Confirm that your copy of Windows is activated.

If you have a PC running a 'genuine' copy of Windows 7/8/8.1 (Windows 7 Home, Pro, or Ultimate edition, or Windows 8.x Home or Business, properly licensed and activated), you can follow the same steps I did to install Windows 10 as an upgrade.īefore getting started, I recommend a few preliminary tasks that can head off potential problems: Want your own digital license to the latest Windows 10 version? Follow these instructions. For help decoding setup errors, see 'Windows 10: Use setup log files to troubleshoot installation problems'. For details on how to troubleshoot these errors, see 'This free Windows 10 upgrade offer still works. Over the years, a small number of readers have reported that the upgrade fails because of a setup error or a compatibility block. There I had mentioned that Windows activations of volume keys via KMS are rejected from now on and only work via MAS (Microsoft Activation Scripts).Also: How to downgrade from Windows 11 to Windows 10 (there's a catch) Of course, the passage about KMS keys from my article Windows 10/11: Upgrade path with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 keys no longer works (Sept.

It comes an error on the client when you call it via 'ospp.vbs /act'. Because at his client the error occurred 'overnight'. He asked if I had heard anything about Office Pro Plus 2019 no longer activating via KMS. The MAK at the client from the same contract works immediately. Mark said in his mail: I have used 2 different Office KMS Keys at the client, both with no function in KMS, one now running for about 3 years. German reader Mark Heitbrink had emailed me the days because he ran into activation problems with Office KMS keys at a customer (thanks for that, but couldn't respond due to vacation). Martin Geuß had tested it again the days and came to the conclusion, according to this German article from October 12, 2023, that the keys for the upgrade are burned. Apparently, Microsoft has implemented the whole thing step by step.

Thos was announced as early as Septemby Microsoft in this post for device partners. Comments on the blog post indicated that this was now final. When my above post appeared at the end of September 2023, users could still activate some keys while others were already rejected. Officially the free upgrade offer from these operating systems to Windows 10 was only valid for one year, until July 29, 2016.īut the product keys could be used to activate Windows 10 and Windows 11 until the end of September 2023.

2023), that the license keys for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 can no longer be used to upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11 for free. At the end of September 2023, I had reported in the blog post Windows 10/11: Upgrade path with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 keys no longer works (Sept.

Windows 10 pro no product key