Windows 10: Can't activate Windows 10 can't go back to Win 7

I have a HP Mini 110 (with no CD Drive) which came with Windows 7 starter installed and a product key sticker in the back.

After successfully installing windows 10 on another HP Windows 7 laptop and being pleased with it I went to the Microsoft windows 10 media creation tool web page and copied the 32 bit installer onto a flash drive.

Nowhere on the Microsoft page did it say this would only create a fresh install or that my Windows 7 product code would not work for the upgrade.

My HP Mini 110 installed Windows 10 but did not transfer any of my applications.

The installed code asked for my product code and I entered the one from the sticker on the back of the HP Mini and was told it was not a valid code and got the error message code 0xc004f050

I tried to go back to Windows 7

But "Go back to Windows 7" is not in the Recover page of Settings

The directory windows.old is present but I do not know how to restore from it

I do not know how to get back to a Windows 7 install, even if I lost my applications installed, which I rather not do.

In fact I just spent several days at this and reinstalled a complex radio pan adaptor application and I really do not want to do that again and would like to keep my Windows 10 install.

I called Microsoft support and was told to either but a copy of Windows 10 to get a license key (which doesn't seem fair) or reinstall Windows 7 which I do not seem to be able to do at this point.

I believe I used due diligence and followed all instructions presented to me and had no warning I would wind up in my present predicament.

I believe and hope in all fairness Microsoft will help me activate Windows 10 and please issue me a valid product code.

How do I get Microsoft to fix this.
Or how do I reinstall Win 7 with the recovery image if it is still on the hard drive?

Tim Hickman

:)

 

Win 10 Pro deactivated

We can't activated Windows on this device as we can't connect to your organization's activation server. Make sure you're connected to your oganization's network and try again. If you continue haven't problems with activation, contact your organization's
support person. Error code: 0xC004F074.

I didn't get my pc through an organization. it was an upgrade from Win 7. I have no product key as it was a digital upgrade. I'm running in circles and can't get through to microsoft support. I now have a permanent watermark on my screen saying to activate
windows.

I have no product key!! But I have one for Win 7. So tempted to go back to Win 7..

 

Trying to reset PC, after reset Audio device not recognized.

I upgraded from windows 7 but I already installed windows 10 so I can't go back to win 7

 

Just how to you see or not see that the apps are not included after you log onto 10?

 

Try contacting HP to see if you can get a Windows 7 restore disk from them.

 

Everything is there but only in the windows.old directory. It is 42GB in size. I thought of reinstalling from it but there is no go back to Windows 7 in setup; but I can not find a way to do it.

I used the Microsoft recover personal files troubleshooter (written for Win 8) to get my personal files loaded but not my application programs which I have started to reinstall.

 

The HP Mini had no CDROM drive and does not support one.
They use to sell a recovery thumb drive but it is no longer availble.

 

I would imagine you have a recovery partition that can be accessed at boot up. See your manufacturers website for instructions to access it. Or you can use the tutorial/methods listed below to reinstall 7.

USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

The tutorial also includes info on making a bootable USB Drive.

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...de-windows-old

Click on the

• Run the recover personal files troubleshooter.
  
  Then run this download as an admin.
  This should get you back to where you were.
  
  There's also a manual way to do this, but try this first.