Activating Windows 10 After Recovering With Acronis 2017

[Ray_1942]

I used Acronis 2017 to recovery Windows 10, my apps, and data files. Eveything went fine, or so I thought. I went in to personalization and discoveed that Windows 10 was not activates. Since Windows 10 was installed on my laptop when I bought it I have no idea where to find the product key. Is there some place where the digital key is hidden?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Yes, if the notebook came from HP with W10 installed, there should be a W10 product key in the BIOS, and it should have automatically activated.

So I think there may be a problem...

I have zipped up and attached a free utility that will detect and show the product key in the BIOS, below.

The most common issue is that the original operating system works fine but if HP mistakenly installed a motherboard without a product key, then subsequent installations of W10 will not activate because there is no W10 product key.

There are models in that series that come with FreeDOS, and the motherboards in those models would not have an embedded W10 product key.

So, if the keyfinder program does not show a W10 product key in the BIOS, you will have to contact HP technical support, and ask them to send you a W10 Home product key.

[Ray_1942]

I downloaded and ran the exe file. The result was:

Produce Name

Product ID:

Installed Key

OEM Key

OEm Edition

The Installed Key and OEM key are the same. I tried entering the Installed Key, and then the OEM Key without success. Neither of them are recognized. What do I do next? Please note that I am go to Settinxs, Personalization. There is where I get the message: "You need to activate Windows before you can personalize your PC."

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Well, that is good news that there is a W10 product key in the BIOS.

The only suggestion I can offer would be to contact the Microsoft Customer Support for further assistance.

https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/menu/software/windows/setup/

[Ray_1942]

Thanks for helping.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.