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leenowell

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February 4th, 2021 01:00

Upgrading to Win10 invalid key

Hi All,

I have a machine running Windows 7 and have finally got around to upgrading it to Win10.  There are a number of articles online saying that since Nov 2020 the Windows 10 ISO allows you to upgrade your Win 7 installation using the Win 7 key.  This should happen without asking for the key itself.

Unfortunately, when I try this, it asks me for a key. Online it says the Win 7 key will work but I am having no joy.  There appears to be 3 keys on my systems

1. If I go to system in control panel I get one key which has OEM in the middle

2. The sticker on the PC has a different key

3. Using a tool to get the key I get a different key again.

I have tried all 3 and none seem to work.  Looking in Windows 7 it also downloaded an update which then says it will auto activate in 3 days but clicking "activate now" and entering the 3 keys above also fails.

 

Anyone have any idea how to do this as I have been searching online and have drawn a blank.

 

Thanks in advance for your help

 

Lee.

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    speedstep

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    Posted February 8th, 2021 13:00

    @DELL-Cares  this is a user that has VISTA COA and deactivated windows 7 with no key.

    The system is 14 years old and well out of warranty so I fail to see how you could help.

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information#

    As of January 14, 2020, your computer running Windows 7 will still function but Microsoft will no longer provide the following:

    • Technical support for any issues
    • Software updates
    • Security updates or fixes
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    speedstep

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    Posted February 8th, 2021 13:00

    "Whilst this seemed to work OK and I was back top my Windows 7 pro install, it has not put me into a 30 day trial mode and wants me to reactivate the Windows 7 I already had."

    30 day trial mode is because you never actually had a legal WIN7 SLP KEY or COA.

    Nobody is authorized to sell this anymore because 7 is EOL EOS. OEM Dell 7 wont work either because you dont have win7 SLP KEY in bios.

    No IDEA if the vendor below is legit.  Once MS gets hold of this they will make them take it down.  It looks fake to me.

    https://www.amazon.com/Window-Professional-64-bit-OEM-DVD/dp/B08NTLXRZ3

    A System Locked Pre-installation key, or SLP key, is a product key that does NOT require activation.  however there are no upgrades for xp/vista to windows 10.

     

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    speedstep

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    Posted February 8th, 2021 13:00

    No it was never legally activated and that's why you do not have a valid win7 key. or COA.

    Your Only Option at this point is to buy a win10 retail media or OEM windows 10 DVD.

    The OEM DVD is $50 cheaper than retail.

    There were various hacker tools that reset and rearmed 7 so that it never went out of activation.

    Microsoft eventually figured this out and disabled those things via windows update.

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    speedstep

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    Posted February 4th, 2021 04:00

    20h2 wont take win7 keys

    you need an earlier version like 1909 1803 etc

    The OEM SLP key cannot be used.

    Buy an OEM DVD and install using the I dont have a key option

    for home or pro  

    Whatever your coa key says choose that version

    there is no difference between home and pro dvd $12 they are the same disk. Buy this today. They will soon be gone forever and they are not making more.  The refurbishers program is cancelled and win7 and 8 are EOL EOS GAME OVER.

    https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-64-bit-installation-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350237

     

    7 coa7 coa

     

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    leenowell

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    Posted February 4th, 2021 12:00

    @speedstep  fantastic thanks for this.  I have a load of software I don't want to lose so want to check I have it right.  So I upgrade to Win10 using the generic key and then assume this won't work properly other than to boot it.  I then activate it with the win7 key I already have on the PC - I got it using one of the free tools which gets your license keys for you. This should then activate it and I am sorted?  Assume my existing Office keys will also allow me to update as needed for Win10 also?

    Thanks very much once again


    Lee.

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    leenowell

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    Posted February 4th, 2021 12:00

    @speedstep thanks very much for your reply.  I have tried using the 1803 iso and still it asks for the product key and again the keys don't work.  Is the only option to either buy the OEM cd or buy a new win10 license?  It seems odd given there is widespread info on the web that since back end of 2020 MS have permitted win 7 licenses to be used.

     

    thanks

    Lee.

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    speedstep

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    Posted February 4th, 2021 12:00

    You can use a generic key with 1803 to install but it wont activate.

    Once online you can activate using the WIN7 home or PRO  COA KEY

    The SLUI 3 command starts that once online.

    START RUN admin cmd prompt.  SLUI.EXE 3

    You cannot use a home key to activate pro and vice versa.

     

    Windows 10 Edition  Generic Key
    Windows 10 Home YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7
    Windows 10 Home N 4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHW
    Windows 10 Home Single Language BT79Q-G7N6G-PGBYW-4YWX6-6F4BT
       
    Windows 10 Pro VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
    Windows 10 Pro N 2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKT
    Windows 10 Pro for Workstations DXG7C-N36C4-C4HTG-X4T3X-2YV77
    Windows 10 Pro N for Workstations WYPNQ-8C467-V2W6J-TX4WX-WT2RQ
     
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    speedstep

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    Posted February 4th, 2021 13:00

    You cannot use the OEM SLP KEY in bios.

    OEMs such as Dell use system locked preinstallation (SLP) keys.

    https://www.dell.com/community/Windows-General-Wiki/Windows-7-SLP-Keys/ta-p/5190724#

     

    existing Office keys 2010 2012 2013 work earlier versions are not supported.

    Support for Office 2010 ended on October 13, 2020

    https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Office-Student-Family-Version/dp/B00337D8U6/

    Office 2010 is no longer supported. However, if you still want to install it, you'll need an Office 2010 installation disc and product key for the version you're trying to install.

    Because of potential backward compatibility issues the default installed version is 32-bit. However, if the 64-bit version is a better choice, follow the 64-bit installation procedure in this article.

    Note: For more information about the 64-bit version, see Choose the 64-bit or 32-bit version of Office.

    Note: If you bought Office for personal use through your company's Microsoft HUP benefit, you may not be able to sign in here. Find installation help at Install Office through HUP.

    You MUST USE the 25 digit product key on its COA which is that systems license sticker.

    The generic Key allows clean install not an upgrade

    you must transfer your data files and reinstall apps.

    You intstall clean on a new blank hard drive

    Bios should be set AHCI not RAID

    https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-Internal-Drive-3-5-Inch/dp/B07H2RR55Q/

    You get your data from the OLD drive via dock or drive wire

    https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-FIDECO-Converter-5-25-Inch-DVD-ROM/dp/B077N2KK27

    You then must reinstall your Apps.

     

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    speedstep

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    Posted February 5th, 2021 12:00

    SLP key is vista.

    Not going to work.

    You should buy a full OEM DVD with WIN10 COA

    Microsoft does its best to confuse users by putting this is not a COA on their OEM stickers. they also make the COA VERY FRAGILE. So you should gently scratch off the grey/silver Microsoft portion with a coin to reveal the full product key. OEM software is not supported by Microsoft. However without breaking my arm to pat myself on the back ... I believe I do a Much better Job than they do and I do it free.

    Furthermore you should cover the COA with Clear Scotch tape to protect the numbers from being rubbed off.

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/software-packaged?rtc=1

     

    coa.jpg

    https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-64-bit/p/N82E16832588491

    Its always better to have non infect-able recovery DVD.

    Flash drives de trap

    Burned disks die over time.

    You only need 1 disk.

    It can be used to recover with the I dont have a key or generic key for install and does not require you to be online.

    I always set up windows 10 with a local account and say no no no no no no no no for cortana and sync and microsoft account etc.

    You can boot and run without needing to login to microsoft or get online.

     

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    leenowell

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    Posted February 5th, 2021 12:00

    Hi @speedstep 

     

    Thanks again for a very helpful reply.  Looking closer at the sticker on the PC, it was originally installed with Vista so the key on the sticker must be for Vista (hence why it is different to the one the tool got).  This would imply it was upgraded to Win 7 so does that mean it now has a normal key or is it still using the SLP one?

    thanks

    Lee.

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