Little advice on laptop install, please.

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by scaramonga, May 3, 2016.

  1. scaramonga

    scaramonga MDL Senior Member

    Oct 27, 2012
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    Got a new laptop with Win10 Home installed & activated on it, and also full of the usual useless bloat as is per usual with these systems. So I've completely wiped it, well actually removed the SSD and put a bigger/faster one in, so were all blank and ready to start :)

    I don't want to put 'Home' on it, as I have my own OEM 'Pro' key that I bought, so whats the best way to go about this?

    Just install Pro entering my new key during installation, will that work?, or do I have to install Home first, then enter new key to upgrade, seeing as Home is tied to the system? I hope the former:), or is there some other nonsense hoops I must go through because Windows (Home) was previously activated on this system?

    Cheers guys!
     
  2. MrMagic

    MrMagic MDL Guru

    Feb 13, 2012
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    #2 MrMagic, May 3, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
  3. uffbros

    uffbros MDL Senior Member

    Aug 9, 2010
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    Since your Bios has 10 Home you need to make a ei.cfg file using notepad and saving it as ei.cfg and adding it to your sources folder in your install media. This way when you go to install you will get a choice of Home Or Pro to install. Make sure your using media that has both. It should look like this:

    [Channel]
    _Default
    [VL]
    0
     
  4. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    Or you just upgrade to Pro with your key after installing Home. It's a simple edition upgrade, not something like a full upgrade installation.
     
  5. scaramonga

    scaramonga MDL Senior Member

    Oct 27, 2012
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  6. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    You bought the Pro key from a illegal vendor? ;) Kinguin is a genuine partner of MSFT?
     
  7. Bat.1

    Bat.1 MDL Expert

    Oct 18, 2014
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    Maybe a call to Microsoft Customer Support could get it straightened out :confused:
     
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  8. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    #8 100, May 5, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Yeah, it clearly is:
    Code:
    # for hex 0xc004c003 / decimal -1073430525
      SL_E_CHPA_PRODUCT_KEY_BLOCKED                                  slerror.h
    # The activation server determined the specified product key
    # has been blocked.
    Pretty expensive for an essentially pirated copy (which it would still be if the key had worked). Could have just pirated it for free.

    Even if they do work, paying for non-legit keys (i.e. any of those cheap keys sold online) is nothing but a waste of money.
     
  9. scaramonga

    scaramonga MDL Senior Member

    Oct 27, 2012
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    Well, I get most gaming keys there, and they work, just fine ;)

    No. I don't want no loader 'DAZ' crap running, so not free :), but thx for info, was very helpful indeed. I paid insurance on this (as I suspected this may happen), along with Paypal, so I will get another key, or at worst, my money back ;)
     
  10. LatinMcG

    LatinMcG Bios Borker

    Feb 27, 2011
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  11. scaramonga

    scaramonga MDL Senior Member

    Oct 27, 2012
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    Thing is, lol, I have about 12 Technet Win7 Pro/Ultimate keys (from back in the day lol) that would probably have worked, maybe still do?, but principle here now :biggrin:

    Have raised a ticket on Kinguin, lets just see :)
     
  12. glennsamuel32

    glennsamuel32 MDL Senior Member

    Jul 15, 2012
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    Just curious how you term KMS Activations crap :confused::confused::confused:
     
  13. lobo11

    lobo11 TOMAHAWK CHOP

    Feb 16, 2012
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    He's a PITA:eek:
     
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  14. scaramonga

    scaramonga MDL Senior Member

    Oct 27, 2012
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    Well it is. A poor mans way of getting an expensive OS running for free, but with caveats. Some will be happy with that, some not, each to their own, but I ain't getting into the ins and outs of that lol. I'd rather be activated properly and be done with it, although, that is a nightmare in itself I guess these days.o_O
     
  15. scaramonga

    scaramonga MDL Senior Member

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    I care not a jot. Paypal will refund me whatever, been there, done it, got the t-shirt ;)
     
  16. Bezalel

    Bezalel MDL Senior Member

    Apr 30, 2012
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    What I can't figure out is why someone would pay $30 for a poorly pirated copy when they could get a well pirated copy for free.

    Even when you think activation went fine, when it comes time to reinstall you'll find out that your key had been subsequently blocked.
     
  17. scaramonga

    scaramonga MDL Senior Member

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    Sometimes one just gets attracted to 'cheap' keys, in the hope that they will work, unfortunately, unlike game keys, they don't, then the s**t hits the fan :biggrin:

    We live and learn, even at my ripe old age of 53 (in August) ;)
     
  18. endbase

    endbase MDL Guru

    Aug 12, 2012
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    Yeah they will work with pro :tea:
     
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  19. Flipp3r

    Flipp3r MDL Guru

    Feb 11, 2009
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    It didn't ask for a key. It's probably installed with the default Retail key.
    Try changing the installed key to the Default Manufactures Pro Key (without OA3), reboot, then try your key again.

    From an Admin command prompt run "slmgr /dli" to see what channel you've installed.
    "slmgr /ipk xxxx-xxx..." to install the default key.

    No harm in trying. Could have been blocked because of incorrect channel (only a guess)...
     
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