[windows software] Activating Windows 10

[tomgrindle]

Hi,

 

Not quite a school request but having trouble activating a Windows 10 Pro machine ....

 

Recently upgraded it to an SSD and decided to install Windows 10. Had tried cloning HDD to SSD and then going through the upgrade process but unfortunately kept getting stuck at 'Checking for updates' (for hours and hours and hours).

 

After a few failed attempts I decided that the best bet was to just install Windows 10 from scratch and then just activate after. As far as I had read it was possible to activate Windows 10 with any 7, 8 or 8.1 key. Microsoft had reportedly enabled this!

 

Go to activate last night using a Windows 7 key and it doesn't like it ..... I'm thinking that this maybe down to it being a refurb key (picture attached).

 

 

Is there anybody that could confirm whether or not this should work? Maybe I should plug in the old HDD and see if the product key actually matches to what is installed on the original HDD?

 

Many Thanks

 

Tom

[pantscat]

It *should* be ok. But there is the possibility that it's a dodgy key.

Plug the old HDD in and use a keyfinder to check!

[tomgrindle]

I think that's what I will do! Was too late last night to faff around, had to get the machine back in for use this morning.