Can't activate Windows 10

[Aolish]

Hi all, as some of you might already know yesterday I had made a post about screwing up my boot loader on Windows 10 because I deleted Ubuntu that resided on my second drive. I'm guessing what had happened was that I got rid of the only boot loader (grub) that was available on my computer. After a nightmare of trying to restore the boot loader I decided to throw in the towel and just start with a clean slate along with some data loss that I failed to back up. The full thread is here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2443328

So now I'm up to this point where I can't even get Windows 10 activated. I'm just so tired of this now and just want to get back into normal computing. From what I understand your able to clean install AFTER an upgrade from Win7 and 8.1, as mentioned in the previous thread that I had made, I upgraded from Win8.1 (before the problem I had, see link above) so I should be eligible for a free clean install right? However when I try and activate Windows 10 it says my product key is blocked. I called up MS and they are saying they can't give me another product key DESPITE me already having a legit PHYSICAL copy of Windows 8 PRO w/ the product in my hands! The Representative then tells me that the activation servers are flooded right now and that could be the reason why my product key is getting blocked. However when I do a google search on blocked keys I don't see mention of flooded servers. I'm guessing the rep just wanted to get rid of me. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

My only assumption that I can give is that since I didn't have another PC at home I had to go over to a friends place and download Windows 10 from there PC so I can install it on my PC. Could that be the reason why my product key isn't working? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[pauldun170]

Hi all, as some of you might already know yesterday I had made a post about screwing up my boot loader on Windows 10 because I deleted Ubuntu that resided on my second drive. I'm guessing what had happened was that I got rid of the only boot loader (grub) that was available on my computer. After a nightmare of trying to restore the boot loader I decided to throw in the towel and just start with a clean slate along with some data loss that I failed to back up. The full thread is here:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2443328

So now I'm up to this point where I can't even get Windows 10 activated. I'm just so tired of this now and just want to get back into normal computing. From what I understand your able to clean install AFTER an upgrade from Win7 and 8.1, as mentioned in the previous thread that I had made, I upgraded from Win8.1 (before the problem I had, see link above) so I should be eligible for a free clean install right? However when I try and activate Windows 10 it says my product key is blocked. I called up MS and they are saying they can't give me another product key DESPITE me already having a legit PHYSICAL copy of Windows 8 PRO w/ the product in my hands! The Representative then tells me that the activation servers are flooded right now and that could be the reason why my product key is getting blocked. However when I do a google search on blocked keys I don't see mention of flooded servers. I'm guessing the rep just wanted to get rid of me. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

My only assumption that I can give is that since I didn't have another PC at home I had to go over to a friends place and download Windows 10 from there PC so I can install it on my PC. Could that be the reason why my product key isn't working? Any advice is appreciated.

I upgraded one my laptops from 8.1 to windows 10.
A few days later after confirming Windows 10 was activated, I ditched the old 5400 hd that came with it and replaced it with an SSD. I did not migrate anything. Just yanked the old drive with win10 on it and put in the fresh ssd.
I did a clean install on the SSD using the microsoft install tool\usb from Microsoft's site.
When I checked the a few hours later, it was activated and ready to go.

If you are certain that Windows 10 had activated post upgrade, then it may be a simple media issue or activation server issue.

 

[lazybedone]

It could be that your device is not compatible with Windows 10. That is just a guest. But if it is compatible than going to a friends house to download that one would be helpful.

 

[FrankRamiro]

I upgraded one my laptops from 8.1 to windows 10.
A few days later after confirming Windows 10 was activated, I ditched the old 5400 hd that came with it and replaced it with an SSD. I did not migrate anything. Just yanked the old drive with win10 on it and put in the fresh ssd.
I did a clean install on the SSD using the microsoft install tool\usb from Microsoft's site.
When I checked the a few hours later, it was activated and ready to go.

If you are certain that Windows 10 had activated post upgrade, then it may be a simple media issue or activation server issue.

If you can run Win 8.1 you can run Win 10 easily,check if you have drivers available from your PC Brand put them in a USB stick and try those

 

[Aolish]

If you are certain that Windows 10 had activated post upgrade, then it may be a simple media issue or activation server issue.

I really don't want to start from scratch again from vanilla Windows 8. I really don't have the time to format again and reinstall Windows 8 then install in Windows 8.1 then I have to wait for the Windows 10 upgrade to come, upgrade to Windows 10, wait for activation (who knows when that is going to be) then reformat the second time, then install Windows 10 again and then reinstall all my programs and data. There has to be an easier way. I have my Windows 8 PRO disc with product key ready to go. I really think that should be proof enough to get me a product key from MS. I don't know why they wouldn't give me one.

 

[Aolish]

I have called MS support a second time and it seems I won't get any help. I have no choice but to role back to Win8. Can anyone tell me if its safe to go back to Windows 8 without any problems on activation on that? I think I read somewhere where if you use Windows 10 it makes your previous Windows activation not work.

 

[stars]

Aolish, Windows 8 should activate without issue. I have installed Windows 10 and went back to Windows 8 at least 4 times using the same key.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I initially had issues activating 10, just keep on clicking on the activate button until it works.

 

[Aolish]

I initially had issues activating 10, just keep on clicking on the activate button until it works.

This is the problem that I'm having, I don't even have an activation button. It just says this product key doesn't work. The only options that I'm given is to change product key or go to the store.

EDIT: I just noticed that the version of Windows 10 that I have is the Home edition. My Windows 8 disc is the PRO version. I am unsure as to what version of Windows 10 I had AT THE TIME of upgrading from Win8.1 to Win10. It was only after I had a boot loader problem that I had to reformat and go to a friends house and download Windows 10 to a USB stick. Could it be that I downloaded the Windows 10 Home edition instead of using the PRO version? Does it matter which edition I get even though the Home version is considered a downgrade from PRO? Could this be what is causing the activation key not working? Anyone can clarify?

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

You need to skip entering a product key if you're doing a clean install on a machine W10 has already been activated on.

 

[Puffnstuff]

This is the problem that I'm having, I don't even have an activation button. It just says this product key doesn't work. The only options that I'm given is to change product key or go to the store.

EDIT: I just noticed that the version of Windows 10 that I have is the Home edition. My Windows 8 disc is the PRO version. I am unsure as to what version of Windows 10 I had AT THE TIME of upgrading from Win8.1 to Win10. It was only after I had a boot loader problem that I had to reformat and go to a friends house and download Windows 10 to a USB stick. Could it be that I downloaded the Windows 10 Home edition instead of using the PRO version? Does it matter which edition I get even though the Home version is considered a downgrade from PRO? Could this be what is causing the activation key not working? Anyone can clarify?

Now we have the problem. Roll back to 8 and then use the media creation tool and create the correct version of windows. Use 10 pro to upgrade with and it will activate correctly. You have to install 10 over an activated 8 installation in order to activate it the first time.

 

[Aolish]

I was hoping to avoid that, I only have the vanilla version of Windows 8 (Win8 can't be upgraded to Win10). I would have to reformat and reinstall Windows 8, then reinstall 8.1, then upgrade to Win10 from Win8.1, then reformat again and reinstall Windows 10. What's there to say if the product key still doesn't work after all that? This is so time consuming.

 

[Puffnstuff]

MS was very clear on the procedure to upgrade to 10 and unfortunately for you that is what you will have to do if you want to upgrade.

 

[Aolish]

oh my goodness, I don't know what is going on! I have installed Windows 8. Downloaded about 145 updates to get Windows 8.1. I went through the entire process to get Windows 8.1 and now when I try to upgrade to Windows 10 through the Upgrade process the installation just vanishes when it is creating the media. I manage to download the entire OS, it verifies it, but when it goes through with creating the media, the media creation tool vanishes with no error message, nothing. I am so exhausted by all this. Can anyone clarify what is going on now with creating the media?

 

[Puffnstuff]

Use windows update and when the taskbar icon appears offering you an upgrade to 10 reserve your copy. Once WU completes the Dl it will offer you an upgrade button to begin the process. As for the media creation tool it can be run from ANY pc and generate the correct installation media for you to use on that system.

 

[Aolish]

The problem is is that I haven't gotten the upgrade icon yet. It could take days, maybe weeks to get it again. All I get when I hit the update button are a plethora of other updates for Win8.1. And getting the media from another computer might put me back to square one where I originally had the problem. The problem with the Windows 10 website is it only offers to download "Windows 10". It doesn't indicate if its a pro or home edition. Is there anyway in specifically downloading the pro version so I don't accidentally get the home version again?

EDIT: Well it looks like I got every update for Win8.1. When I hit the update button there are no more. It's not giving me a Windows 10 update. I guess I have to wait.
EDIT2: Got the upgrade icon, now I just need to wait for the actual download.

 

[Ketchup]

Assuming you already went through the upgrade process to 10, and after the upgrade Windows said that it was activated:

Download Windows from here and install:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

While installing, and after Windows is installed, do not manually enter any kind of key you may have seen. Windows should activate. It may take some time, depending on how busy the activation servers are.

 

[Puffnstuff]

You have to get every single update to 8.1 before it will present the upgrade to you.

 

[WilliamM2]

The problem is is that I haven't gotten the upgrade icon yet. It could take days, maybe weeks to get it again. All I get when I hit the update button are a plethora of other updates for Win8.1. And getting the media from another computer might put me back to square one where I originally had the problem.

You don't need the icon, and you don't need any update. I downloaded the install media here from my work computer:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Went home, installed 8.1 from USB, the second it booted into 8.1, I rebooted to the Windows 10 USB install stick, with ZERO updates. The second I was in Windows 10, I made sure it was activated, rebooted the the install media and did a clean install. Entire process took less that 30 minutes.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Umm....the Op seems to have issues with updates that require personal interaction which is why I suggested the WU method that takes care of the correct version and all.

 

[Aolish]

You don't need the icon, and you don't need any update. I downloaded the install media here from my work computer:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Went home, installed 8.1 from USB, the second it booted into 8.1, I rebooted to the Windows 10 USB install stick, with ZERO updates. The second I was in Windows 10, I made sure it was activated, rebooted the the install media and did a clean install. Entire process took less that 30 minutes.

Your in a different spot then me, the media creation tool doesn't work on my end. I'm not sure why. The media creation tool downloads Windows 10 just fine and verifies it just fine. However when it goes into the final step of creating the media, the media creation tool just closes. Vanishes with no error.

Also I do not have Windows 8.1. I only have Windows 8, which makes the process of getting Windows 10 that much more time consuming because I have to download over 100+ updates just for me to be eligible to go through the 8.1 update. I've already started to download and install all my programs etc. I'm most likely won't be doing a clean install of Windows 10. I'll just upgrade through WU and thats it. I can't imagine going through this entire process again if Windows 10 wasn't to activate again.

 

[Ketchup]

You can use the media creation tool on any computer that can by updated to 10. Can you try another computer for the tool?

 

[Underclocked]

Instead of creating the media, try having the tool create an iso. You can then burn the iso easily or extract it to a file/usb stick and do the upgrade from there.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Creating an iso is creating installation media.

 

[WilliamM2]

You don't need 8.1 either, you can go straight from 8 to 10 as long as you have the media on usb. Only Windows Update requires all the extra effort. When creating the media, make sure you choose update another computer, and select the right version to match your version of 8.

Good luck.