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10086
October 26th, 2016 07:00
had to install new hard drive, windows key not working
My hard drive died in my Inspiron 660. I ordered a new hard drive and a Dell USB recovery key. Dell recommended a recovery key for Windows 8 pro based on my service tag. I installed the new drive and used the recovery key to install Windows 8 pro. I then used a third party tool to get the product key from the BIOS. The product key does not work. I'm wondering if the product key on the BIOS is for Windows 8, not Windows 8 pro. If so, Dell recommended the wrong recovery key.
What do I need to do to successfully activate Windows?
Secondly, on my old hard drive, I had upgraded to Windows 10 when it was a free upgrade. How do I get the free upgrade back?
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Philip_Yip
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16.1K Posts
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October 26th, 2016 10:00
Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 TH1 and TH2 had edition specific installation issues. Your key may be a Single Language Edition or a with Bing Edition and hence rejected by installation media of the wrong Edition.
From Windows 10 TH2 and later all Windows 8.x and 7 OEM keys are treated as Windows 10 keys. Edition specific installation problems were fixed with Windows 10 RS1. The Windows 10 RS1 .iso is multi-edition. It contains all OEM Editions and will automatically pickup a Windows 8/8.1/10 UEFI BIOS OEM System Locked Preinstallation key and automatically install the correct Edition of Windows 10:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-10-oem-and-retail-iso/
DELL-Jesse L
Moderator
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17.6K Posts
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October 26th, 2016 08:00
wrxin,
Where is my Windows product key, and how can I tell that my Windows installation is genuine?
Windows 8 Support
You can click the link below to download and create your Windows 10 Media.
Dell Windows Recovery Image
wrxin
5 Posts
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October 26th, 2016 09:00
I'm 99% sure the issue is that Dell sent me the wrong recovery USB key. The one I was sent is for Windows 8 Pro. I just performed the steps in Microsoft KB 978305. Then I entered the key stored in the BIOS. I got an error that the key I entered was not for the correct Windows 8 version.
So now I guess I need another recovery key? I don't know why Dell would have sent me a Win 8 Pro key when it looks like my desktop came with Win 8.
wrxin
5 Posts
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October 26th, 2016 09:00
Thank you for the reply Jesse but those links don't help me with my product key issue. My Insprion has a genuine Microsoft Windows 8 sticker on the back, the color shifting one. I did not get a license key with my recovery USB key. I tried the license key that is stored on the BIOS and that didn't work.
I tried another third party tool called ShowKeyPlus, which displayed some different keys, none of which worked.
I don't think I can upgrade to Windows 10 without Windows 8 being activated?
This is message I get when I try to activate any of the keys I've tried:
the activation server determined that the specified product key has been blocked
wrxin
5 Posts
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October 26th, 2016 10:00
Ok interesting. So I should be able to follow your link and Windows 10 will pickup the BIOS key? I'll give it a shot. It will know that I got a free Windows 10 upgrade during the free period?
Philip_Yip
9 Legend
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16.1K Posts
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October 26th, 2016 14:00
1. It doesn't matter about the 1 year free upgrade... unused Windows 7/8.x OEM keys still activate Windows 10 making systems Windows 10 Edition Devices. 2. Even if Microsoft do decide to stop new activations with unused Win 7/8.x OEM keys your system is already a Windows 10 Edition Device, meaning its system hardware profile is stored with a Microsoft Product Activation server) and Windows 10 Edition will automatically reactivate when online.
wrxin
5 Posts
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October 26th, 2016 15:00
Thanks so much for your help everyone! I finally got Windows 10 installed.
One key issue I had to overcome, the upgrade was freezing at one point with just the dell logo on the screen. After some searching. the fix was to turn of secure boot in the bios settings. That one gem was key to this working.