Why isn't Windows 10 getting activated after a clean install?

[Windows Central Question]

Windows 10 not getting activated after clean install

I have a Dell laptop, which came with a Windows 8, when I bought it. As time passed, I upgraded it to Windows 8.1, and then to Windows 10. Last month I wanted to dual boot my laptop with Windows 10 and Ubuntu 14.04. So, I and my friend, ended up clean installing the two OSs (installing Windows 10 from a CD he had) and then setting up the dual boot with GRUB. Since then, I can use Windows 10, but it is not getting activated. This is totally against what we thought: Win10 would activate itself automatically (given that my original copy was genuine).
Is there a way I can activate my current copy of Windows 10? I seem to get an error that my product key is blocked, but I have no idea why this is happening. Isn't Windows supposed to self-detect hardware and activate? Please help me.

 

[Skamath]

Re: Windows 10 not getting activated after clean install

That is true. I had a similar issue and all the MS call centre could tell me was that the key that I was able to extract was just a generic key and not a windows 10 key but I was in the insiders program. Long story short if you have a backup of the win8.1 image install that and upgrade again to windows 10 that will fix it. If you have a MS call centre local number ring that and explain what happened to them. If they have to help you, you will need your win8.1 Key so they can give you the windows 10 key in return.