Windows 10: Failed update left my OS deactivated, cannot activate using the same key

So I had a failed update after I left my laptop running during the "after hours" totally forgot this still exists to do some other work, the OS chose to update itself and my laptop died while in the middle of the update. Since then, I have tried activating my OS with the product key I got from the retailer I bought the laptop from pre-installed with Windows 10 home SL. I even went though one of the verified solutions posted in the community using the wmic command to find the product key and it matched with what I was told. The activation window tells me that the digital license key provide

:)

 

Important W10 activation key questions left unanswered by Microsoft

Upgrade. Upgrade. It's not a full OS, it's a free upgrade to an existing OS.

If it is already activated, you can download the "240" build and update from there. That is the key part...it has to be activated and listed in your Microsoft Account in order to be upgraded from preview to release. No new activations have been possible for a few now.

 

Important W10 activation key questions left unanswered by Microsoft

Not only that, you can check your M$ account and see what devices are listed there, so you know if you can do a clean install or not. Do the upgrade, get it activated, verify that it is listed in your account, then feel free to do a fresh install without activation issues ever.

 

Windows 10 fails to update


When you finish testing the Avast suggestion, make sure that you restart your machine.

Then if the issue persists, please return to the trouble shooting list in post# 89

I think there are three steps that remain; the WU troubleshooter, reset WU components, and manual WU reset.