Windows 10: Activation Key no good

Gateway Desktop that developed bad sectors on the hard drive. Would not boot and I couldn't clear even after removing and slaving drive.
Tried a clone with Acronis True Image but wouldn't work.

Using media creation tool, created a USB install.
Install went OK. Did not enter key when on installation. Skipped.
After install tried to validate using Product Key from sticker on PC.
Didn't work.
I thought I had done this before and by not entering the key when requested, it worked.
Not in this case.

Suggestions?
(I don't have a Windows 7 recovery disk for the PC)

:)

 

Windows 10 activation key no good!

Hello,

General guide for Activation error in Windows:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/10738/...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/12440/...

To better diagnose the issue,

Right click Start>Command Prompt-Admin and type in the following command:

slmgr.vbs /dlv

If you have Powershell instead of Command Prompt Run these in order:

cmd.exe

slmgr.vbs /dlv

You will get a window, take a screenshot using snipping tool and paste it it next reply.

How to get a screenshot and post back:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wik...

 

Windows 10 activation key no good!

It is Windows 10 Home OEM

Thank you

 

If you previously used the COA key, it will have lost it's online activation. Meaning a Win 7 install, install COA key, phone activation, grab genuine ticket and install Win 10 clean, or upgrade from there.

Having said that, digital entitlement should not be affected by a HDD change... maybe COA activation count is less than we thought?

 

Hi Super,
This is just a plain old Gateway that was never messed with.
I got it as no boot which is when I found the bad HDD.
I just stuck a new HD in and booted and installed from the USB media creation tool.
I seem to remember that when we did this before, we didn't enter the key when asked and the beast activated itself with the "baked in" key. Guess not in this case.

 

Run winver and post the results here. Then open command prompt (admin). Run slmgr /dlv
post those results here. We can help determine what is wrong then. Results should look something like:

 

Here you are.
There's also what I think is the generic key. Found it using the .vbs script. It's not the same as the Sticker Key. Tried activating with it, no good.

 

Owner just called and said he found the recovery discs made when PC was new. (I try and do that for all customers).

I was able to get the old drive where I could get the Desktop, Docs, Pics, etc. off so I'd like to find out why I couldn't do this clean upgrade.
I've done some others where I take a new HD, used the 10 iso, and had it activate. Wonder where I went wrong here????

Pete

 

You should be using the Windows 7 product key on the sticker. It needs to be a product key for a Windows 7 version that would upgrade to Windows 10 Home. You should be going to the activation tab from Updates and Security under settings and using the change product key function there.

 

From my first post:
After install tried to validate using Product Key from sticker on PC.
Didn't work.

I don't know where else you would go to validate other than "Updates and Security-Change product key."
Did all that.
I guess that's why I'm asking for help.
Should have said I've been an "Insider" since Oct-2014. I've done many of these and this is the first one where I can't activate.

 

What version of Windows 7 does the sticker say it is good for?

 

To Clean install wo upgrading, you need GenuineTicket.xml generated on an activated qualifying system.
But you had a raw HDD.
You could try the old HDD and generate the xml file, then put that on the install media
replace the old HDD with the new HDD and follow
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

or

You could Activate Windows 10 by phone

Navy might have a method I'm not aware - he often does (or reminds me of one I've forgotten) *Wink

 

Hi Bart and LCDR,
Take a look at this that LCDR and alpha were involved and tell me what's different.

https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...ctivation.html

 

Without knowing what error is received when the product key is attempted to be changed, it's hard to troubleshoot further. More than likely, though, Windows 7 will have to be installed temporarily and activated with the product key from the sticker. The sticker should activate just regular Windows 7, it doesn't have to be the manufacturer's recovery disks. Then grab the genuineticket.xml file to activate the Windows 10.

 

As I remarked earlier, owner found recovery discs and I reinstalled Windows 7 on the new drive.
It installed activated as is normal for recovery, either from discs or HDD recovery.
I then just upgraded to 10 with no problem.
This is normal.
I'm still curious as to why I couldn't do the clean install as I've done many times without a problem activating.
Oh well.
Thanks for all the help.
And we didn't need Brink.*chuckle
Pete