WIndows 10 - Activation

Open RUN commend and type "SLUI 04" and press enter this should help you activate windows. If i was helpful, a KUDOS is appreciate and remember to mark "Accept as Solution", the post that solved your problem. Thank you. :4

I did the same, and recovered for free as I had this problem yesterday as I clean installed windows 10, deleting all partitions. Even after it was activated from the upgrade the key got blocked. This took a few hours to sort out, but I fixed it....You will need;

 

8GB USB stick

3-4 hours

Back up of important files

 

It's a long process, but I was at the point of paying for recovery media. Turns out it's not needed as the key is there all along.

 

Firstly you need your BIOS product key, you can find your previous OEM key that is hidden in the system BIOS. Asuming you still have Windows 10 on and can still access the laptop in a windows environment;

 

Use this tool, RWeverything from here

http://rweverything.com/download/

 

Tutorial here to get your key.

https://philipyip.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/rweverything.png

 

Now you have the key, you need to go back and re-install 8.1 vanilla.

 

Go here and download the official Windows 8.1 from MS

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media.

 

Create a x64 version of Windows 8.1 Home on the stick

 

Reboot lappy, but change the BIOS with F2 (or F8, I just mash them all) and choose boot options, and using F6 push your USB stick to the top, save and exit.

 

Install 8.1, using said product key.

 

That will self-activate.

 

Do all the windows updates till you get the upgrade to Windows 10 Icon.

 

To force install Windows 10, open explorer and go to “C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download” delete all the files and folders in here, allowing permissions.

 

Close that and open up Windows update so it’s in the background.

 

Type in CMD in the start bar, right click on the CMD icon and 'run as administrator’. In that window, type in “wuauclt.exe /updatenow”

 

Windows 10 will start downloading.

 

Upgrade to Windows 10 as per normal, and it will install and be activated.

 

NOW….YOU CAN STOP HERE, as you now have a full activated Windows 10, however, if you want a clean install, please continue;

 

Download SHOWKEYPLUS from here (I had to register on the forum);

 

http://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkey.html

 

It will show you your old Windows 8.1 key you had, and you new Windows 10 key. Copy and paste them and email them to yourself so they don’t get lost!!!

 

Next go get the Windows 10 install from MS from here, choosing X64;

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

 

 

Reboot lappy, but change the BIOS with to boot off the stick again, save and exit.

 

This next bit is optional. I have a small SSD (60GB, so I want max space). So during the install, I choose advanced, and delete all the partitions on the windows drive (drive 0 in my case) and then install Windows. If you are using this guide, I doubt you have the original drive, or the recovery partition was wiped some how, but doing this will mean you can’t recover the original ACER factory image. DO THIS PART AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!

 

Install using 10, using said product key when prompted.

 

Windows 10 will then clean install and self activate.

 

Job done.