Windows 10 Technical Preview - Insider Program

[Nuro]

It seems like I made a lot of extra work for myself by upgrading to 10240. I'm stuck with a generic Windows 10 key and not sure if my copy will stay activated, my only option will probably be to revert back to 8.1 and then upgrade using the ISO to get a new key.

Both upgrades I have done end up with a generic key. I don't know if they will issue new keys. It does look like the activation is tied to a hardware id, so activation happens automatically on a fresh install.

 

[AchmatK]

Just a quick question. I was on the technical preview but had to restore my laptop last week to factory setting. Something went wrong and the HP recovery drive is not working. Waiting on HP to quote me on shipping out new recovery disks. I installed 8 and 8.1 and cant activate the OEM key from the bios.



Would a clean install of 10 take the key from my bios? Not even sure which windows version came with the laptop initially. Laptop is an HP envy 15" TouchSmart.

 

[Dom1n8tr1x]

Both upgrades I have done end up with a generic key. I don't know if they will issue new keys. It does look like the activation is tied to a hardware id, so activation happens automatically on a fresh install.

I surely hope that they issue a non-generic key if I do my upgrade from 8.1 to 10 with my 8.1 key. The only thing that bothers me is that my copy of 10240 may not stay activated if I leave the Insiders Program even though I upgraded from a genuine 8.1

 

[Hemps]

Window 10 Upgrade failed downloaded all 3GIGS then proceeded to install then bang....... FAILED

WTF what now?

Any ideas, bar the ISO option will be much appreciated!!!

Maybe some of your programs are incompatible with Windows 10, I found that my Win7 clean install had no issues with the update BUT my Dell which has loads of stuff installed struggled until i removed all the programs, now its installing....

 

[Nimz]

My Surface Pro got updated to Windows 10 this morning and since then I am unable to send any mail via Outlook 2013

Keep getting this error code: 0x800ccc13

Can receive mail though and the smtp settings are correct

Tried from a gmail account and telkomsa.net account

Tried this on another PC that updated Windows to Win 10

Same issue

Need this sorted urgently - both are work pc's which require mails to be sent and received on

 

[skimread]

My OUtlook 2013 which was upgraded from 8.1 is working. Although I only created the outlook mail account after upgrading.

 

[Nimz]

My OUtlook 2013 which was upgraded from 8.1 is working. Although I only created the outlook mail account after upgrading.

both of these were on 8.1 and had accounts on it before upgrading

Might have to delete it all and start outlook fresh.

But i have tried creating a new outlook profile and adding an account - does the same thing on that profile

 

[Electron1]

Just a quick question. I was on the technical preview but had to restore my laptop last week to factory setting. Something went wrong and the HP recovery drive is not working. Waiting on HP to quote me on shipping out new recovery disks. I installed 8 and 8.1 and cant activate the OEM key from the bios.



Would a clean install of 10 take the key from my bios? Not even sure which windows version came with the laptop initially. Laptop is an HP envy 15" TouchSmart.

You have to have either windows 7 with SP1 or Windows 8.1 with update 1 installed and activated on the machine that you want to upgrade to. To avoid the wait for the windows 8.1 disks from HP, you can download the install (of windows 8.1) from this site:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ZA/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
Select the correct version to download and it will use your windows 8 key that is embedded. To get the key from the BIOS use rw-everything (google for instructions on how to use it).

Then, as long as the windows installation is on the drive you are installing on, in theory (as far as I can tell ) you can boot off the windows 10 iso which checks for a windows 7 sp1 or windows 8.1 installation on the drive, and do a clean install which should activate by itself (based on this article http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/windows-10-clean-install-using-media-creation-tool#slide-0-field_images-57241).

 

[Nirv]

So does a retail (transferrable)win 8.1 key become a non-transferrable win 10 key?

 

[Arthur]

So does a retail (transferrable)win 8.1 key become a non-transferrable win 10 key?

Good Q, to which I haven't seen an answer. In the past FPP could be uninstalled and reactivated on new hw. I expect the same with Win10, but don't know and haven't tried as I don't have a Win8.x FPP key.

FPP = Full Packaged Product, MS name for the full retail version.

 

[Nirv]

Good Q, to which I haven't seen an answer. In the past FPP could be uninstalled and reactivated on new hw. I expect the same with Win10, but don't know and haven't tried as I don't have a Win8.x FPP key.

That's a bit worrying, as my system is getting a bit long in the tooth and I'd like to upgrade most components next year. I'd prefer to avoid paying for an essentially free OS (only bought 8.1 mid last year) because of licensing issues that only occur through a need to upgrade parts at an "unfortunate" time.

 

[Dom1n8tr1x]

I finally found the answer I've been looking for.

Important Note to persons installing build Windows 10 10240

In order to activate Windows 10 build 10240 (RTM), you must upgrade from a previous qualifying operating system that is genuine and activated: this includes Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10 Insider Previews.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...10-build/33f31475-93b3-4d1c-812f-4b21fbd807a7

 

[faniebraai]

I finally found the answer I've been looking for.



http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...10-build/33f31475-93b3-4d1c-812f-4b21fbd807a7

i upgraded from a pirated windows 7 and it activated just fine.

 

[Dom1n8tr1x]

i upgraded from a pirated windows 7 and it activated just fine.

Nice. I'm just glad that I'll be able to upgrade to Win 10 RTM from my Preview version according to the article. That's all I really wanted to know.

 

[chrismine]

I have just resign from Insider on Pc upgraded from Windows 8.1 legal and still activated. Glad I don't have to do a clean install. Have a 2nd pc on insider program though.

 

[kyton]

mine will not activate. legit win8 pro upgrade key. Strange thing is the last 4 digits that they show me is completely different to the one i have, unless win8.1 changed my win8 key

 

[AchmatK]

You have to have either windows 7 with SP1 or Windows 8.1 with update 1 installed and activated on the machine that you want to upgrade to. To avoid the wait for the windows 8.1 disks from HP, you can download the install (of windows 8.1) from this site:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ZA/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
Select the correct version to download and it will use your windows 8 key that is embedded. To get the key from the BIOS use rw-everything (google for instructions on how to use it).

Then, as long as the windows installation is on the drive you are installing on, in theory (as far as I can tell ) you can boot off the windows 10 iso which checks for a windows 7 sp1 or windows 8.1 installation on the drive, and do a clean install which should activate by itself (based on this article http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/windows-10-clean-install-using-media-creation-tool#slide-0-field_images-57241).

Tried all that. I have the bios key already using the tool.

Here's what I've tried doing thus far.

Installed windows 8 core. Bios key will not activate
Installed windows 8.1 core. Same issue
Installed windows 8 Pro. Same issue
Installed windows 8.1 Pro. Same issue

All were 64bit. According to HP. My laptop came shipped with 8.1

I have Windows8 pic at the bottom.

If I do a clean(not upgrade) install of windows 10, will it take the bios key without having an activated current windows install. If yes then I will not bother with the recovery media from HP.

Also don't have a CD so will need to boot from flash drive.

 

[giggity]

I'm still using insider previews. Latest update has messed up the Realtek drivers on my laptop. Everything else seems fine.

 

[NeoNarchy]

Tried all that. I have the bios key already using the tool.

Here's what I've tried doing thus far.

Installed windows 8 core. Bios key will not activate
Installed windows 8.1 core. Same issue
Installed windows 8 Pro. Same issue
Installed windows 8.1 Pro. Same issue

All were 64bit. According to HP. My laptop came shipped with 8.1

I have Windows8 pic at the bottom.

If I do a clean(not upgrade) install of windows 10, will it take the bios key without having an activated current windows install. If yes then I will not bother with the recovery media from HP.

Also don't have a CD so will need to boot from flash drive.

Is your WIN8 not accepting any of the keys when installing the above versions? if so then you might have Windows 8.1 with bing. You would then have to get recovery media. SL & Pro would have no problem activating unless your laptop came out with 8, doing an upgrade from there via media would entail upgrading with a dummy key & then removing the dummy key via elevated CMD & typing "slmgr /upk" then activating windows with your original key. ( had same kek with 8.1 bing versions this week not able to find media) to do a clean install

What model HP is it btw?

 

[AchmatK]

Is your WIN8 not accepting any of the keys when installing the above versions? if so then you might have Windows 8.1 with bing. You would then have to get recovery media. SL & Pro would have no problem activating unless your laptop came out with 8, doing an upgrade from there via media would entail upgrading with a dummy key & then removing the dummy key via elevated CMD & typing "slmgr /upk" then activating windows with your original key. ( had same kek with 8.1 bing versions this week not able to find media) to do a clean install

What model HP is it btw?

It's not accepting the key in any of the installs.

Model
HP ENVY Touch Smart 15-j151ei Notebook PC (ENERGY STAR)