How to Fix Windows 1. Product Key Activation Not Working. Share. Share. Share. Email. Product Activation was first introduced into the Windows family with the release of Windows XP in 2. Heres everything you need to know about how to find your Windows 10 product key and how activation works on free upgraded versus new retail copies of Windows. Hi, Can somebody help me how to reinstall and activate windows 7 I bought dell laptop few years ago, which came with Windows 7 home premium. Now my system is not. Activation pairs your product key with your computer. It is also used as a mechanism for copy protection in addition to defining support rights, depending on the product channel from which the software was acquired Retail, OEM, Volume License, or Trial. With Windows 1. 0, Microsoft has made huge announcements regarding product distribution. The most notable being that Windows 1. Windows 7, 88. 1 users for the first year. Regardless of this, product activation remains a part of Windows 1. In this article, we take a look at product activation and troubleshooting steps. Understand and Fix Windows 1. Product Key Activation. Things you should know A Windows 7 or Windows 88. Windows 1. 0. Windows 1. By default, Windows 1. Windows 7 or Windows 8 or Windows 8. Windows 1. 0 Preview build. If you perform a clean install on the first attempt, you will have to start over from an activated Windows 7 or Windows 8. Win 10 Activation Key' title='Win 10 Activation Key' />If you are prompted to enter a product key, click Do this later and give it a few days, Windows 1. Activation servers might be overwhelmed at times because of the volume of upgrades, so give it some time if you get an error message such as 0. XC0. 04. E0. 03, 0x. D, 0x. 80. 07. 23. B.   Windows 1. 0 will eventually activate as long as you upgrade using the appropriate method. There is no need to know your Windows 1. Understanding Product Activation in Windows 1. Product Activation in Windows 1. In previous Windows releases, when you installed an upgrade version of Windows  if you wanted to reinstall the upgrade version, you had first to reinstall the qualifying version from which you upgraded, reactivate it, then upgrade again and reactivate again. With Windows 1. 0, this is no longer the case. Once you are upgraded to Windows 1. DVD or USB and reinstall just Windows 1. Windows 1. 0 registers the device with the Product Activation Center and keeps a copy of your devices activation in a Cloud Store. When you perform reinstall or clean install the installation checks with Activation Server, detects the unique installation ID and produces the validation for your device. When Installing Windows 1. Build 1. 02. 40. To activate Windows 1. RTM, you must upgrade from a previous qualifying operating system that is genuine and activated. This includes Windows 7, Windows 88. Windows 1. 0 Insider Previews. If you are running the Windows 1. Enterprise Preview, you either need to stay in the Windows 1. Insider Preview Program, or activate using a product key from the Volume License Service Center VLSC. If you are not eligible to be running Windows 1. Journey Live Bootleg on this page. Enterprise, I suggest you make preparations to roll back to the original version of Windows your system was licensed for, and make a reservation to upgrade to Windows 1. Can I Perform a Clean Install Using the Free Upgrade No, it will require that you are running a previous qualifying version and start the upgrade from within the qualifying version. You can initiate a clean install after completing the Upgrade. Please be aware that you cannot use the free upgrade offer to perform a clean install on the first attempt You must first upgrade from the qualifying version of Windows 7 or Windows 88. Windows Update or using the ISO file. Tree In 3Ds Max. Ensure the upgrade is completed successfully and then ensure that it is activated. You can then proceed to do a clean install by using recovery media or using the Reset function in Start Settings Update Security Recovery Reset this PC Get Started. What if Windows Doesnt Activate If Windows 1. Internet Connection, restart and try again. Or wait a few days, and Windows 1. I downloaded the ISO file, but Windows 1. Please note The copy of Windows 1. Windows you are upgrading from. Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8. Core, Windows 8. 1 Core must use a Windows 1. Home ISO. Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8. Pro, Windows 8. 1 Pro must use a Windows 1. Pro ISO. Your currently installed copy of Windows must be activated. If it is not, you will be prompted to enter a product key. If you are using Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8. Enterprise, Windows 8. Enterprise editions you wont be able to use the free upgrade offer. The Get Windows 1. App Indicates My License is not Activated Again, you must ensure you are running a genuine activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 88. Click Start, right click Computer Windows 8 or later press Windows key X click System then click Properties. Check to make sure Windows is activated. I upgraded from an activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 88. I decided to reinstall using either the ISO file, Reset this PC, or Recovery drive, but I am prompted to enter a product key Select Do this later. Windows 1. 0 will automatically re activate within a few days. I just installed or reinstalled a preview build of Windows 1. I want to upgrade to the final release, but it will not activate. Microsoft has suspended Preview Builds and also deactivated their product keys at this time. This means you wont be able to download, install, or activate older builds such as 1. Your best option is to reinstall a valid license you have for either Windows 7, Windows 8. Windows 8. 1, make sure it is activated, then upgrade from that to Windows 1. July 2. 9th or later. If you maintained your current activated Windows 1. Preview, you should be able to upgrade from it to the final release. How do I check my activation status after upgrading Go to Settings press Windows key I Update security Activation. For more on fixing Windows 1.