Windows 10 Home (64-bit) activation problems

[Joz]

Hi,

My notebook details are given below:

• Product Name: HP ENVY 15-j050tx Notebook PC
• Model No: F2C67PA

• Purchased: November 2013

• Factory default OS preinstalled: Windows 8 (64 bit), later upgraded to Windows 8.1 (64 bit)

• Current Operating System: Windows 10 (64-bit)

Please read my entire story so that you get a clear picture of the issue.

I purchased my notebook during November 2013 with Windows 8 (64 bit) pre installed. Later through the Windows Update Microsoft Store, I have updated to Windows 8.1 (64 bit). I have been using Windows 8.1 for some time until Microsoft rolled out to all genuine users of Microsoft Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

I've updated to Windows 10 (64 bit) free upgrade through the Get Windows 10 (GWX) app during that time but I don't remember the exact date, probably around early 2016. I was aware that GWX app ended on July 29, 2016 and had already earlier updated to Windows 10 and during July 29, 2016, I had been using Windows 10.

I used Windows 10 until October 2016 after that had reverted back to my previous Windows 8.1 (64 bit) as there were some driver issues for my laptop. I reverted back to my previous Windows 8.1 through my settings on Windows 10 which allows users to switch back to their previous operating system if they have any incompatibility issues.

During the entire 2017 and 2018 I had been using Windows 8.1 (64 bit). Recently I noticed on my Microsoft Accounts page, I had a device connected which is my current device with Windows 10 having a digital entitlement, but my current device was using Windows 8.1 (64 bit). The last used date of Windows 10 mentioned was on October 2016 which corresponds correctly. Since I updated during the free period and used Windows 10 for a considerable amount of time I was having a digital license of Windows 10. To verify, I asked a Microsoft Tech representative and he verified that I had a digital license of Windows 10 and could install Windows 10 on the same laptop.

Few days back, I downloaded Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft website and clean installed Windows 10 Home (64 bit) from a USB to my laptop. I successfully installed Windows 10 but as of now, I am having issues with Windows Activation. I tried the Activation troubleshooter in Windows 10 but that did not work and searched for solutions but could not still activate my Windows. I had already read through the following web pages but still it did not help:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20527/windows-10-activation-troubleshooter

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4339791/windows-10-fix-activation-error-0x803f7001

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

I had even contacted Microsoft Tech Live Chat support and two of the representatives did a remote assistance of my laptop but still could not solve my problem. They were asking for my old Windows product key but I do not have one as the previous Windows was pre-installed on my laptop when I bought it. There is no product key sticker on my laptop as well.

This was the same laptop that was using Windows 10 with a digital license back in 2016 and now in September 2018, when I installed Windows 10, it asks for a product key. Why can't the same digital license be applied here?

Can someone help me fix my Windows 10 Activation? I need to somehow have a solution. Thanks.

[IT_WinSec]

Hi @Joz

Thank you for the detailed post - very few users provide so many details as you do. Thumb Up for this !

You do not have a sticker with the code because since the Windows 8 was released, MIcrosoft decided to force OEM vendors (like HP) to bundle the Windows key into the BIOS -> here is more info >> http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

The key can be extracted from the BIOS via the means of many free tools like this one -> ProduKey

Windows should be able to auto detect this key, as well.

Download ProduKey from Nirsoft >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

x86 Windows >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey.zip

x64 Windows >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey-x64.zip

Extract the archive and run the program.

It will open and show you the available keys it detects. Does it detect your BIOS and Windows key(s) ? Does it says Windows version ?  Take a picture of the codes and write them down. Do not post them here, just keep them for yourself.

HP can only help you active the operating system which the computers come preinstalled with -> Windows 8/8.1

The Windows 8 and 8.1 edition is an OEM edition while the Windows 10 edition which was "pushed" and "offered" by Microsoft and which is activated by the means of Digital entitlement is a different type (same as the Retail versions of Windows)

Digital entitlement will fail if you have performed some hardware change on your PC - like new motherboard, new HDD/SSD , etc...

Here are some general info >> https://support.hp.com/bg-en/document/c04640037

I am afraid that in all cases Windows 10 activation issues can only be troubleshot and fixed via Microsoft Support because this is Digital Entitlement activation and Retail type of Windows installation, not OEM installation.

If they need the Windows 8 key, you can give it to them via the means of ProduKey but I don't think this will help them.

Hope this helps and works for you.

[Joz · Accepted solution]

Hi @IT_WinSec,

Thank you for your detailed post and immediate reply.

Unfortunately there is no product key in my BIOS. It didn't showed up anything. I also downloaded another tool for checking my product key named Show Key Plus but unfortunately it returned with "OEM key not present in firmware".

The last chance I had was to fix it through Microsoft Support Live Chat Tech, which took more than 5 hours of remote session of my laptop with different techs. Finally they fixed it as it was a digital entitlement through CMD offline activation. The final technician who solved it, did not reveal the internal steps done to activate windows 10.

Anyway thanks for your efforts to try to solve my problem.

By the way, how do you tag other peoples name in the reply section?? I was unable to tag your name....

[IT_WinSec]

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@Joz wrote:

Anyway thanks for your efforts to try to solve my problem.

By the way, how do you tag other peoples name in the reply section?? I was unable to tag your name....

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You are welcome. I am glad my suggestions helps and that Microsoft were able to do their magic.

Tagging is only an option for "senior" users like me - a.k.a people with higher rank in the forum = experts, mods, HP staff, admins, etc.

If you are interested in tech, if you are willing to share and help, if you want to become an expert and if you believe you are qualified, you may read more here >> https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/HP-Expert-Portal/ct-p/expert

Cheers !