windows won't activate after most recent update

i got a brand new computer recently that came with windows 10. i had to reinstall it a few times because of issues i thought were related to the installation (plus the first attempt asked me for a key which i didn't have, the second one didn't). i didn't activate right away. i got two BSOD in 24 hours and thought it was my computer but found out online that it's windows 10's fault so i went to update windows. the update i got took so long it almost looked like a whole new installation though it said updating. when i came home i went to activate and got this message windows is not activated as your previous version of windows on this device was not activated prior to upgrade to windows 10 error code 0x803f7001.

i am nearly 100% positive that error wasn't there before the update. how the hell can i have a previous installation when this is an windows 10 oem computer?

i have pretty much had it with windows 10 because i'm pretty sure after reading online that all of my computer problems are windows related and not hardware.

i'm wondering if the update was bugged and it acted like a whole nother installation and that's the problem. i'm ticked because i'm having to wait forever to backup my pc so i don't have to start from scratch when i reinstall windows 10 AGAIN. if i do reinstall windows 10 which i don't see any other way then i'll make sure to activate windows BEFORE updating it. and i won't restore the backup until i do both of those things and i don't have a problem.

one last bit of information i've used a program to retrieve the windows 10 product key and activation won't accept it. i also tried the phone method and i had to talk to someone that sent me over to tech support which was closed.

one last bit of information i've used a program to retrieve the windows 10 product key and activation won't accept it. i also tried the phone method and i had to talk to someone that sent me over to tech support which was closed.

The problems may relate to the edition you are installing - a Reset from within Windows does not overwrite certain (protected) files - it's best to install from a USB boot. BTW which keyfinder did you use and what edition is your key?

The problems may relate to the edition you are installing - a Reset from within Windows does not overwrite certain (protected) files - it's best to install from a USB boot. BTW which keyfinder did you use and what edition is your key?

i'm using the dvd that came with my computer to install windows 10. i'm almost positive i could of activated windows 10 before the update. i'm using produkey to retrieve the product key. well in about 12 minutes when i finish backing up a game that i don't want to start over again i'm reinstalling windows. i would still like any idea why this happened because if something has no reason then it will happen again.

this is the problem is this is how i see it happened.

i installed windows 10 and then ran an update because i was getting BSOD that was the fault of windows 10 not my computer (i looked it up don't really want to explain why) the update took way too long and was way too involved the be a simple update. i think the update was bugged and installed over the windows previous installation making windows think that another version was installed on top of it. since i didn't activate windows before updating it, it saw it as invalid. now if i'm try reinstalling windows, activating AND THEN updating should not repeat the same problem and i'll know i'm right. still ticked off i have to go through this garbage.

oh and also i'm making sure to activate system restore and create a restore point BEFORE updating.

These new Windows 10 error codes are as yet undocumented - so it's difficult to diagnose the exact problem - but if the install media is OK, it should not ask for a key, I note the second install did not... I'll look into that error code - see if it occurs again with a clean install.

These new Windows 10 error codes are as yet undocumented - so it's difficult to diagnose the exact problem - but if the install media is OK, it should not ask for a key, I note the second install did not... I'll look into that error code - see if it occurs again with a clean install.

i'm about to reinstall windows. i have one more thing to say since i won't be back here for at least an hour. after reading another post (i commented on it) i wonder if they problem is the update. someone else reported problems with it. well see you in about an hour.

Which update are you referring to? If you are using a local account, leave Wi-Fi off during the install and it won't get updates - once installed put it back on so it can activate - then check for updates.

okay finally after 2 hours of hopelessness and reinstall attempts I saw a post on cyberpowerpc.com that said the key is on the side of the computer. I checked, entered that key and it accepted it.