I installed windows 10 on top of Windows 7, but then did a clean install afterwards from an image on a USB drive.
I wrote down the product key from the first install after scraping it with a program.
The clean install of 10 went fine, but it will not accept this product key. Im guessing this is because I used it on the old install, but that install no longer exists. What do I need to do to have this key work? I have email confirmation of upgrade (assuming that actually means anything).
Hello AngryPidgeon, and welcome to windowssh blog.
When you upgrade to the free 10 from an activated Windows 7, you do not get a product key. Instead, the activation for 10 is registered on Microsoft activation servers for that PC.
Since you installed Windows 10 with an invalid (generic) key on the PC, you will need to start over again.
This means that you will need to reinstall and activate Windows 7, then upgrade to Windows 10 again.
Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help blog
Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 blog
I think he's saying he already did the upgrade, then did a clean install afterwards, trying to use the generic key to install.
@AngryPidgeon - You will need to re-install, but click "skip" instead of trying to use a product key, so long as you are installing the same version of Windows 10 (home or pro) that you originally upgraded to.
I don't believe I used a generic key?
I think I may have figured out what happened. The image that I installed from USB is a Windows PRO image. The Windows 7 copy that I upgraded from was windows 7 Home. I'm currently getting another image for Windows 10 home which I will clean install and attempt to use my key for.
You cannot activate the free Windows 10 with your Windows 7 key.
The free Windows 10 activation is registered on MS activation servers instead, so you can't have a key for the free Windows 10. That's why you would "skip" entering a key during a clean install if done after you already upgraded to register the activation.
Since you tried to install with a key afterwards, that will most likely mess up the registered Windows 10 activation on your PC. If so, then you'll need to start over with 7 and upgrade to 10 again.
I think he did what I did
* Update Windows 7
* Get the resulting Windows 10 key from the installation
Use this for a fresh install.
It worked for me
The key you get from Speccy or Belarc from an upgraded Windows 10 is a generic key. You cannot use this for installation, nor is it needed. You simply click to skip entering the key (there is a link at the bottom to do this) (again, assuming you are reinstalling the same edition, which it sounds like you didn't).I don't believe I used a generic key?
Do not enter any key. Look for the tiny "Skip", "Skip this step", or "Do this later" options when asked for a key and click on those.I'm currently getting another image for Windows 10 home which I will clean install and attempt to use my key for.
You do get a new Win 10 Product key, once you install Win 10, use magic jellybean (free version) to recover the key. Be sure to compare it to your Product ID (make sure the ID matches).
I have not tried it yet, but I do not plan to do an upgrade. I burned the Win10 iso to disk, and plan to offline install (again) a full version off a newly wiped/formatted HDD using the key ( I will post back the result).
No, you get a generic key, that is useless for any purpose. You can't install with it, you can't use it for anything.You do get a Win 10 Product key, once you install Win 10, use magic jellybean (free version) to recover the key. Be sure to compare it to your Product ID (make sure the ID matches)
