Win 10 rejects my key

[Jackiesdad]

I bought my dv7, original owner, registered with HP, with win7 preinstalled. Upgraded to win10 from flash for a clean install. Can not activate, invalid key - why? I have no idea!

error 0x803F7001

Found key using ShowKeyPlus. Cut and pasted into activation - same error.

I have the OEM installation disks  and a later backup set.

Can HP give me an acceptable key (after all, I do have a registration with them)?

Would it do any good to re-install win7 and upgrade to 10 again? Seems I'd be dealing with the same key issue wouldn't I?

HP Support page was useless. Couldn't find anything to address this problem, including a person.

Did find the reference to ShowKeyPlus here in this forum. But win10 wouldn't accept the key it came up with.

Please help!

Bill

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can't upgrade to W7 from a clean install the first time.

You have to update from the windows desktop and after W10 has been successfully activated you can clean install it anytime you want..

Use your recovery disks to reinstall W7, then I recommend the following course of action...

Make the W10 DVD, and run it from the windows desktop.  Use the media creation tool below.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/w​​indows10

When you go to install W10, skip the check for updates.  Just let it run.

Hopefully it will be activated (with a digital entitlement).

Then when you want to clean install W7, you will be presented with 2 options...enter a W10 product key (which you do not have), or 'I don't have a product key.'

You enter the latter option and W10 will install and automatically activate, once you are reconnected to the internet.

[Jackiesdad]

OK, To recap

1. Clean install win7 from OEM disks
2. Skip any updates.*
3. Clean install win7 from DVD (I have already on USB thumb drive - that OK?

*When you wrote "When you go to install W10, skip the check for updates.  Just let it run." I assume you meant skip check for updates of my original win7 or does win10 offer to update itself DURING the install of win 10?

Bill

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I think it is too late now to upgrade for free to W10, but what I meant was...

You reinstall W7 and as long as you had SP1, you can immediately upgrade to W10 by running the W10 installation DVD from the windows desktop.

You skip the check for updates when prompted by the W10 DVD and then let it run,

[Jackiesdad]

I HAVE ALREADY DOWNLOADED WIN10 TO A USB STICK. WON'T IT INSTALL SINCE I DOWNLOADED IT ON THE 28TH?

wHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "RUN IT FROM THE DESKTOP" -  ASSUME YOU MEAN START WIN7 AND THEN START THE WIN10  INSTALL FROM THE WIN7 ENVIRONMENT.

BILL

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Yes that is correct...If you can double click on the setup file on the flash drive, you can upgrade from the windows 7 desktop environment using the usb.  You have to upgrade from the windows desktop in order for the upgrade to work.

I never do it that way.  I make a DVD and let it autorun from the windows desktop.

The free upgrade expired last night at midnight Pacific Daylight Time.

You needed to have W10 installed and activated by that time.

Another forum member posted this info regarding still being able to get the free upgrade...

http://betanews.com/2016/07/29/get-windows-10-free-after-the-deadline/

[Jackiesdad]

As a matter of fact, I do have macular degeneration!  Not bad now but will progress.