How to Activate Windows 10?

[KYLEDLH]

Hi, so I saw Windows 10 has been released however like a lot of people my "reserved copy" wasn't downloading. I am a impatient guy, so I went looking for a manual download and found this - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 .
I downloaded it, burnt it on a CD, installed it, and I can not activate it. I am using my Windows 7 Home Premium key to activate it.
I reserved Windows 10 in my email and I am signed into that email address on Windows 10 and I "Go To Store" and there is not a licence waiting for me.
Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[James Mason]

If you did an upgrade install you shouldn't have to activate it. It will convert your old product key to a new one.
Is windows 10 saying it isn't activated?

 

[kyllien]

You need to upgrade your Windows 7 to Windows 10. That means that you need to start the install from within Windows 7 and chose upgrade. If you are looking for a clean install, after Windows 10 is activated, perform a "Reset this PC".

 

[jpishgar]

Couple of reasons this might be according to Microsoft:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/why-activate-windows-10

The key could have been used as part of a repair. If you made significant changes to the hardware on your PC (which, most of us here at Tom's would do over the course of like a couple months), you might find some use in the activation KB:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=270074

-JP

 

[kyllien]

From the first link jpishgar posted
"You upgraded to Windows 10, but didn't have a previous version or the correct edition of Windows installed (error 0xC004F061)

If you see error 0xC004F061 when you try to activate Windows 10, it means one of the following:
•You're using a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, but a previous version of Windows wasn't installed on your PC. To update, you need to have Windows 8 or Windows 7 already on your PC.
If you formatted or replaced your hard drive, you won't be able to use a product key to update to Windows 10. You'll need to install your previous version of Windows, and then reinstall Windows 10."

Is this what you did, KYLEDH?

 

[KYLEDLH]

From the first link jpishgar posted
"You upgraded to Windows 10, but didn't have a previous version or the correct edition of Windows installed (error 0xC004F061)

If you see error 0xC004F061 when you try to activate Windows 10, it means one of the following:
•You're using a product key to upgrade to Windows 10, but a previous version of Windows wasn't installed on your PC. To update, you need to have Windows 8 or Windows 7 already on your PC.
If you formatted or replaced your hard drive, you won't be able to use a product key to update to Windows 10. You'll need to install your previous version of Windows, and then reinstall Windows 10."

Is this what you did, KYLEDH?

Ok I just reinstalled windows 7, activated it. Downloaded Windows 10 download tool, selected upgrade. I am now on Windows 10, however I still cannot activate it, I have the error - 0xC004F034. I think it may be their servers.