It is interesting to note that while Windows 10 is available for free to existing Windows 7, 8/8.1 users, a product key for Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 cannot Island base coc th12. activate Windows 10. Windows 10 needs a unique product license to get activated. Activation is a process that helps verify if the copy of Windows installed in the system is genuine and is only being used on computers in accordance with Microsoftâs license terms. This prevents the operating system from being copied, altered or in other words prevents any kind of software counterfeiting.
Here a few details about activation that would be helpful to know:
Is it possible to clean install Windows 10 with the free upgrade?
As stated before, Microsoft Product Activation servers need to register your computer hardware and qualifying OS. So, for the first time, you cannot perform clean installation without once having upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. You can start with the clean installation process after this upgrade. You also can make a clean install from an ISO file instead of through the Windows Update process, but you need to have Windows 7 or 8.1 activated on your computer for that. So, ISO installation = possible, but not on a new computer.
What happens when Windows 10 is NOT activated?
Frustratingly, some users follow the correct procedure but Windows 10 still asks for Product Keys or prompts various activation errors.
The first measure to make this stop and activate Windows 10 is to ensure active internet connection. If it does not activate even after detecting the internet connection, you can restart and try again or wait for a few days to get Windows 10 activated automatically.
In some scenarios, Windows 10 setup initiated using the ISO file might prompt for a product key or indicate that a product key might not work with this edition.
Please be aware that the copy of Windows you download must be with respect to the edition of Windows you are upgrading from:
Windows 7
Windows 8
Sometimes you upgrade from a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 and then decide to reinstall using either the ISO file or Reset the PC, but are prompted to enter a product key:
In this case, you can click on Do this later and wait for Windows 10 to get activated automatically in a few days.
How to know if your copy of Windows 10 is activated?
After upgrading to Windows 10, you may follow these steps to know the activation status of the Operating System:
You might receive error messages saying that Windows 10 couldnât be activated, here are a few reasons why it might not have worked, and some troubleshooting steps in order to fix the problem.
Error: Windows 10 isnât activated after upgrading for free from Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update Naruto ultimate ninja storm 4 pc game download pc.
If you have run a free Windows 10 upgrade and ended up with the stated error message, try following the steps provided below:
This only applies if you havenât made any hardware changes to your computer.
Error: Genuine Validation detected tampered Windows binaries. (Error code: 0xC004C4AE)
This issue might arise if you are using a third party application to add a display language that Windows does not support currently. To troubleshoot this issue, you can perform a System Restore that helps restoring your PC to an earlier time instant so that you could undo unfavourable changes made to Windows.
If the step does not resolve the issue, you are probably running an invalid copy of Windows and need to buy a new one.
Error: This product key didnât work. (Error code: 0xC004C003)
License could not be found or was invalid. (Error code: 0xC004F034)
This might happen due to the following reasons:
Error: The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations. (Error code: 0xC004F061)
This happens when a previous version of Windows isnât installed on your PC before you tried using a product key to upgrade to Windows 10. To fix this, you need to install Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 first on your PC or purchase a Windows 10 product key from Store.
Error: The activation server reported that the product key has exceeded its unlock limit. (Error code: 0xC004C008)
If you have a copy of Windows installed on more than one PC, the validation process might prompt an error because of an already used product key, or it is being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.
If your product key is being used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow, youâll need to buy a new product key as in the first type of error stated above.
Error: The Software Licensing Service reported that the license evaluation failed. (Error code: 0xC004E003)
This might occur after installing third-party software that is incompatible to the system and modified system files specifically that Windows activation needs to accomplish activation. Performing System Restore is a good option to fix the issue. This will help remove any system file modification made in the past without even affecting your personal files.
Error: DNS name does not exist. (Error code: 0x8007232B)
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect. (Error code: 0x8007007B)
This issue is related to network connectivity. In this case you are trying to activate your system but arenât connected to the network at your home/workplace or the connection is intermittent. If youâre connected to your work network and still get the error message, you might need to troubleshoot your network settings.
If you are unable to resolve the issue, you might have to re-enter your product key:
To prevent these errors, you can also validate if your software is genuine and ready to get upgraded. Refer to the following link and click on the Validate Windows button. If the validation check fails, then you might click on Get Genuine button to get a WGA Kit.
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It doesnât matter if you got your copy of Windows 10 from the previous free upgrade, from purchasing Windows 10 Home or Pro Edition from Microsoft Store, or it came as the built-in OS when you buy your desktop or laptop computer. If you are going to do a reinstall or transfer your license to another computer, you will need to re-enter your Windows 10 digital license product key during the installation. This guide explains how to find Windows 10 digital license product key from your computer.
How to Find Windows 10 Digital License Product Key
If you purchased your physical boxed copy of Windows 10 from a computer shop, the Windows 10 digital license product key will usually be on a label in the box. If yours is a digital copy bought from Microsoft Store, the digital license key is usually in an email sent to you by Microsoft when you made the purchase. When neither is the case, use the following method to find your Windows 10 digital license product key from your PC.
We can find Windows 10 digital license product key using an amazing tool called ProduKey. It is a free software that is able to display your product keys of various Microsoft software you ever installed in your computer. Hereâs how.
Your antivirus or anti-malware program may flag the software and warn you about it. It is because the tool is trying to extract info about your Windows 10 which is not supposed to happen in casual software. But trust us, itâs totally safe and has been widely used by hundred of thousands of Windows users.
When you got the key, you can then use the key for Windows 10 reinstall or transferring the digital license key to another new computer. You may need this guide â How to Transfer Windows 10 License to Another New Computer.
When do you need to find Windows 10 digital license product key
If you are trying to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8 to Windows 10, the installation will automatically activate the Windows 10 with your existing Windows 7 or 8 product key. Update: Since a few months ago, Microsoft has stopped the free upgrade. For those who want to upgrade their existing older version of Windows to Windows 10, you will have to buy the Windows 10 digital license first.
If you are doing a full reinstall of Windows 10 which involve wiping your system drive (the hard drive that stores your OS), you will always want to extract the product key first to save the hassle of having to troubleshoot your activation later.
The method about how to find Windows 10 digital license product key as outlined above is assuming you havenât done the reinstall on that computer. If you have, and your old Windows was completely removed, you may need contact Microsoft Support for activation when you lose your license key. However, you should try to run the Activation troubleshooter from the Setting first. In some cases, it may be able to detect your digital license key and activate it for you.
To run the activation troubleshooter, press Win+i keys to open Settings app. Select Update & Security. From the left pane, click on Activation. Under If youâre having problems with activation, select troubleshooter to try and fix the problem heading, click on Troubleshoot.
Windows 10 Setup Failed To Verify Product KeyHow to find and backup your Windows 10 digital license product key
Itâs best that you save a copy of your Windows 10 digital license key for future activation purposes in situations such as when your hard drive fails. You can always use the produkey method above to extract your Windows 10 product key. Write it down and keep it in a safe place.
A better backup method would be to link your Microsoft account with the Windows 10 digital license. Read â How to Link Windows 10 Digital License with Microsoft Account.
For computers especially laptop from manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Acer and Toshiba, in most cases, you can find the Windows 10 digital license product key from a label usually underneath the notebook computer.
However, this isnât always the case. In some laptops, the product key will not be shown physically anywhere on the laptop surfaces. According to some reports, itâs for security purposes. However, these laptops have the ability to activate its Windows 10 digital license automatically whenever needed. This will work even when the hard drive is completely wiped.
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