• Windows 10 Asking For Product Key During Installation
• Windows 7 Asking For Product Key Again
• Windows Keeps Asking For Product Key

Windows 10 requires activation to verify you're running a genuine copy; a unique product key is used to ensure the a single licensed copy of Windows isn't being used on more than are allowed.

So I called microsoft before I read this. They told me my key was blocked and I need to call gateway to get a new liscence.

Gateway said there is nothing they can do, So I called microsoft back. Microsoft said that my key was blocked because it has been used over 100 times. Now they say I need to buy a new os Ok, tell me if I'm wrong.

Since windows came pre-installed isn't the key just a generic key used by gateway on many different computers with this version of windows.Yes, the Microsoft support person you talked to gave you bad information. He just put your OEM key thru our tool and the tool said the key was blocked. (Which it is because you can not use the OEM SLP key to Activate against Microsoft Activation servers. It's meant to self-activate as described in my above post.) The support person did not take the time to find out why it was blocked. I Apologize for him giving you incorrect information. Also I don't have a start button to get me to the point stated by darin smith.

I just have a black screen with a window that gives me the option to get on the internet for help or to put in a product key. Thanks againIf you do not have access to the start button, just replace step #1 and #7 (in my original post) with a) Click the option that opens an Internet Browser b) Type:%windir%system32 into the address field c) Find and run the file named cmd.exe 2) Type: slui.exe 3 and hit the Enter key 3) Type in the Product key from the sticker on your computer 4) Click the Next button. 5) You will be asked if want to Activate, click ok 6) It will attempt to Activate by the internet and will return an Invalid Key error (this is ok, continue to step 7) a) Return to the Internet Browser b) Type:%windir%system32 into the address field c) Find and run the file named cmd.exe 8) Type: slui.exe 4 and hit the Enter key 9) Select your location in the drop down menu and click the Next button 10) The next screen provides the number to call to Activate by Phone Thank you, Darin MS. I can't say for sure yet, so please let me know if this works for you, as it did work for me finally.

I tried a few of the things suggested like opening the dos prompt window, stopping and starting the network services, and changing the name of the tokens dat to tokens bar, etc. I was able to do a system restore, but the key to doing it was to boot up in safe mode, then start the system restore. I went back as far as I could, and it worked. I believe either an update from microsoft, or the new internet explorer 8 was the culprit for causing the problem to begin with. It seemed to make some kind of change to where it appeared to be a virus, and therefore some files were changed by a script somewhere. This error message was driving me crazy for days, with the black screen, and invalid copy of windows, and invalid code keys. I believe it to really be minor, but it appears as a major problem with the error messages, and it looks like EVERYONE is having a problem with this.

Also when the operating system comes factory installed, for some reason when your computer wants to verify that you have a genuine copy, the code key from the factory and the one from microsoft are two totally different codes. That makes no sense whatsover, and microsoft should get it together with the factories so it is not so confusing to people.

Anyway, try the restore. Do not reboot, but shut the computer down completely, wait about 1 minute, then boot up and hit the f8 key a few times. If you want to be sure to have access to the internet, you have to pick the 'safe mode with networking'.

When it is done, and reboots be patient, because it takes a little while to come back on, as it is writing changes while rebooting. Please let me know for sure if it works. Thank you and good luck. Hello jcoast, Computers, which are built by large manufactures that come with Windows Pre-Installed, come with two (2) Product Keys:A) OEM SLP: This key comes pre-installed in Windows, when it comes from the Factory.

This key is geared to work with the special instructions found only on that Manufacturer's computer hardware. So when Windows was installed using the OEM SLP key (at the factory) Vista looks at the motherboard and sees the special instructions and Self-Activates. (that's why you did not need to Activate your computer after you brought it home)B) COA SLP: This is the Product key that you see on the sticker on the side (or bottom) of your computer. It is a valid product key, but should only be used in limited situations (sush as if the OEM SLP key stops self-activating for whatever reason). The key must be activated by Phone.

(Note: All manufacturers that use the OEM SLP system are required by contract to include a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker, that has a COA SLP key, on the computer)Your Windows is using an OEM SLP key, but (for whatever reason) cannot see the special instructions in the computer’s motherboard and is unable to Self-Activate.To fix the issue, you will need to change out the OEM SLP key with the COA SLP key. The normal way to do this is to click the ‘Start’ button, right-click ‘Computer’, select ‘Properties’ and then click ‘Change Product Key’ (located in the lower right-hand side of the window). So I called microsoft before I read this. They told me my key was blocked and I need to call gateway to get a new liscence. Gateway said there is nothing they can do, So I called microsoft back.

Microsoft said that my key was blocked because it has been used over 100 times. Now they say I need to buy a new os Ok, tell me if I'm wrong. Since windows came pre-installed isn't the key just a generic key used by gateway on many different computers with this version of windows. I just typed my product key in to google and there is numerous websites with this key in it. That seems to explain why this key has been used so many times. It seems that anyone can get these keys, why should I be defered the cost of this problem that was not my fault. Also I don't have a start button to get me to the point stated by darin smith.

I just have a black screen with a window that gives me the option to get on the internet for help or to put in a product key. Thanks again. So I called microsoft before I read this.

They told me my key was blocked and I need to call gateway to get a new liscence. Gateway said there is nothing they can do, So I called microsoft back. Microsoft said that my key was blocked because it has been used over 100 times. Now they say I need to buy a new os Ok, tell me if I'm wrong. Since windows came pre-installed isn't the key just a generic key used by gateway on many different computers with this version of windows.Yes, the Microsoft support person you talked to gave you bad information. He just put your OEM key thru our tool and the tool said the key was blocked. (Which it is because you can not use the OEM SLP key to Activate against Microsoft Activation servers.

It's meant to self-activate as described in my above post.) The support person did not take the time to find out why it was blocked. I Apologize for him giving you incorrect information. Also I don't have a start button to get me to the point stated by darin smith. I just have a black screen with a window that gives me the option to get on the internet for help or to put in a product key. Thanks againIf you do not have access to the start button, just replace step #1 and #7 (in my original post) with a) Click the option that opens an Internet Browser b) Type:%windir%system32 into the address field c) Find and run the file named cmd.exe 2) Type: slui.exe 3 and hit the Enter key 3) Type in the Product key from the sticker on your computer 4) Click the Next button.

5) You will be asked if want to Activate, click ok 6) It will attempt to Activate by the internet and will return an Invalid Key error (this is ok, continue to step 7) a) Return to the Internet Browser b) Type:%windir%system32 into the address field c) Find and run the file named cmd.exe 8) Type: slui.exe 4 and hit the Enter key 9) Select your location in the drop down menu and click the Next button 10) The next screen provides the number to call to Activate by Phone Thank you, Darin MS. Thanks for the info, make sense now One more?

When looking for the cmd.exe file I found cmd cmdl32 cmdkey all are apllications-none with exe when I double click cmd.it say windows sytem 32 do I type in right after that? Thanks again cmd is the one you want. I forget sometimes that Windows is configured, by default, to not show the.xxx extention on the end of files. Just know that an application is generally a run-able file (also know as an executable or exe file).

Hope that helps, Darin. Did you try hitting the f8 key, and booting up in safe mode? If you can, then go to system restore, and try restoring.

Go back a couple of weeks, and try it, then when it is all done, you reboot. Please give it a try. Configjunkie Unfortunatly this suggests will not work. The core of the issue is that the OEM SLP key is unable to see the OEM Bios Flag (what describe in my first post as the 'the special instructions') which is why you need to change to the COA SLP product Key. The OEM Bios Flag is located in Hardware (the Motherboard) but is missing, in this case. A Windows System Restore is done in Software and would have no affect on Hardware.

I have a Lenovo Z510 laptop which originally came with Windows 8 Home. However, I wiped the HDD and reinstalled Windows 8 Pro using a valid key I purchase from school. Now I want to upgrade to Windows 10.

Because I have a Windows 8 Pro key, I should be able to activate Windows 10 Pro with the same key.The issue I am having is that during a fresh install of Windows 10, the installation is NOT asking me for a license key. It is automatically assuming I have Windows 8 Home which originally came with my laptop (embedded in BIOS) and thus it is installing Windows 10 Home. I want to install Windows 10 Pro along with my valid Windows 8 Pro license key.Below are the steps I have taken to troubleshoot:- Create a Windows 10 USB installer using- I ensured BIOS is set to UEFI mode- I ensured thatI am not understanding why Windows 10 installation keeps grabbing my OEM key. I have done a Windows 10 install on another laptop which came with Windows 7 Pro, and during installation it asked me for a license key. I selected 'i don't have a key', then it asked me if I wanted to install Home or Pro. Assuming you still have Win 10 Home running in your computer.Start button Settings Update & Security left side, click Activation right side, click Change Product key now enter this generic Pro product key.VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66TThat will start changing your Win 10 Home to Pro, but not activated.When completed, use you Win 8 Pro key to activate.Does that method work for you?I was hoping for an more proper approach to bypass or ignore the default OEM key embedded in the BIOS. I want to do a vanilla (clean) install of Windows 10.I did find a temporary solution, using the.

All I did was enter the following text below. Windows 10 installer asked me if I wanted to install Home or Pro. However, it did NOT ask me for a key.

I guess I can just enter the valid key after installation. I was hoping for an more proper approach to bypass or ignore the default OEM key embedded in the BIOS. I want to do a vanilla (clean) install of Windows 10.I did find a temporary solution, using the. All I did was enter the following text below. Windows 10 installer asked me if I wanted to install Home or Pro. However, it did NOT ask me for a key. I guess I can just enter the valid key after installation.When Windows 10 home is clean installed, it basically includes the PRO software as well but you need a pro key to unlikely the extras.Simply go to the activation menu, there is now a link that says 'go to store'.Click that link, and then the pro upgrade page comes up.Under the 'buy pro' button is a link 'I have a 10 pro key'.Click that link and enter your 8.1 key and you will activate the extra features.

I was hoping for an more proper approach to bypass or ignore the default OEM key embedded in the BIOS. I want to do a vanilla (clean) install of Windows 10.I did find a temporary solution, using the. All I did was enter the following text below. Windows 10 installer asked me if I wanted to install Home or Pro. However, it did NOT ask me for a key. I guess I can just enter the valid key after installation.You need to delete the EI.CFG file and use a PID.txt file instead.PIDvalue=VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66TThat will cause Windows 10 PRO to install without asking you for a product key or which version you want to install. If you have a digital entitlement for Windows 10 Pro saved on Microsoft activation servers, it will activate automatically.

Windows 10 Asking For Product Key During Installation

If you don't, then you will have to go to the activation screen, change product key, and enter your Windows 8 Pro product key to activate it.Skip the ei.cfg portion and do only the PID.txt file. You need to delete the EI.CFG file and use a PID.txt file instead.PIDvalue=VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66TThat will cause Windows 10 PRO to install without asking you for a product key or which version you want to install. If you have a digital entitlement for Windows 10 Pro saved on Microsoft activation servers, it will activate automatically. If you don't, then you will have to go to the activation screen, change product key, and enter your Windows 8 Pro product key to activate it.Skip the ei.cfg portion and do only the PID.txt file.

Windows 7 Asking For Product Key Again

That's the way I get around the auto detection of my 8.0 Core OEM key. I don't think you'll find an ei.cfg file in Windows 10 though? Not on the multi edition Home/Pro ISO anyway.

Windows Keeps Asking For Product Key

Windows 7 has one but I don't think Windows 8 or 10 uses it anymore. I ended up using the ei.cfg method as I mentioned eariler.I do NOT want to use the PID.txt approach. The reason for this is because I have other valid keys for Windows 7 and 8 that are either Home or Professional. I want to convert these to Windows 10. Thus, I rather have a standard USB installer, and manually choose Home or Pro during install, and after installation, I can enter my Windows 7 or 8 key to activate.Please mark your thread as Solved so others with similar issue will know there is an answer in this thread.Thank you.