Can't change product key?

[christopheduron]

Hello everyone,

I suddenly have this windows overlay telling me to activate windows. A friend of mine helped me with building this pc a while ago and he installed windows pro on it.
Now i just bought a windows home key to solve the problem, but if i enter the key in the activation settings it gives me the following error: the product key you entered didn't work. Check the product key and try again, or enter a different one. (0xc004f050)

I hope someone knows what's going on, cause i really don't feel like doing a clean install of windows.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bignastyid]

You have win 10 pro installed you can't use a win 10 home key. To go from pro to home you'll have to do a clean reinstall of 10 home.

 

[COLGeek]

From where did you purchase the product key? Also, you originally had Pro and the product key is Home. To go down (in a matter of speaking) will likely require a reinstall of the OS.

 

[christopheduron]

From where did you purchase the product key? Also, you originally had Pro and the product key is Home. To go down (in a matter of speaking) will likely require a reinstall of the OS.

Thanks for the lightning fast replies the both of you.

I bought my key from kinguin. I guess if i really have to i'll reinstall windows. I'll wait a little longer and hope that someone has a better solution here.

 

[COLGeek]

There is no better solution. You can't simply downgrade your install with the product key (you can go the other way, though). It is not possible via any legit means.

Good luck with a product key purchased via Kinguin. There are piles of threads from users whose product keys suddenly stopped working when purchased from Kinguin and other grey market vendors. That is why we recommend purchasing form a reputable source, like Newegg or Microsoft, instead.

 

[USAFRet]

From where did you purchase the product key? Also, you originally had Pro and the product key is Home. To go down (in a matter of speaking) will likely require a reinstall of the OS.

Thanks for the lightning fast replies the both of you.

I bought my key from kinguin. I guess if i really have to i'll reinstall windows. I'll wait a little longer and hope that someone has a better solution here.

There is no other solution.
If you've installed Win 10 Pro, and have a Win 10 Home license key...you need to do a full reinstall of Win 10 Home.
There is no magic downgrade for this.

And kinguin? Good luck with that.

 

[christopheduron]

Well i've never had issues with kinguin before and it saves me a ton of money. A single windows key would be 3 50€ games otherwise.

Either way i assume i should be able to change the product key if i bought a windows pro one? The 'activate windows' overlay is gone right now however, but i assume it'll be back after a while.

 

[COLGeek]

Yes, a Win 10 Pro key (assuming legit) should work. Good luck.