Windows 10 Activation Issues and Possible Solutions

So you finally got Windows 10 on your computer. Did you perform an upgrade or a clean installation? Hold on! Whatever the way you used to install will not stop the havoc coming due to some ignorant mistakes and incompatibilities. Installing Windows 10 have showed up activation issues on most of the computers. This happens when you have done the following.

1. Upgraded from a invalid Windows version
2. Performed a first clean installation instead of upgrading
3. Formatted or replaced the hard drive
4. The genuine version of the OS is replaced
5. Your OS is installed on multiple PCs
6. Counterfeit software
7. You brought an old computer
8. Replaced the identifiable hardware

1. Upgraded from a invalid Windows version

Windows 10 need to be connected to the internet to activate itself after the upgrade. There might be two reasons if it is not yet been activated i.e., it might have not been connected to the internet or the activation servers are busy. If both are not the cases, the only reason might be the upgrading has done on a computer which had invalid license all the time.

If you have upgraded from invalid licensed older Windows to Windows 10, the new operating system would go for a cross check online and if the license is no valid, will not activate the product.

Solution 1: Go to Windows support site and check for the reasons that apply. If the error is caused due to invalid product key, get a new one from Microsoft store.

Solution 2: Get an original older Windows operating system from any other ecommerce retailers for easy buying.

To make it much simpler for you, I’ve listed out Windows versions of Windows 7 and Windows 8 to buy (for better results, pick a version that you had on your computer with invalid license so far).

Windows 7 Home Premium	Windows 8	Windows 8.1
Windows 7 Professional	Windows 8 Pro	Windows 8.1 pro
Windows 7 Ultimate	Windows 8 Enterprise	Windows 8.1 Enterprise
Windows 7 Enterprise

2. Performed a first clean installation instead of upgrading

Even if you are upgrading to Windows 10 using the ISO file that was created using the media creation tool, you have to choose ‘Upgrade Windows’ option instead of ‘Custom Installation’ method. Or else, you will be asked to enter the product activation key for Windows 10 because you didn’t let the upgradation happen through the valid channel.

Solution: Go back to your previous operating system and check if the older Windows is activated. If it is activated, then proceed with the process again, by selecting ‘Upgrade Windows’ option this time.

3. Formatted or replaced the hard drive

If you have formatted or replaced your hard drive in which you want to install Windows 10, you won’t be able to use the product key of your older Windows OS without having it installed on the computer. Or else, you will get a 0xC004F061 error.

Solution: Install the older operating system from which you wanted to upgrade your PC to Windows 10 first and then try the upgrading process later.

4. The genuine version of the OS is replaced

If you ever had taken your PC to a repair shop or technician who does all the fixes, there will be chances that he might have replaced your original OS with another patched version or installed another license key. You won’t find the difference until you cross check for its validity in such cases. The key will be blocked during the cross check process if it was used on more than allowed number of PCs.

Solution: Replace the original license key of the product with the invalid one and then start the upgrading process.

5. Your OS is installed on multiple PCs

Just like in the above case, if you have shared your OS with your friends or installed it on your current PC after being used on more than allowed number of PCs, the key would be considered as invalid.

Solution: Buy a new license in order to activate your current version of Windows and try upgrading it later.

6. Counterfeit software

If you have an unpublished version of Microsoft Windows license key installed on your PC, you cannot activate your Windows 10 after the upgrade.

Solution: Report about the counterfeit software to Microsoft and buy a genuine license key.

7. You brought an old computer

If you have brought an used computer or bought it second handedly, the license key on it might have been used on multiple PCs by then or it is given to you with disallowed version of OS installed on it.

Solution: Ask the seller for the original Windows DVD and license key. If he don’t have it, you have to buy a genuine version of the license key.

8. Replaced the identifiable hardware

If you have made substantial changes to the hardware which directly impacts the activation of the operating system software, activation issues might arise. Check out this solution from Microsoft website in such case.

Hope that helps!