Windows 10: Activation problem

I was part of the Windows insider program and in June I got the Evaluation version of W10 on my W8.1 laptop. Everything went well and just before the release date I got the release copy of W10 without the watermark. Yesterday I saw there was an update to a new build so I installed it. When it finished there was a watermark back with the build number 105?? and also was saying that I had an evaluation build. So I did a clean install using the media creation tool. It just finished and now it tells me that I need to activate Windows 10. How do I do that? I thought the installation was supposed to take care of that! Now what do I do? There is no Product Key sticker on the Lenovo laptop, there never was. Please Help.

Len

:)

 

Can't Activate newly purchased windows 10 home

hi, I used the usb boot tool and installed windows 10S on my laptop. I realized I couldn't download anything not from the app store so I purchased windows 10 home. I was given a product key but it is not accepted in the activation settings. Just trying to
get this laptop operable.

Thanks

 

activation problem

I have created nokia account for my lumia 620, but when i try to download songs using Nokia music, it shows activation problem,plz help

 

I would go back to Windows 8.1 and upgrade that to Windows 10 with Media Creation Tool to establish a good, solid permanent activation on Microsoft activation servers via the retail activation channel.

Also, in regards to your first update to a new build - there have been no new RTM builds since 10240. Any build with 105?? is an insider build for evaluation so it will have a watermark and an expiration date.

 

I can't go back since I updated to W10 3 months ago. I'm not at all certain of the build number since I made no notation of it. Is there some other way to activate my laptop, I was happy with W10 right up untill I updated and my troubles began.

Len

 

Do you have a product key for Windows 8.1 stored in Bios? You can check with Showkey from this forum:
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

If you do, you can download Windows 8/8.1 OEM and clean install it, then do upgrade to Windows 10 RTM with the Media Creation Tool and get a solid permanent activation stored on Microsoft servers for your computer.

Also, make sure that the Windows 10 that you installed with the Media Creation Tool is the same version as Showkey shows your original Windows 8/8.1 was (which you had to have upgraded from to get a Windows 10 Activation), Home, Pro or Single Language.

 

Thanks for your help, I got Show Key and found two Product keys, one was labeled original product key. I copied them both. I am now downloading W8.1, then I assume I'll do all of the updates then the upgrade to W10. I'll keep you posted on the installation, It's good to have someone to help with this project.
Thanks again,
Len

 

You don't have to do any of the updates for Windows 8.1. Once Windows 8.1 is installed and activated, you can immediately use Media Creation Tool to "Upgrade this PC now". That will automatically ensure you get the version of Windows 10 you need for the upgrade. Once the upgrade is done, you can run "slmgr /dlv" from a command prompt and make sure your Windows 10 is activated through the retail activation channel and there should be no mention of an expiration date. Then you can run "slmgr /xpr" from a command prompt and you should get a return that says "This machine is permanently activated".

After that you should be good to go with whatever you want to do with that same version of Windows 10 - such as clean install or insider builds. Once you get the permanently activated with no expiration install of Windows 10, you should never enter a product key for it. Skip or "do this later" for any step that asks for a product key and if it is the same version of Windows 10 (home or pro), it is supposed to get activation from the Microsoft activation servers based on hardware information established during the first activation from a good upgrade.

 

When you used the Media Creation Tool, did you download the same version as on your PC previously?

It has to be completely the same as the one you had installed on it. For me, it's Win10Pro - 64bit - US version. Any other version won't get activated on this PC. Microsoft is very strict about that.

If you downloaded the right version, it should work!

 

I am a little confused on one point, I used ShowKey to find my key for W8.1, are you saying that I don't input the key to activate W8.1?

 

Windows 7/8/8.1 must be activated using the product key that came with the OS before the upgrade to Windows 10.

 

But...it should also be reading the Windows 8/8.1 key stored in Bios and not asking for a manual input.

 

While you post is partially correct, it is irrelevant to the process we are discussing in this thread. This thread is discussing going back to Windows 8/8.1 as a basis for upgrading to Windows 10. Read the post that I was responding to. We were discussing installing Windows 8/8.1, not Windows 10. While installing Windows 8/8.1 it should read the key for Windows 8/8.1 stored in bios.

 

Yep you are correct have deleted my post. Need to know if he has the correct ISO

 

Yes, that is correct. Only the correct ISO with the correct version of Windows 8/8.1 will use the Windows 8 key stored in bios, evidenced by not asking for it to be manually entered.