Having issues activating Windows

TheSuspect · March 4, 2017

I've downloaded a trial version of Windows from it's site and installed it via Usb, since my pc doesn't have an optical drive. Some time goes by and I end up getting a Windows key legitimately from a physical store. The disk is useless as I've previously stated, so I entered the key from the box into Windows, but it keeps denying it and saying there was an error activating. It's impossible for me to utilize the disk, so is there a way I could work around this?

RoroTheDeer · March 4, 2017

Go to this website to create a USB install disk (Windows 10);

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

From the fresh install after you've connected to the internet you should be able to activate your Windows correctly. It's highly possible that you're trying to activate the wrong version of Windows.

March 4, 2017

5 minutes ago, TheSuspect said:

I've downloaded a trial version of Windows from it's site and installed it via Usb, since my pc doesn't have an optical drive. Some time goes by and I end up getting a Windows key legitimately from a physical store. The disk is useless as I've previously stated, so I entered the key from the box into Windows, but it keeps denying it and saying there was an error activating. It's impossible for me to utilize the disk, so is there a way I could work around this?

I suggest you go with @Insp1r3, as I did the same with my friend that had the problem.

TheSuspect · March 4, 2017

33 minutes ago, Insp1r3 said:

Go to this website to create a USB install disk (Windows 10);

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

From the fresh install after you've connected to the internet you should be able to activate your Windows correctly. It's highly possible that you're trying to activate the wrong version of Windows.

Isn't that going to wipe files from my os drive? What would change after the installation? And how would I go about doing that?

RoroTheDeer · March 4, 2017

50 minutes ago, TheSuspect said:

Isn't that going to wipe files from my os drive? What would change after the installation? And how would I go about doing that?

It will wipe the files, but you just need to save those somewhere else like an external HDD or USB drive while performing the fresh install.

If you have any Microsoft programmes like Office, get into contact with them on their live chat and they'll sort it out for you;

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/ (USA)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/contactus/ (GB)