ahh

So I followed the guidelines on how to upgrade, which meant upgrading to 32 bit windows 10 and then doing a clean install to go from windows 10 32 bit to windows 10 64 bit. My original windows 7 installation was an activated copy but I don't know if I have a record anywhere of the product key.

I have just realised (about 72 hours after the 64 bit clean install) a semi-transparent message on the desktop telling me to activate windows. Any ideas folks? Am I going to have to find my old key, use it to install windows 7 64 and then upgrade again? According to everything on the net this should not happen.

Cheers,
Dave

Did you make sure your 32-bit Windows 10 install(upgraded from 32-bit Windows 7) was activated before you did the fresh install of 64-bit Windows 10? Did you stick with the same version of Windows as your original 32-bit Windows 7 install, either Home or Pro?

Hi owensdj
I did not check activation of 10 32bit because i assumed it was automatic, having upgraded from 7. I am on windows 10 home single language rather than windows 10 home could that be it?

Activation of the upgraded Windows 10 shouldbe automatic, but you still need to check it to be 100% sure it worked before you do the fresh re-install of Windows 10. Sometimes you have to try the activation manually a few times before it goes through to Microsoft.

I assume your original install was 32-bit Windows 7 Home Basic or Home Premium?

I am on windows 10 home single language rather than windows 10 home could that be it?

Was the 32bit Windows 10 the single language edition? That would definitely be the problem if it wasn't (and could have still been the problem, actually). Also, did you choose which version of Windows 10 to upgrade to the first time or did you let either the Get Windows 10 icon or Media Creation Tool choose which version to upgrade to? If you chose the version, and you got the wrong version on the first upgrade, that one would not have been activated.

Was the 32bit Windows 10 the single language edition? That would definitely be the problem if it wasn't (and could have still been the problem, actually). Also, did you choose which version of Windows 10 to upgrade to the first time or did you let either the Get Windows 10 icon or Media Creation Tool choose which version to upgrade to? If you chose the version, and you got the wrong version on the first upgrade, that one would not have been activated.

Ok thanks. The upgrade was chosen by windows with both versions being home premium. But the reinstall sounds like it needs to be done again, not going for single language this time. Thanks for all your help.

lll

Thanks - yes I took the advice about the single language version and you were right.

By selecting windows home single language when I made the USB boot I thought I would avoid any complications about language selection. It turns out I was only eligible to activate windows home, not this version. Made new boot usb with windows home and did a clean install and now it is activated thanks everyone.