Windows 10: Windows is saying: This product key is being used on another PC. Please try a different...

Windows is saying: "This product key is being used on another PC. Please try a different key." I've been using the Windows 8.x Pro retail upgrade version and purchased the DVDs at Costco since around 2013 on the same computer with an MSI motherboard. Recently, the internet was off for about a week due to changing providers and that is when I started getting the activation message and watermark in the lower right corner says "Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center, Build 9600"Temporarily, I am using hot by USB cable on cell phone to provide internet to this desktop PC. All of the phone numbers to

:)

 

Windows 10 Prod key shows different

I have installed windows 10 pro on newly installed pc, I purchased a key while back i used an app called prodkey to find what the prod key is so i could use the same key for new pc. however when i activate with key that i bought Prod key reports it as a different key all together *Confused I guess im little confused on this as well with how it handles License keys like it is activated but not - lot different than Win7. Does windows 10 actually require a key after a fresh install, the step where it asks to put in product key I skipped that step as i would do it later but when i go to System in control panel it says Windows is activated huh? so i selected change product key and put in the key i purchased not sure why the app prod key shows a totally different prod key from C:\windows.

 

Windows product key on label differs to retrievd key


UPDATE
found my own answer...
apparently the key on the label is the OEM key the manufacturer is obliged to give with an OEM product.

the ' embedded' key found with magicaljellybean is the volume licensing key that the manufacturer uses to bulk activate multiple PC's


Hi
not strictly a Windows 10 issue.

I did a product key search using jellybean on a Windows 7 PC I am about to upgrade to Windows 10. however the product key I obtained vqb3x .....etc is different from the product key on the sticker on the side of the PC.. .MMVJM....etc

just wondered why it is different ?
thanks

 

PC not compatible with Windows 10, cannot revert back to Windows 7 and says the product key is illegible.

Hello Doug,

Thank you for posting on Microsoft Community. We regret the inconvenience caused and will help you in resolving the issue.

Before assisting further, I would like to ask you few questions:

• Did you PC come with Pre-installed Windows 7 OS?
• Do you have the recovery partition on the drive of your PC?
• When you say “reset”, are you performing factory reset of the PC?

Recovery partition is a backup drive created by the manufacturer at the original factory settings in case if something goes wrong with the operating system. It is mostly stored in a hard drive partition of the PC rather
than on CD-ROMS or DVDs. It will not affect any part of the drive of the PC if you delete the partition.

You will be able to factory reset the computer without using the product key if your PC came preinstalled with Windows 7 OS.

I suggest you to check if you have the recovery partition drive intact on your PC by following the steps below:

• Press Window logo + X keys on the keyboard and select
  Disk management from the context menu.
• Look for the Recovery partition drive under Status tab of the window.

If you have the Recovery partition drive intact with the PC, I suggest you to factory reset the PC by following the steps from the device manufacturer’s website:

http://www.dell.com/support/Article/us/en/19/SLN291879/EN

Write to us with the status of the issue and the answers to the above questions on the same post for further assistance. Your reply is most important for us to ensure we assist you accordingly.

Thank you.