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Windows 10 Activation (Insider)

qubit

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I don't really like this free upgrade system. It was much better (in fact it was perfect) with 7 -> 8 upgrade. You got your personal key and could activate it anytime or change faulty hardware and do the phone activation. Now you have generic key (if you didn't buy but used free upgrade system) and fully depend on MS.
Yes, quite. Critically, there's still a question of whether the old W7/8 key gets blocked after a time (is it 30 days?) of upgrading to W10 making the old OS unusable. If true, That makes it a part exchange with a monetary value and there's nothing free about that. In fact, it would be deceptive marketing from MS.
 

qubit

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This is exactly what I'm seeing and am still investigating. I don't want to get your hopes up though, as I think you're out of luck, unfortunately. I might be too, but I'm in with a chance and here is why.

I installed my Insider copy right at the start of the program on VMWare Player where it activated with my Live account. It also upgraded to the RTM copy when it was released and is activated. So far so good.

I then downloaded the ISO using Microsoft's tool and installed a clean copy on my laptop, again logging in with my Live account, but it won't activate, just like you've seen. Reason given is that the key is blocked. However, what I'm now gonna do is image that VM onto the laptop's HDD and see if that works. It may remain activated (doubtful), require a phone activation or simply not activate at all. Let's hope it activates.

BTW, I never opted out of the insider program and am still on the Fast updates, so my OS version is currently showing as 10.0.10532, which is later than the 10.0.10240 RTM build - it did a full OS install for it.

Finally, even though you can't activate yours, you can still do the upgrade thing from W7 or W8/8.1 so you're not actually stuck, you just don't get the Insider version.
Nope. Tried copying the VM over, but it said key blocked again. I guess I'm stuck with W10 on that VM lol.

Other than some dodgy third party hack, which I don't even know if it exists, the only way to get an activated W10 on something other than that VM is to either do the upgrade from W7/8 or buy it.

Interestingly, the one thing I can't seem to find at online retailers, is W10 Pro retail on DVD. You can get it on USB for £165, but not DVD.

Also, on the activation wizard, it's got a link to the Microsoft store where it can be bought for an expensive £190. Ouch.
 
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Hi!

I signed up in the windows insider program and got windows 10 free - the windows 10 insider preview updated to windows 10 pro.
Today i got another SSD and did a raid 0 on my system forcing me to do a clean install of windows but now it wont activate anymore.
Signing in with my microsoft account that was linked to the insider program didnt help.
Maybe i got this problem since i quit the insider program for several days and signed up again after i found out that my win 10 wont activate anymore.
Any ideas how to fix it?

Lauri

I bought Windows 7 Pro OEM key from G2Play.net for 12€ to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro - worked like a charm but be advised if you buy a OEM key you can not download the Win 7 iso from microsoft and have to get it elsewhere.
 

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit
Joined
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System Name Quantumville™
Processor Intel Core i7-2700K @ 4GHz
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance Black DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming X Trio
Storage Samsung 850 Pro 256GB | WD Black 4TB | WD Blue 6TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR (4K, 144Hz, G-SYNC compatible) | Asus MG28UQ (4K, 60Hz, FreeSync compatible)
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
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Power Supply Corsair AX1600i
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Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
I bought Windows 7 Pro OEM key from G2Play.net for 12€ to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro - worked like a charm but be advised if you buy a OEM key you can not download the Win 7 iso from microsoft and have to get it elsewhere.
A Windows key for just 12 Euros? That's pirate then.
 
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