Windows 10: Clean install fails activation

I have a HP desktop with W-7 that the HD is failing. (Almost failed)
I can't do a clone or a system image.

I installed a new HD and booted from my latest USB Upgrade from the Windows Media Creation tool.
I skipped the activation as it installed.
Now when I use the original product key, it fails to activate.
What am I doing wrong?*Sad

Pete

:)

 

Windows 10 Pro activation failure

Firstly I wiped off Windows 7 then made a clean install with the DVD. It failed to activate. Then I use ISO build of 16299 that I downloaded from Microsoft to make another clean build, it also failed the activation with same reason, invalid product code.
I have tried it with hard disk or SSD. They all failed the activation.

 

Why I wasn't activated ?

That's very good of them but again my system was activated with windows 10 and I even did a clean installation of 10, again it got activated . But now I once again did a clean installation with version 1511 and I wasn't activated . Their server failed
. Make me wonder how it will play out in the future, like 2 years from now once the free upgrade is over will we be facing activation problems since it has already failed now ?

 

What version did you get with the free upgrade, Home or Pro? And what version are you installing now? They have to match. If your previous install was activated it should have had a digital entitlement. On a clean install on a PC with a digital entitlement, when asked for a key, you just click skip. If you installed the same version you got via the free upgrade it should activate without issue.

 

He never got Windows 10 installed on the old computer. Hard drive failed first. A version mismatch is the most likely cause for Windows 10 not accepting the Windows 7 product key.

If you run showkeyplus from this forum, and "check product key", you can type in the Windows 7 product key and see what version it is for:
Solved Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

Home, Pro, Single Language, and N are all different, and there is some disagreement about whether the base language makes a difference or not.

 

Ah, yes, missed that. As you say, likely installed the wrong version.

 

(Using problem PC)
PC had Windows 7 Home 64
I used the Media created "Windows 10 Home 64"
This PC now has Windows 10 Home 64

Ran the "Show Key" and got the following: (I'll X out the last 5)
--------------------------------------------------------
Windows Product Key Information

Product Name: Windows 10 Home

Product ID: 00326-10000-00000-AA190

Installed Key: YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-XXXXX

OEM Key: Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's a different key than the one on the Windows 7 sticker on the side of the tower.

Tried this key and that also failed.
Pete

 

YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7 is the generic 10 Home key. Did you install build 10585? Running winver will confirm this. 10586 will accept Windows 7 keys for activation, 10240 won't. showkey will not show you the windows 7 key if Windows 7 is not installed. With showkey running you should see a check product key option. If you click that and enter your key it will tell you what version it is for.

 

You're right.
10240 is installed.
I thought I had downloaded the 10586 but, obviously, I was wrong.
Let me get an iso for 10586, install it, and get back to you.
Hopefully, with thanks.

 

Microsoft did the old switcheroo with the MCT for a couple of days there, then switched it back. You may have just downloaded on the wrong day. 10586 should get you all fixed up.

 

Thanks, alpha
That sure worked.
Just for future reference, I had to restart once until I got the product key right.
I entered the W-7 key from the COA sticker on the PC.
I also entered it at the first request and it sailed through. That's a change. No skipping.
Also, when I went to download from the MC, it gave me only 2 choices, Windows 10 or Windows 10N.
However, as you go through the install, you select either Windows 10 or Windows 10 Pro.

If I kept up with my Windows Insider blogs, I would have seen the posting of them pulling the 1511 back for a short period of time.

Thanks again to both of you for the help.

Pete*Biggrin