Cannot upgrade A515-43-R19L laptop to Windows 10 Pro

Hello,

I am having an issue with upgrading an Acer laptop to Windows 10 Pro. I have purchased a valid Windows 10 Pro serial number for 3 machines and I have updated other non Acer laptops with the OS serial number but this Acer laptop will not allow it.

The Acer information is below:

ACER ASPIRE 5 A515-43-R19L

S/N NXHG8AA001XXXXX

I have also updated the SSD Drive, RAM, and installed a secondary SSD Drive. This is what I do for every laptop I buy since I run a business doing this and upgrade laptops for clients.

Why is the Acer laptop not accepting my valid Windows 10 serial number? I installed Windows 10 Pro on a brand new SSD drive but Windows 10 Home keeps telling me that I need to enter that serial number even though I was able to install Windows 10 Pro.

Do you have the serial number for Windows 10 Home hard coded in the BIOS?

Your answer is appreciated on how I can fix this.

Regards,

techspecX

[Edited the thread to add model name and to hide sensitive information]

Accepted answers

techspecx

Okay at the command prompt I removed the key that was giving me issues, by entering the following command at the command prompt:

slmgr /upk

Than I went to the activation window and entered in an old Windows 7 OEM key that I had. And it worked. It retained the Windows 10 Pro installation I did and I was able to update and now have it working fine.

Thank you all for your time and I wish you the best. Have a great day!

This ticket is closed.

Regards,

techspecX

All comments

Commodore_1995#

What happens when you turn off wireless and enter the serial number here?

techspecx

Thanks for your reply.

No it didn't work. It keeps telling me that it cannot reach the activation servers and to go to the Store and purchase a copy of Windows 10 even though I have a valid license already.

Alejandro_AC

Hi @techspecx volume licenses only cover a single version of Windows, the Pro in your case, also, as you know, it has a limited number of installations, as you mentioned in your case, there are three licenses, this is the third time you activate the volume license?In any case, you should check with your Microsoft Parnet who sold you the product or contact Microsoft:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/existing-customer/activation-centers

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/licensing/how-to-buy/how-to-buy

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/deployment/volume-activation/plan-for-volume-activation-client

NOTE: Please delete the device serial number, it is private information in a public forum.

Thank you.
All the best.

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/691490/cannot-upgrade-acer-laptop-to-windows-10-pro

Installation and activation are 2 different entities: the key you have may be the Windows 10 Pro RTM Generic Key (retail), which allow to install or upgrade to Pro edition but will not activate it, this key comes from Microsoft, it is public.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/421620/same-product-key-of-windows-10-pro-on-multiple-dev

techspecx

Hello,

Thank you for your reply.

I do have separate license numbers, I was able to upgrade a Lenovo laptop, an ASUS laptop with no issues but when it comes to upgrading the ACER laptop I cannot do it.

Even though I have all new hardware installed in the laptop making me think that the serial number for Windows Home is hard coded in the BIOS or the motherboard.

What is odd is that when I go to install Windows 10 Pro it does not ask for a serial number during installation. Now I have installed Windows 10 Pro hundreds of times on other computers and it always asks for a serial number before installation.

And the ACER laptop allows me to install Windows 10 Pro but will not activate Windows 10 Pro even though I have a valid number, saying that a Windows 10 Home installation was detected. How could this be possible, I have all new hardware installed in the laptop except for the MOBO. Should I pull the BIOS battery?

Why is this ACER laptop so different?

Regards.

techspecx

Thank you all for your responses I am working on a solution from several of your suggestions. I did do a slmgr /dli at a command prompt and it did tell me it was a retail key.

I will report back with a solution to what I finally did.

Thanks again and have a great day!

Alejandro_AC

Thanks to you, please report any progress.

All the best.

techspecx

Okay at the command prompt I removed the key that was giving me issues, by entering the following command at the command prompt:

slmgr /upk

Than I went to the activation window and entered in an old Windows 7 OEM key that I had. And it worked. It retained the Windows 10 Pro installation I did and I was able to update and now have it working fine.