Windows 10: Windows refresh fails, after clean install no activation.

I was refreshing Windows 10 to fix some issues with the store, when after at least 90% completion, the PC looped into restarting again and again.

Eventually, I installed windows 10 from a USB, and now i've lost my upgrade, and Microsoft views it as two PC's. In addition to this, clicking the change key option, simply freezes the settings app, meaning that even if i had a new windows 10 key, I couldn't even enter it.

Is there a way to move the license from the non-existent first PC to the actual real current incarnation, I don't have 190 pounds to throw away like this.

:)

 

Windows 10 clean install - need to recover Product Key

The correct way to
Clean Install Windows 10 Upgrade is to delete all partitions during the booted install to get it cleanest, as illustrated in the link.

Once installed as long as it was Activated after the original Upgrade it should reactivate shortly after connecting to the internet, but sometimes it takes a few days.

If not then you can activate it again by inserting the old OS Product Key per the Version 1511 FAQ at the end of

Activation in Windows 10.

If this fails then right click Start Button to open an Admin Command Prompt, type SLUI 4, press Enter. Follow prompts to refresh the Activation in MS Servers. If it fails stay on the line to speak with an agent.

 

Windows 10 - Can I force reactivation prior to a Clean Install ?

A
Clean Reinstall Windows 10 Upgrade should always reactivate if the original Upgrade was activated, since you then have lifetime Entitlement on that PC, providing you give it enough time after connecting to the internet.

I know of no way to refresh Activation since there is no Product Key for free Upgrade. If it fails again you can try phone activation by running slui 4 in an elevated Command Prompt, follow prompts to refresh Activation ID, if it fails stay on the line
to speak with an agent.

If that fails then you can also apply the old OS product key using the latest Fall Update Version 1511 to Create Windows 10 Installation Media for
the reinstall. See the 1511 FAQ at
Activation in Windows 10 - Windows Help.

Then, and most importantly, once you get the perfect reinstall all set up according to the Wiki above, save the backup image to use in place of reinstall in 20 minutes. This is the modern way to reinstall.

 

Your First installation of Windows 10 on that PC was as an upgrade - correct ??

You should then be able to perform a Clean Installation and Windows 10 will activate..

When Re-installing Windows 10 just "SKIP" when asked for product keys..

Also be sure the use the same edition of OS - Home or Pro

Re-installing the wrong edition will result in activation error

 

So if when I installed i entered what i thought was they key (turns out it was a placeholder key) and that was incorrect, that means the pc isn't activated?

if i reinstalled again, over the unactivated but don't enter my key, i'm assuming this will still remain unactivated?

As i've already made the mistake, can i rectify it?

 

sorry kyhi, i can't respond to PM's without 5 posts first.

that key is the one i kept from my registry when i originally installed windows 10.

I entered that during the re-install and it was invaild apparently

 

some have had to wait for re-activation - but if you upgraded from and reinstall the same edition
activation should not be an issue - as your PC has already been recorded with MS

 

on my microsoft account it shows 2 PC's, so i'm not sure if this is because I swapped GPU's the other day. I thought it was determined by your motherboard/HDD

 

Hardware Change = Different PC

Phone activation is required

 

How do i do that, there isn't an option on the activation page. Do i just call their UK support?

Also do would need some proof of identity?

 

disconnect from the internet - then select Activate
should pull Phone Activation

Usually talk to Robot - answer is = 1 PC