Windows 10 automated phone activation

Question

a few years ago I had many Optiplex running Win 7 Pro which I could type in Win 7 product key to activate fresh clean install Win 10.

Now MS has cut off this upgrade path. none of the key works any more.

some say and show that run slui 4 can open an automated phone method to activate Win 10. I tried. nothing shows up. I am using latest Win 10 USB media to install.

seems no way for me to activate other than using my organization service. previous method of using digital license not working now.

Win 10 on its way out, why does MS make life so hard on users.

ejn63 · Answer

The free upgrade to Windows 10 ended a while ago, which is the issue. And now that Microsoft no longer sells upgrade licenses for Windows 10, your only option is Windows 11 or paying for an upgrade license from a third party.

Unfortunately, anything old enough to have shipped with Windows 7 is likely not qualified for Windows 11 -- and buying a Windows 10 license in light of the fact that it too will go end of life in 2025 may not make much financial sense at this point.

DellDimension · Answer

very true what he said older desktops and laptops and etc old dell computers like the dimension used pentium 4 processor and other stuff so you would need to buy a new PC I suggest getting one online, at best buy, Microcenter, Costco(if you have membership), or Walmart.

redxps630 · Answer

I wonder whether the automated phone method was a feature of older version of Win 10.  there are online video showing it.  it is like Win 7 or XP automated way.  a small window opens showing your installation ID.  you call a number and it sends you a SMS text which opens a webpage to type in the ID, submit which then gives you a code to type in PC.  newest Win 10 may have removed this feature in its code?

ann_droid · Answer

slui 4 option seems to work for me. I could perhaps try a country near you, for you?

redxps630 · Answer

That is very interesting. Are you running Win 10 22H2?  Did you type in a product key at beginning of clean install?  I always picked 'I don’t have a product key '.  Curious why when I ran slui 4 in command line (as admin) it just returns to a new command line and nothing happened.

ann_droid · Answer

Hi

Dunno.

This laptop installed W10 as soon as power was applied/I opened the "clamshell".

It encrypted the drive and put my 48 character code into my MS account, without my knowing.

Which made installing Linux a tad tricky.

It has been running the ""same"" W10 for over 3 years so far, and assorted Linuxes.

I have used the MS phone service for my 2011 iMAC when I transitioned from W7 to W10 without a hitch.

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I think the slui 4 probably looks at the Registry Key,

Navigate to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
Look for the “Product ID” or “DigitalProductID” value. This will display the Windows 10 product key.

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Quite honestly I am in the dark as to the machinations of Microsoft.

Windows General

Windows 10 automated phone activation

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