List anything you've done in attempt to diagnose or fix the problem.
I cannot find the version for the Windows 10 installation media and it will not install with a Windows 10 Pro installation USB drive.
Insert the USB flash drive to your PC and follow the next steps to get started: Step 1 Open the official Download Windows 10 page. I have a product key from my University for a Windows 10 Education version. Installing Windows 10 with a bootable USB can greatly reduce installation time. Once the installation is done, you need to restart your computer by clicking Restart now. Hopefully, Microsoft releases a fix to this soon. To install a free copy of the Windows 10 system, you need to create a compatible bootable media using the Media Creation Tool. Choose the drive or partition that you want to use for Windows 10.Then click Next. This process is a bit convoluted, but it does work out in the end. You should now have Windows 10 Pro up and running successfully. Your computer will restart a couple of times.Īfter that, you can then use your valid Windows 7 Professional/Ultimate or Windows 8 Pro product key to activate Windows 10 Pro. No, it will not activate Windows 10 Pro installations for free. Note: Don’t worry this is a publicly known key used for diagnostic purposes. Enter the following key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T.
Instead, you will have to use the default Windows 10 Pro product key to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. The problem is if you have Windows 10 Home installed, a Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, or Windows 8 Pro product key will not be recognized as valid even with the Easy Upgrade wizard.
The Windows 10 November Update introduces the ability to use your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key to activate the operating system. Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro Using a Premium Business Edition Windows Key Here is how you can work around the issue. Microsoft describes the behavior as design, but it’s an extra bit of chore and confusion when the setup is complete. This also removed the need for the Certificate of Authenticity stickers you would see attached to a PC running Windows 7 or earlier versions. Instead of using the old OEM SLP (System Lock Protection) key method, which allowed major brands such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo to install Windows in bulk, a unique product key is embedded in the computer’s firmware. Neither version is available under the first-year-free promotion and both will be available for download from Microsoft's Volume Licensing Center.On systems that came preinstalled with Windows 8, Microsoft introduced a new mechanism for product activation. Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education, editions will be available from Saturday, August 1. The five million Windows Insiders who have been testing Windows 10 will also get Windows 10 on July 29. Other Windows 7 and Windows 8 users will still be able to upgrade to Windows 10 by downloading an ISO image from Microsoft. To upgrade using Windows Update users must be running Windows 7 (Service Pack 1) or Windows 8 (Windows 8.1 Update). The free upgrade will be available until July next year and those choosing to switch to Windows 10 can cancel their reservations at "at any time", according to Microsoft. The 3GB file can be downloaded from 29th July. Most owners of Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 operating systems will see a Windows icon in their taskbar that will allow them to "reserve" their free upgrade to Windows 10. Those upgrading from a retail version of Windows 7 or 8, the post says, would be able to transfer their copy of Windows 10 to a new machine or PC with a new motherboard. Ian Moulster, Windows product manager, said: "My understanding is it's licensed to the device and not to you, so it's specific to the device and you wouldn't be able to use it elsewhere."Ī post on suggests that only those who have upgraded from OEM versions of Windows 7 and 8 will need to buy a new Windows 10 license after replacing a computer's motherboard. However, people running an upgraded version of Windows 10 may need to buy a new copy of Windows 10 if they switch to a new machine or "significantly upgrade the device" - which Microsoft counts as replacing the motherboard.
TechRepublic's sister site ZDNet also recently published a guide for people running early builds of Windows 10 under the Windows Insider Program, detailing how to create ISO files from the OS that can be used for a clean install.