Windows 10: My windows activation key isn't working

I'm booting windows 10 pro onto a new pc. The license key I have is from someone else I know who bought it a while ago and used it on his laptop. The activation key works for 5 uses.


I installed windows off a usb and put in the license key, and it worked until I tried to change my wallpaper and it told me that I hadn't activated windows. I put the key in again and it still didnt work ive also tried a couple of the universal keys and they don't work either.


I kinda just ignored it and went off to do something else on my pc, but now I've just come back after a few hours and my desktop now has that watermark you get telling you to activate windows which wasn't there before.


I've also downloaded an app to check the license key and it says it's perfectly fine, and it should work.




Does anyone know what's up with this? Cause I really don't want to spend £200 on a new lisence key.

:)

 

activate windows 7 oem key

You cannot activate a retail version of Windows with an OEM key.
The retail version should have it's own activation key.
If you just borrowed the Win DVD from someone who is using the key, that won't work with your OEM (OA) key.

pwned by newtekie. lol My bad.
It does work in Vista and 7, just not in XP.

Have you looked on the ASUS website to see if you can re-download the driver/diag disk, or at least everything you need to make one?

 

Windows 8.1 pro + WMC key activation

This worked for me last time with a Win 8 key.

Install Windows 8.1 and enter KMS key during setup. Once in windows change product key to my Windows 8 key. Go to add features and enter my WMC add-on key. Drink a beer to a job well done.

 

activate windows 7 oem key

There is no difference between the OEM disc and the Retail disc with Windows 7. A retail disc will accept a OEM or Retail key, and vise versa.

If the OEM Key wasn't going to work with the disc you have, it would have stopped you during the install when it first asked you for the key, not during activation.

What is likely the problem is that, since the OEM version has already been activated once, it is failing activation again. Activate it over the phone using the option given to you on the failed activation screen, and you shouldn't have a problem activating it.