a volume license could be worked into the answer file very easily. But, it sounds like you have an issue with the key itself, and maybe you need to resolve that before you can go further? I would suggest contacting MS support to find out what the problem is.
Microsoft Volume Licensing - How Volume Licensing Works

 

The thing is we can activate any Windows 7 machine with the "upgrade" key just not Windows 10 unless of course we install Windows 7 and then upgrade to 10. Thanks again!

 

If the key is blocked from automatic online activation from Microsoft, then Windows 10 will not activate based upon that Windows 7 product key alone. Windows 10 can only be activated from it if it gets the genuineticket.xml file from the Windows 7 installation. I have a family pack Windows 7 retail product key good for 3 installations at one time. It is blocked from automatic online activation and must be phone activated. Windows 10 will not activate with that key alone - I have to install Windows 7 first, activate it over the phone, save the genuineticket.xml file, then install Windows 10 and activate it with the .xml file.

 

I have the same experience. When first time clean installation, it need Windows 7 activation key and have digital entitlement.
My question is I need input again when I do second times clean installation?

Thank you.

 

No. It will retrieve the digital entitlement from the hardware ID alone, without a product key.

 

Many thanks.