Windows 10: Updating to 10 using original key from vista to 7.

I am getting ready to upgrade to Win 10 on my Dell Studio 1535 laptop. I have been reviewing the forum to see what issues I may encounter and I have not encountered a solution (that may mean I did not understand) . First, I do have a legal copy (3) of win 7 home premium. I bought an upgrade for 3 PC’s sometime back. I upgraded from vista to 7. Over the course of the last 5 or so years I have had to re-install the 7 OS on both the laptop and desktop. I got to the point that MS says my key is invalid.
I call support and they tell me I can only upgrade from vista. I explain to them that this is a reinstall due to some hardware failure. They login into my machine then give me a 15 quartet key to enter. And alas all is well.

My question is if I enter my original key (7 key) will I get the same problem. Being it is an upgrade to 10 will there be an issue activating ten? I hate to get to end of the install and find out I need to go back to square one or call support to correct the issue and explain all the ramifications.

One thought is if I enter the original they may just say OK. But then I remember “nature sides with the hidden flaw”!*Sad

Thanks for your suggestions.

John

:)

 

Activating windows 10.

You need the actual Windows 7 product key to activate Windows 10. You said originally for Windows Vista, is the key for Vista or do you mean its the original Windows 7 upgrade key from Vista?

If its the Windows 7 key, try contacting support:

Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support

Otherwise, you need to purchase a new license:

Buy Windows 10 Home/Pro

 

Need Windows 10 activation key

Did you legally upgrade the laptop from Windows Vista to Windows 7?

If you did and the Windows 7 license was activated, then the product key should be present when you performed the upgrade to Windows 10.

You can use Show Key Plus to find the original Windows 7 key:

How to Find Your Product Key After Upgrading to Windows 10

 

quote :
Over the course of the last 5 or so years I have had to re-install the 7 OS on both the laptop and desktop. I got to the point that MS says my key is invalid.
I call support and they tell me I can only upgrade from vista. I explain to them that this is a reinstall due to some hardware failure. They login into my machine then give me a 15 quartet key to enter. And alas all is well.
.................................................................................................... ...........................................................................
In that case, you can do In-place Upgrade to Windows 10 and you do NOT need to enter the product key. Activation will be automatic.


Use one of the 2 links below to download the iso file.............

Media Creation Tool (MCT)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

Tech Bench
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softw...load/techbench

Using MCT as example................
Download the Tool and run it.
Then select Create installation media for another PC
That will begin downloading the ISO file to your computer.
When download is completed, RIGHT click at the ISO > click Mount > click Setup.exe.
That will begin installing Windows 10.
You have the choice of keeping settings, files and apps, or keeping nothing.
No product key is required.
Activation will be automatic.

 

Does it have an activated copy of Windows 7 running at the moment? If so you should be able to upgrade it to Windows 10, and you shouldn't need to enter a Product Key.

Have a look here
Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums

I would always take a full backup image (I use Macrium Reflect Free) before attempting an upgrade, to give me something to roll back to, and in your case it's particularly relevant as I suspect restoring a backup would activate more easily than trying to install Win7 again.

Edit: Beaten to it!

 

To be on the safe side you can save the genuineticket.xml file from your activated Windows 7 like this:
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 Forums

I know that method works because I have used it and my Windows 7 Product Key is also the family 3 pack upgrade and my product key is also blocked from online automatic activation.

 

I figured out the question I had asked below. It is amazing how much a little reading can do for the learning process*Smile

I want to thank all for your help. I may start the upgrade this afternoon or tomorrow morning and I will log my results.
One last question (you don't believe that) What is the difference between downloading the ISO file from the 2 links in DavidY's post and
starting the upgrade from the windows update in the control panel? Just a curiosity!

Thanks again John

 

You mean from post.
I was the one who posted 2 links for iso download.

There is no difference between upgrading from the iso file and upgrading from Windows Update. You'll still get the same version and apps.

A simplified answer will be :
Some users want to upgrade by doing Clean Install, in which case, they will need the ISO file.
Others do the upgrade install by Windows Update for ease and convenience.

 

I just figured that out. Just a little slow today! Sorry about the name error, my fingers are slower than my eyes!

 

No problem.
If you decide to install Win 10, please post back the result afterwards.
Good luck.

 

Well I installed Win 10 and it works, absolutely no thoughts of going back to 7*Biggrin. Now I must admit it took longer than I expected, about 2.5 hours. Remember it is a Dell 1535 dual processors 2.0 gig. The good part is that I caught up on some reading.
The install did turn off Ad-Aware 11. Also, I managed to screw up Roxio and that was my fault. I think both of the issues are not a big deal.

I think getting use to the new look and feel may take a little time but then again it is not a show stopper by any stretch of the imagination. MS Edge from what I have read is somewhat problematic, again no problem as I will continue to use Chrome and play with edge. The only thing I was not ready for was changing my login password but that is an easy fix.

I will upgrade our Desktop after I finish our taxes, the warden would not be happy if I messed up her machine.

An interesting note is that I was having one heck of a time with Outlook and the office 10 suite. It would take Outlook a minute and a half to come up and there were system waits that would go on for 15 to 30 seconds. My conclusion was that there must have been some modules in 7 that were somewhat corrupted. Because Outlook takes about 10+ seconds to come up now.
Now it's time to play more.
And again thanks for your help.


John

 

You are welcome.
One thing I'd like you to do......................
Please mark this thread as Solved.
Thank you.