Get Win 10 Activated

OzFrugie on 03/01/2023 - 15:38

Hi All,

One of my PCs needed to be reformated. It had Win 10 Pro previously and activated from Win 7 product key (when free upgrade was still a thing).
I couldn't remember how I reformatted it, but I think it was from the recovery mode or repair option after the BIOS or something like that.

Since I reformatted the PC, now on the bottom right it has "Activate Windows" watermark, which is annoying.
Went to Settings to activate then put previous key (win 7 admittedly), did not work.

Is there a way for me to activate this Win 10 installation now other than buying win 10 pro key which is expensive?
If the only option for me is to buy the key, what's the cheapest way to get it?

Tia!

Computing Microsoft Operating System

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 03/01/2023 - 15:44
    +6

    You can usually call a number and have it activated that way.

    To activate Windows 10 by phone:
    Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
    Under Activate Windows Now section, select Activate by Phone.
    Select your location (or the location nearest to you) from the drop-down list, and then select Next.
    Call one of the available phone numbers listed. An automated system will guide you through the activation process.
    If you're not able to complete activation successfully, you will be connected to Microsoft support for your region and country.

    It's a fairly quick process (5 minutes to do) and should work pretty much instantly, assuming the license key you provide is a legit one.

    Note: it'll also help that you're signed into a Microsoft account, as opposed to a local account. In Win 10 onwards, Windows sometimes is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account. Try Logging into your account and then rebooting, see if that helps.

    • OzFrugie on 03/01/2023 - 15:48
      +1

      will the win 7 key I have work using this method?

    • HeWhoKnows on 06/01/2023 - 12:01

      The PC should already have a digital licence on the MS servers.
      So when you reformat the computer and reinstall Windows 10 it should become activated automatically
      The computer needs to be conncted to the internet when you install Windows so it can check for a digital license

  • Yummy on 03/01/2023 - 15:48
    +2

    Win10 Pro $31 @ Play-asia, bought some keys, all works so far. Make sure you have to activate it right away.

    • OzFrugie on 03/01/2023 - 15:49

      thx, do they provide refund if doesnt work? when did you last buy yours?

      • Yummy on 03/01/2023 - 15:56
        +2

        Not sure about refund, as I don't have any issues so far with my 4 keys in the last 3 years. Pretty sure they can re-issue another key if it didnt work. Get the retail version instead of OEM.

    • OzFrugie on 03/01/2023 - 16:00

      thanks. I tried this actually, did not work, gave me some error message

      • vodamerc on 03/01/2023 - 16:02

        There's 3? different methods, try another.

    • Loopholio on 04/01/2023 - 14:05

      I'm sure that's the tool I'l have used to activate two PCs and one laptop. No issues two years later.

    • vodamerc on 03/01/2023 - 16:03
      +1

      To be fair, we as Mac users pay for the software side of things within the initial hardware cost.

    • djsweet on 03/01/2023 - 16:04

      Not sure how you installed it, but if you used the latest install media it shouldn't have needed many updates. Maybe just a couple…

    • scrimshaw on 03/01/2023 - 16:10
      +3

      If you installed Windows using a very old ISO image (that is, you didn't grab a fresh one directly from Microsoft) then yes you would end up with an old build of windows and you will go through the pain of updating the OS to a newer build and applying all the cumulative updates.

      • happydude on 03/01/2023 - 16:21
        +2

        Agreed, PEBCAK error.

    • happydude on 03/01/2023 - 16:25

      Never had a problem with Mac App Store in my 15 years using Macs.

      The Mac App Store is less than 15 year old.

      I've never heard of someone having to pay for MacOS.

      You are showing your age. Apple used to charge for every update. And they were stupidly expensive.

    • scotty on 03/01/2023 - 17:01
      +1

      I've never heard of someone having to pay for MacOS

      My last mac was an iBook G3 that came with Jaguar, but had to pay to upgrade to Panther a year later (even wrote to APC Mag to complain about that back in 2003). Can't be bothered to pay $200 again 2 years later for Tiger, and that's the last of Mac hardware for me.

  • Drakesy on 03/01/2023 - 16:06

    plenty of free enterprise keys on youtube ;).

    Or a KMS server.

  • vince088 on 03/01/2023 - 17:15

    here 0.75 euros. bought many times no problems (under $2 AUD after fees)

    https://software-codes.com/product/os-10-pro-retail/

    • OzFrugie on 03/01/2023 - 20:26

      Just bought this. Ended up $4 aud after fees…
      Didnt work! I have a suspicion maybe it's my windows installation corrupted or something since using MAS tool me mentioned above also gave me error msg..

      What's the best (and easy) way to do clean install and reinstall win 10 pro?

  • bamzero on 04/01/2023 - 01:08
    +3

    If the hardware hasn't changed it should have activated again. Could try the generic 10 Pro key I guess.
    VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

  • The Hawk on 04/01/2023 - 13:42
    +2

    I'm still using old Windows 7 Pro keys I have and they enter and activate without issue on clean Windows 10 installs. I have also wiped and re-installed Windows 10 onto one of that machines (recently too) and it just activates without needing a key at all. I'm told

    I'm using the media creation tool to make a fresh USB installer whenever I do this too, so it's not like I'm using an old image either.
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10

    To re-install I just boot from the USB then choose custom install and delete the old disk partition before selecting that drive. It's quick and dirty and works a treat.

    When it comes to Windows 11 there are mixed reports, it seems you can use a Windows 7 Home key to activate Windows 11 Home directly, but the Pro version seems to need an install of Windows 10 then an upgrade to Windows 11 (after which you should be able to install Windows 11 with no Key and it just activate). I've only installed Windows 11 as an upgrade onto a Dell Laptop which doesn't even have an OEM key sticker… I then clean installed back to Windows 10. Both installs never asked for a key and both were/are activated without issues.

  • OzFrugie on 06/01/2023 - 00:22
    +1

    Thanks everyone for your input.
    I managed to resolve the activation issue by simply using the official media creation tool, then choose to "Upgrade".
    Somehow, after the upgrade/install finished, the windows activated successfully (without me having to put any key or make any call).

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