*HUGE PROBLEM WITH PRODUCT KEY* (Windows 10)

[anon(6012324)]

It all started when Windows 8.1 would not boot up, instead I would be stuck on the OEM loading screen for days on end. Troubleshooting the PC and even resetting the PC didn't work at all. So, the only fix would be to install Windows 10 via a USB. Windows 10 is now on the PC however the Product Key is not activated. I have typed the same product key over and over and I am persistently told that it wouldn't work.

I think that it is because I still have Windows 8.1 on the PC (even though it still doesn't load) and maybe Windows 8.1 still has the product key in use.

However i'm not sure

Any help at all would be appreciated greatly,
Thanks.

 

[dlalonde]

From what I understand your Windows 8.1 was never upgraded. If that is the case, your key will indeed never work. You need to upgrade it once from a valid Windows 7/8/8.1 version to be able to activate Windows 10 on your computer. Once you've upgraded, you can even do a clean install and you won't even need a licence key, it will activate itself.

Now do you have the licence key for Windows 8.1? If so, try downloading the ISO and burning it to a DVD or USB key and reinstall Windows 8.1 with it. Or have you already tried that?

 

[heickelrrx]

The best thing to do is to reinstal windows 8.1 again. Prepare your product key to active your copy of windows 8.1

If you want to upgrade be sure to update your windows 8.1 until nothing left to update
After you done create a instalation media with official microsoft tools and select the option to make media instalation for another PC. Select USB drive to contain your instalation file (not ISO file) and let it download itself. After it clear start the setup from your USB without turning off your computer and begin the upgrade proccess from there.

 

[anon(6012324)]

Thank you so much for your fast and detailed replies. I'm installing Windows 8.1 again. It was mentioned that I would need a product key to activate Windows 8.1. Where can I find this key? I have throughly checked the box and the laptop itself and I couldn't find one. I then used Nirsoft's Produkey to find it and I was given 2 Product Keys: Windows 10 Home and Windows (OEM BIOS Key). Which one would I input to activate Windows 8.1?

 

[M7H]

Where can I find this key

I have typed the same product key over and over and I am persistently told that it wouldn't work.

You already have it......

 

[mj0]

Windows 8.1 might not even ask you for a key, it's embedded in your system's BIOS chip and can be read therefrom. At least that was the case with all my recent Windows 8.1 reinstalls.

 

[dlalonde]

Windows 8.1 might not even ask you for a key, it's embedded in your system's BIOS chip and can be read therefrom. At least that was the case with all my recent Windows 8.1 reinstalls.

This. If not, the key you were trying to install Windows 10 with, wasn't it for 8.1? or 8?

 

[Protocol Rahul]

Yup, I in my case, had to go back to 8 then 8.1 then 8.1 update then 10. Also, my default win8 oem key was blocked by Microsoft. So in my case. Had to get new key from hp. Wow tue hassle. Smh.

 

[heickelrrx]

Windows 8.1 might not even ask you for a key, it's embedded in your system's BIOS chip and can be read therefrom. At least that was the case with all my recent Windows 8.1 reinstalls.

In my casw i use retail version so need product key

 

[a5cent]

^ This is incorrect. The retail version of Windows always requires a license key. Always has. That is true of W10 too, which won't accept anything but a W10 key.

OP, for more information please see this activation/installation FAQ:

http://forums.windowscentral.com/wi...s-10-activation-upgrade-installation-faq.html

If you continue to have problems please continue the discussion there.

Closed.

 

[RumoredNow]

Using produkey by nirsoft shows you only keys of activated product on your machine. It is not a key-generator.

Whatever the OP's issues with installing 10 are it is not related to Piracy. Non-Genuine is sometimes being read as Genuine and upgrading (depending on the cleverness of the pirating method) or upgrading to Non-Genuine with the watermark advising the status.

OP must have an OEM licensed copy of 8.1. That's why produkey shows him a Windows (BIOS OEM key). This key is embedded in the machine and does not get changed during upgrade to 10. The 10 key that he sees is a "generic" by class of 10 and will not work for a clean install.

To revert back to 8.1 the OP needs to use his Windows (BIOS OEM key) code. This is the legitimate key issued with his system upon sale.