Have an issue where I cannot get a clean install of Windows 10 Pro to activate Machine is a Lenovo Thinkpad with factory install of Windows 7 Pro. Used the 1511 iso to upgrade to Windows 10 - all looked good and shows as Windows 10 Pro as Activated. Replaced the hard drive and did a clean 1511 Pro install, will not activate and give an error 0x803f7001 (can't activate as previous version of Windows was not activated) Put the original drive back in, still shows as activated. Redo the clean install with the 10240 RTM release, again will not activate. Rolled back to Windows 7, re-ran the upgrade using the RTM release and it activates OK. Clean install again with RTM, not activated. This has been going on over a week and I cannot get a clean install to activate (wanting to replace HDD with SSD)
just done the same upgrade on another Thinkpad (different model) - exactly the same issue - what I get on the activation screen is: Edition: Windows 10 Pro Activation: Unable to reach Windows activation servers Activation failed because this device doesn't have a valid digital entitlement or product key. Error code 0x803F7001 Internet is working fine - tried changing DNS servers, using wired instead of wireless Also now have two customer laptops here they they tried upgrading to Windows 10 - both Dells, one posts but boots to a black screen, the other no longer posts (found a few threads that Win10 upgrade kills this model of laptop)
sorry, not on here - google for Inspiron 3520 windows 10 black screen - unless they are running the latest bios (A10) they will not post after the upgrade - looks like people have had success removing the cmos battery - no such luck with the one I have here - problem usually gives three beeps on power up, no beeps on this one. Other one is a Inspiron N5110 - that one was fixed with a BIOS upgrade UPDATE: the 3520 just started beeping like crazy and then started booting (I'd forgotten to unplug it) - booted from a FreeDOS USB stick and upgraded the BIOS - now back on Windows 8.1 also 2nd Thinkpad now shows: Edition: Windows 10 Pro Activation: Windows is not activated Activation failed because this device doesn't have a valid digital entitlement or product key. Error code 0x803F7001
What does the OEM Query tool (alphawaves) report on the oemm table in the bios? Does it say: valid os: 8.x/10 or 8.x or 10 only?
this the one you wanted? Machine is a Thinkpad X220, Windows 7 Professional which was installed from a genuine set of Lenovo Win7 Pro DVDs #11 MSDM TABLE [OEM: DM] - Un-Listed
rolled back to Win 7 on one laptop - set DNS to google before starting the upgrade and using the media creation tool rather than the ISO (should make no difference, but running out of ideas!!!!)
Seems HWID is taking Hard Disk imprint too. Reason for not a valid Digital Entitlement. Try Installing Windows 7 Pro on SSD and then upgrade.
Is there any way of querying the hardware ID in Win 10 to see if there is a mismatch? Thought you could change hard drives, memory etc - that only the motherboard could not be changed?
Activate windows 7 and Validate too as mentioned by Enthousiast. Changing HDD does not make any difference and activation remains as is. But I think changing HDD to SSD is creating problem. (May be)
good thoughts - 7 was still activated after rollback, but I did not validate it - I've got the original disks so I can give a clean install a try
If you didn't have the original disks you could also implement the Multi OEM project maintaned by the guardian, it uses the slic2.1 bioskey to activate the installed 7 (when installed the original edition).
having this same issue now with a dell m5030 exact same situation. not digitally entitled. upgraded from a activated oem 2.1 bios from dell was not even a modded bios.
Same problem Dell Latitude E6520 w/ Win 7 SP1x64 Ultimate OEM activated (assume it was validated). Performed Windows 10 upgrade which went perfect as far as I can tell. Under activation it stated Windows 10 Pro - Activated (Digital Entitlement). Used Media Creation Tool to download Windows 10 iso. When using Media Creation Tool it asked something to the effect if I wanted to use "Existing Setting" (or something similar). I did not check this option. Burned iso to DVD and started Windows 10 installation. I checked my drive partitions and it had the 100mb partition, OEM partition and Drive 1(or2). Formatted the large partition. Started installation, but I was never prompted to chose which version of Windows 10 (Home or Pro). Install finished and it has been 4 days and can still not activate. Same error as OP. Windows activation servers cannot be reached. Windows 10 Home is installed. This is the 2nd attempt. The first attempt had the exact same results except I don't believe there was an OEM partition created? Any ideas? Thanks a million! The Dell Latitude E6520 came with Windows 7x64 Pro OEM initially, but re-installed Windows 7 SP1x64 Ultimate OEM later, but as stated earlier the upgrade went without a hitch. Upgrade to Windows 10x64 Pro and was activated by Digital Entitlement.
Normally this is the way: When succesfully upgraded from 7 Ultimate to 10 pro and got a HWID (Digital Entitlement) it will be activated and new installs also with that HWID as long as the main hardware is not changed (mobo, cpu and ram). When doing a clean install on your system using the standard MSDN Multiple Editions iso it will give you the choice between Home and Pro (when you, during initial setup, select the "i don't have a key" option). Later on during OOBE you have to select "do it later" at the screen which asks you for a key. What you say (it never shows an option to choose and Home is installed by default), you either didn't use a proper iso or you have a 8.x/10 Home oemm bioskey in your bios, to find out use the OEM Query tool from the multi oem project. And during the disk setup part of the setup it's best to delete all system partitions on the target system disk, not only c:\