ML
    • Recent
    • Categories
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Groups
    • Register
    • Login

    Windows 8.1 to Windows 10: Mistake?

    IT Discussion
    windows 10 upgrade microsoft error windows 8.1 refresh
    8
    33
    7.3k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • gjacobseG
      gjacobse
      last edited by

      My Acer Aspire R14 laptop came with Windows 8.1. When Windows 10 was released I reserved my copy and within a few weeks it updated normally.

      Here of late, I've noticed some lag issues and such. So I decided to refresh the Windows 10 install.

      Instead of going back to Windows 8.1 and then upgrading, I chose to install Windows 10 directly. Now, it is asking for the Product Key.

      As now Product keys are not printed, but embedded in the UEFI firmware, I didn't have that to input. But now I have to activate Windows 10..

      I actually just performed this basic task on my old Dell that had been running Windows 7. It is showing that it Activated, will this install also activate in a day or so?

      Opinions as I continue to search..

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • gjacobseG
        gjacobse
        last edited by

        Note: I used the Windows Media Creation tool to create the USB Installer for Windows 10 Pro

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • gjacobseG
          gjacobse
          last edited by

          Error I'm getting

          Blocked

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • DashrenderD
            Dashrender
            last edited by

            Did you have Windows 8.1 Pro on the laptop when it upgraded to Windows 10? If not, you can only activate Windows 10 (home edition) for free. You'll have to download the ISO and install again.

            FYI, Windows (starting in Windows 8 I believe) has a new feature called Refresh. It is suppose to perform an in place clean install of the OS, though I'm sure you can't actually change anything about the partitions to have it work.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • DashrenderD
              Dashrender
              last edited by

              I have reinstalled both home and pro machines after accepting the upgrade. Both auto activate after installation is completed. You just choose the options to skip/give code later during the install.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • scottalanmillerS
                scottalanmiller
                last edited by

                Maybe it is a sign, time for Linux!

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                • JaredBuschJ
                  JaredBusch
                  last edited by

                  Were you truly running the OEM key when you upgraded?

                  My desktop was running a Technet or MS Partner 8.1 key when I originally upgraded from that ot 10. I ran into the same issue when I went to do a fresh install.

                  I installed back to 7 (the original key on the box) and then upgraded to 10. Then nuked the system and installed fresh again and it activated just fine.

                  gjacobseG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • gjacobseG
                    gjacobse @JaredBusch
                    last edited by

                    @JaredBusch said:

                    Were you truly running the OEM key when you upgraded?

                    My desktop was running a Technet or MS Partner 8.1 key when I originally upgraded from that ot 10. I ran into the same issue when I went to do a fresh install.

                    I installed back to 7 (the original key on the box) and then upgraded to 10. Then nuked the system and installed fresh again and it activated just fine.

                    What would you call the key used from ACER, Dell, HP, etc.

                    JaredBuschJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • DustinB3403D
                      DustinB3403
                      last edited by

                      Use SysSpec from Alex Nolan it's a very simple tool that can pull this key for you.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • dafyreD
                        dafyre
                        last edited by

                        As I understand it Microsoft automagically assigns your computer a new key when you upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10... If you log in to the machine with your Microsoft account it should retrieve that key for you, assuming you actually logged in to your old machine with a Microsoft account.

                        JaredBuschJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • JaredBuschJ
                          JaredBusch @dafyre
                          last edited by

                          @dafyre said:

                          As I understand it Microsoft automagically assigns your computer a new key when you upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10... If you log in to the machine with your Microsoft account it should retrieve that key for you, assuming you actually logged in to your old machine with a Microsoft account.

                          IT has nothing to do with your account. The machine ID is tied to the hardware.

                          dafyreD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • JaredBuschJ
                            JaredBusch @gjacobse
                            last edited by

                            @gjacobse said:

                            What would you call the key used from ACER, Dell, HP, etc.

                            That is the OEM key. My question was are you sure your system was using that key prior to the upgrade?

                            gjacobseG 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • dafyreD
                              dafyre @JaredBusch
                              last edited by

                              @JaredBusch That is correct. I think it is stored in your account. I upgraded from 8 to 10, and then wiped, and installed 10 from scratch and it installed without asking me for a key or anything.

                              JaredBuschJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • JaredBuschJ
                                JaredBusch @dafyre
                                last edited by

                                @dafyre said:

                                @JaredBusch That is correct. I think it is stored in your account. I upgraded from 8 to 10, and then wiped, and installed 10 from scratch and it installed without asking me for a key or anything.

                                You can give the machine to someone else. They can wipe and reinstall and log in with their account and it will be licensed. The license is tied to the hardware and does not know anything about the account.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • gjacobseG
                                  gjacobse @JaredBusch
                                  last edited by

                                  @JaredBusch said:

                                  @gjacobse said:

                                  What would you call the key used from ACER, Dell, HP, etc.

                                  That is the OEM key. My question was are you sure your system was using that key prior to the upgrade?

                                  I have no reason to think that the key would have been changed.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • DashrenderD
                                    Dashrender
                                    last edited by

                                    What version of Windows 10 is on it now? what version of Windows 8.1 was on it before?

                                    dafyreD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • dafyreD
                                      dafyre @Dashrender
                                      last edited by

                                      @Dashrender Me? Home Premium and the Win 10 Home Premium edition, I think... I wish they'd take a play out of Apples play book... One Desktop OS without the 10871320487210437 different licensing options.

                                      coliverC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                      • coliverC
                                        coliver @dafyre
                                        last edited by

                                        @dafyre said:

                                        @Dashrender Me? Home Premium and the Win 10 Home Premium edition, I think... I wish they'd take a play out of Apples play book... One Desktop OS without the 10871320487210437 different licensing options.

                                        I thought there were only three versions of Windows 10. Home, Professional, and Enterprise?

                                        nadnerBN 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • nadnerBN
                                          nadnerB @coliver
                                          last edited by

                                          @coliver said:

                                          @dafyre said:

                                          @Dashrender Me? Home Premium and the Win 10 Home Premium edition, I think... I wish they'd take a play out of Apples play book... One Desktop OS without the 10871320487210437 different licensing options.

                                          I thought there were only three versions of Windows 10. Home, Professional, and Enterprise?

                                          There are 5. Add Education and IoT to your list 🙂

                                          dafyreD DashrenderD nadnerBN 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • dafyreD
                                            dafyre @nadnerB
                                            last edited by

                                            @nadnerB Yepp... and that is 4 too many.

                                            DashrenderD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • 1
                                            • 2
                                            • 1 / 2
                                            • First post
                                              Last post