Windows 10: Did A Clean Install Before Upgrading Now Win 10 Won't Activate

Ever since upgrading I've been running into issues such as not being able to install updates and not being able to customize my desktop. After doing some research, it seems that this is because my copy of Win 10 is not activated.

As the title states, not knowing better, I did a clean install of Win 10 from Win 7 without doing the upgrade first. Because of this my copy of Win 10 is not activated and whenever do I attempt to activate it i get an error saying that it is unable to active at this time. When I click the Get Error Code prompt it bring up a box, there is no error code. FWIW, I have Win 10 installed on two laptops (the first upgraded just fine, though I didn't do I clean install on that one). Also, if I go to my Microsoft account, it shows both laptops under the device screen.

I read elsewhere that Microsoft might be having sever issues and that if I wait the problem will correct itself?

If anybody has any insight into this issue or advice as to what I should do it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

:)

 

Windows 10 Product key?

Windows 10 is an upgrade to a previous qualifying OS. If you did a clean install BEFORE upgrading via windows update you will be forced to either re-install the previous OS, then upgrade to win 10 or purchase a win 10 key.

There are no keys to activate a system that was not validated before doing a clean install.

If you did not clean install you should not be asked for a key to activate.

 

Windows 10 activation through clean install (not upgrade) using Windows 7 key

If you did not upgrade to win 10 and activate before you clean installed you will not be able to activate it. Win 10 must first be done as an upgrade, after which you can clean install

No key will activate the OS if you clean installed first. You will have to reoll back (or re-install) the previous OS then upgrade.

 

You must do an upgrade first - that gets activated - before doing a clean install. You have two options at this point - re-install Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 and let it fully activate, then do an upgrade.

Or purchase a Windows 10 retail license which comes with a unique license key.

Installing Windows 10 using the media creation tool - Windows Help


Click on the "If you choose to create installation media" link at the bottom.

Then click on the "How to perform a clean installation of Windows" link at the bottom.

Also:
Entering a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key during a clean install of Windows 10 WILL NOT WORK.