Can't activate Windows 10 Home, key doesn't work

[tyson.foulger]

So my pc is a refurb Windows 10 home (was home). Some updates wouldn't download and stuff. Anyway, I decided I wanted to try Windows 10 Pro, so I got an activation key, got on my computer, click "Change Product key" bla bla bla and it restarted and bam. Updates updated and there we go.

Now I decided I just wanted Windows 10 Home back as it is the version that came on the computer and I got no use for the pro features. I click "change product key" and use the key on the sticker label on the tower.. but.. "The product key you entered didn't work. Check the product key and try again, or try a different one. (0x80070057)"

??? Help...

 

[tyson.foulger]

so I thought I'd try getting some from the internet and try them instead

Windows licensing does not work like that. You can't just get them from some place on the interwebs.
It actually costs money.
Win 10 Pro starts at about $140 USD.

Your best and only bet right now is just to completely revert back to your original Win 10 Home, that the system came with.

Okay. But just a question if you don't mind.

Why is it that some keys work (the organization keys) but not the other keys, and why don't the other keys work on my computer? Why does it only allow the organization ones?

Because you're buying bogus license keys.
The "organization" (key word there) may work for a while.
When that license needs to talk to its licensing server, it WILL fail.

A company has a fleet of 1,000 PC's. Obviously, they don't manage the license on each PC individually.
They are given, by Microsoft, a general license key. This license needs to, eventually, talk to the Key Management Server to maintian the activation.
That server is another box, in the corporate LAN.
The reactivation is on some time period. Weekly, monthly...maybe even 6 months.

Your PC cannot talk to that. And as such, will fail.


Simple solution:
Reinstall your original Win 10 Home, and leave it be.

Thanks for the answers.
I am going to go back to home when I have a chance to take the time. Can I just run the Windows 10 Home install on a disk, or will the erase everything? If so, I will make sure i back up everything. Is it possible to back up programs?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for the answers.
I am going to go back to home when I have a chance to take the time. Can I just run the Windows 10 Home install on a disk, or will the erase everything? If so, I will make sure i back up everything. Is it possible to back up programs?

From your current "Pro" back to Home is a full wipe and reinstall.
Save any personal files off to some other drive.
Your applications will be gone, and will need to be reinstalled. You can't back those up.

 

[kerberos_20]

so I thought I'd try getting some from the internet and try them instead

Windows licensing does not work like that. You can't just get them from some place on the interwebs.
It actually costs money.
Win 10 Pro starts at about $140 USD.

Your best and only bet right now is just to completely revert back to your original Win 10 Home, that the system came with.

Just a question. As an example, you buy windows 10 pro (legit) and share your key on the internet, it won't work for other people?

if u buy it and share it on internet, then licence gets invalid before long (no money return in that case)

 

[USAFRet]

Just a question. As an example, you buy windows 10 pro (legit) and share your key on the internet, it won't work for other people?

1 license, 1 PC.
Either or both OS's may become deactivated.

 

[tyson.foulger]

so I thought I'd try getting some from the internet and try them instead

Windows licensing does not work like that. You can't just get them from some place on the interwebs.
It actually costs money.
Win 10 Pro starts at about $140 USD.

Your best and only bet right now is just to completely revert back to your original Win 10 Home, that the system came with.

Just a question. As an example, you buy windows 10 pro (legit) and share your key on the internet, it won't work for other people?

if u buy it and share it on internet, then licence gets invalid before long (no money return in that case)

oh okay

 

[tyson.foulger]

Thanks for the answers.
I am going to go back to home when I have a chance to take the time. Can I just run the Windows 10 Home install on a disk, or will the erase everything? If so, I will make sure i back up everything. Is it possible to back up programs?

From your current "Pro" back to Home is a full wipe and reinstall.
Save any personal files off to some other drive.
Your applications will be gone, and will need to be reinstalled. You can't back those up.

Okay, so when I reinstall windows, can I use the key that came with my PC, the one on the sticker label on the tower? Or will it automatically activate with that? How do I reset it?

 

[USAFRet]

Okay, so when I reinstall windows, can I use the key that came with my PC, the one on the sticker label on the tower? Or will it automatically activate with that? How do I reset it?

Yes, input that license key during the install.
Hopefully it will work.

 

[tyson.foulger]

So how do I reinstall? Will it know to install Home?

 

[USAFRet]

So how do I reinstall? Will it know to install Home?

Create a new Win 10 install USB.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Boot from that.
During the install, select Win 10 Home 64bit

Proceed on...
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10