What to Do When Your Windows 10 Free Update Fails and Invalidates Your Old Product Key

If you made your Microsoft account like a good little Microsoft Drone #8212; and hello, I'm a fellow Microsoft Drone. Granted, I had a Hotmail account before the whole explosion of additional features and the change of domain, but still. Nothing to be ashamed of.

If... and here is where the list of 'ifs' begins... IF you were using a Microsoft account and IF that version had upgraded to the anniversary edition, your activation code for that hardware is now linked to your Microsoft account.

Which means you could install Windows 10 clean and during the initial stages, after everything is copied into place, you make sure your computer has an internet connection. Use ethernet if you have to at that stage, and log into your Microsoft account. Microsoft will connect its servers, confirm that you are on the machine that was last activated, and activate your copy of Windows 10.

However, if your update failed and invalidated your old product key, you need to take action. Here’s what to do:

Steps for Users with an Account-Linked Activation Key

1. Log into Your Microsoft Account: Ensure your computer is connected to the internet and log into your Microsoft account. This is critical for activating your Windows 10 installation.

2. Check if Activation is Linked: Go to and check if your Windows 10 is already linked to your account. If it is, then you're in luck, and your Windows 10 should be activated automatically.

Steps for Users Without an Account-Linked Key

If your activation key is no longer valid:

Find the Original Product Key: Check if the computer came with Windows 7 originally. Look for a sticker on the unit somewhere that has the product key. Use that key to install Windows 7 back on the machine. Use Microsoft's Support: If you can't find the original product key, contact Microsoft support for further assistance. They may have additional steps or a solution. Consider Other Options: If you can't get the original product key or if you’re stuck, there are a few other options. You might need to: Purchase Recovery Media: Contact the manufacturer to purchase the recovery media for the computer. This is a reliable option if you want the original software. Purchase a New Copy of Windows 10: Purchase a new genuine copy of Windows 10 directly from Microsoft. This is a good option if you want the latest features and support. Gather a Product Key from Windows 7: If you have a discarded Windows 7 computer, you can gather the product key from it. However, be sure to use this key legally and ethically. Consider Linux: If all else fails, you might want to consider switching to Linux. It's a free and open-source operating system that is widely used and supported.

Conclusion

When facing issues with your Windows 10 update and product key, it's important to take the right steps to resolve the issue. Whether you can reuse your old product key or need to take alternative measures, following these guidelines should help you get back up and running.

Keywords: Windows 10 update failure, product key validation, Windows 10 recovery