Windows 10 won't activate with the key I just bought

[andrew0312]

I just bought a windows 10 professional OEM key off of Kinguin and I tried to enter it but it doesn't work. I looked on Kinguin and it said that a clean installation of windows is needed, so could I just reinstall windows and choose the option to format my PC to make it a "clean installation"?

 

[Barty1884]

Kinguin is just a marketplace, which sellers utilize. There's no way to know 100% whether the key you have is legit or will activate (or will remain activated in future).

Creating bootable media: https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10
Booting from USB, formatting and installing would be a "clean" installation, yes.

Some more info on "grey" marketplaces: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3436194/grey-market-windows-licenses.html

Did you purchase the buyers protection?

 

[dextermat]

Request a refund, the key is most likely already used.
The site you dealt with is known to do this, they resell key that are already sold / used.
You cannot trace back to the origin.

 

[Barty1884]

Request a refund, the key is most likely already used.
The site you dealt with is known to do this, they resell key that are already sold / used.
You cannot trace back to the origin.

There's a distinction between the site and the seller @dextermat.
Kinguin is a marketplace, no different than eBay or Amazon.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

First ...call the CC company and cancel the purchase. Then yes, do a clean install using a product key from a legitimate source.


1. Prepare for Windows installation with USB tool or use available media
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

2. Connect boot drive data cable to lowest numbered SATA port .... but don't connect:
-Ethernet cable
-SATA Data Cable for any other drives

3. Install Windows to boot drive / partition after formatting

4. Turn off Windows ability to install Hardware drivers
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/48277-enable-disable-driver-updates-windows-update-windows-10-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

5. Install all hardware drivers from original media in boxes See Item 7 below

6. Connect ethernet cable and run Windows Update till it stops doing anything

7. Install latest drivers for ALL hardware from manufacturers web sites. The reason we didn't do this in step 5 is 3 fold:
-Sometimes MoBo CD comes with licensed utilities with product key embedded and these are not on web site versions
-Its advisable to establish a working out of box conditions
-Sometimes newer drivers require latest Windows Updates

If you have a 2nd drive ....

8. Shut down and connect HD data cable to 2nd lowest numbered SATA port.

9. Boot to BIOS and make sure that SSD is the 1st boot device, if not fix it

10. Boot to Windows

 

[Barty1884]

@JackNaylor, step 5 is totally unnecessary there. There's really no need whatsoever to install dated drivers from a disk.


As for the clean install, provided the OP used install media from MS directly, they shouldn't need to clean install at this point with a genuine license key.

 

[johnbl]

also, check for common mistakes
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m,rn

 

[g-unit1111]

First ...call the CC company and cancel the purchase.

That is all that is needed. Call and cancel the purchase. You can worry about installing Windows when you get the legitimate copy.

 

[USAFRet]

I just bought a windows 10 professional OEM key off of Kinguin and I tried to enter it but it doesn't work. I looked on Kinguin and it said that a clean installation of windows is needed, so could I just reinstall windows and choose the option to format my PC to make it a "clean installation"?

Assuming you originally installed the OS from a known source (Microsoft), the license key has nothing to do with a clean install.

The "license" from the Kinguin seller is the problem.

 

[Rogue Leader]

First ...call the CC company and cancel the purchase. Then yes, do a clean install using a product key from a legitimate source.


1. Prepare for Windows installation with USB tool or use available media
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

2. Connect boot drive data cable to lowest numbered SATA port .... but don't connect:
-Ethernet cable
-SATA Data Cable for any other drives

3. Install Windows to boot drive / partition after formatting

4. Turn off Windows ability to install Hardware drivers
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/48277-enable-disable-driver-updates-windows-update-windows-10-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

5. Install all hardware drivers from original media in boxes See Item 7 below

6. Connect ethernet cable and run Windows Update till it stops doing anything

7. Install latest drivers for ALL hardware from manufacturers web sites. The reason we didn't do this in step 5 is 3 fold:
-Sometimes MoBo CD comes with licensed utilities with product key embedded and these are not on web site versions
-Its advisable to establish a working out of box conditions
-Sometimes newer drivers require latest Windows Updates

If you have a 2nd drive ....

8. Shut down and connect HD data cable to 2nd lowest numbered SATA port.

9. Boot to BIOS and make sure that SSD is the 1st boot device, if not fix it

10. Boot to Windows

This is now the 3rd time this week you have spammed a thread with the same irrelevant overcomplicated post, copy and pasted exactly.

This is your last warning, do it again and you will be taking a break.