Symptom

There is a prompt to enter a product key during the Windows 10 upgrade.

Applicable Brands

• ThinkCentre
• ThinkStation
• ThinkPad
• idea Tablet
• ideapad
• ideacentre

Operating Systems

Windows 10

Solution

Scenario One: The user downloaded the .ISO file but is being prompted to enter a product key when starting setup.

Answer:
The downloaded copy of Windows 10 must correspond with the edition of Windows you are upgrading from:

• Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core must use a Windows 10 Home ISO.
• Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro must use a Windows 10 Pro ISO.
• The currently installed copy of Windows must be activated. If it is not, there will be a prompt to enter a product key.
• If using Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8.0 Enterprise, or Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions, this will not work unless you have access to a volume license program.

Scenario Two: The user performs a Windows 10 clean install on a brand-new G70-70 preloaded with Windows 8.1. They are asked twice for a product key, but also allow the installation to continue. When activating Windows 10, the Activation screen shows there is an existing product key of *****-8HVX7, but the error details show 0xC004C003 - The activation server determined that the specified product key has been blocked.

Answer:
First upgrade the Windows 8.1 installation to Windows 10. This also upgrades the Windows 8.1 key to Windows 10. After that, reinstall Windows 10. Make sure that the Windows 10 upgrade has been activated.

To learn more on How to perform a clean install using Reset this PC in Windows 10, click here.

To learn more about, why I cannot activate Windows 10, click here.

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