Win 10 activation error - Optiplex 3040 SFF PCs with Win 7 Pro (Win 10 Pro downgrade rights)

a few years ago Win 7 Pro COA enables user to have free upgrade to Win 10 using the Win 7 product key to activate a fresh clean Win 10 installation.  recently in the last 6-12 months Microsoft has disabled this feature.  exactly why and whether or not MS made a statement on this is unclear.

@redxps630​ This is not about free upgrade unless I mixed up MS tricky wording. These PCs came with Windows 10 Pro genuine sticker on them, thye ones they started attaching to PCs from windows 8 when they started using bios licenses I beleive. Then they are downgraded to Windows 7 utilizing win10 downgrade rights as per customers request. By this we are under the assumption that the customer paid for Windows 10 and is entitled to install Windows anytime during the life of the PC. Correct me if I am wrong.

I can understand MS stopping free upgrade when you are starting with Windows 7 only which I beleive is not the case here. Throwing away perfectly good PCs is probably not going to be a good thing to do. We have about 6 3040 SFFs stuck with this issue.

On this Dell page, it shows one should be able to isntall and activate Windows 10 on PCs that came with downgrade rights. But not sure why we are having issues.

when you say These PCs came with Windows 10 Pro genuine sticker , are there actual 25 digit COA product key on the sticker or just a plain sticker.  I assume the latter because these Dell probably have oem Win 10 license rather than retail license.

When you say Win 10 can not be activated, what is the exact error msg?  pls upload a sceeenshot.  Does it say the product key is invalid?

The oem product key is embedded in bios which Win 10 reads out during install.  I assume when you install it does not even ask you whether it is pro or home you want, because the embedded key should denote Pro in your case and Win 10 should proceed straight to Pro edition without asking user.

@redxps630​ It is just the sticker that you get on all PCs from Windows 8 or 8.1 and up. No 15 Key COA label.

For example, here is one of the system that has activation issue. When you see the Product specs, you can clearly see it has Windows 7 installed with Windows 10 Downgrade rights., both has Qty:1 in the list.

Here is a helpful command to find if an OEM key is in BIOS/UEFI.

• Type “cmd” into the search bar.
• Right-click on the Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator” 
• copy and paste the following command: 
  wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

If that returns empty, there is no Dell OEM key, and Windows won't activate.

All these PCs show proper key at command prompt.

Here is the error we are seeing

Sounds like the MS database has lost your valid key.  I suppose if you manually type in the key shown at command prompt, you get the same error.  here is something to try:

if you have a Dell pc that is successfully activated on Win 10, use command prompt to show its product key, then borrow that key to try activate these 3040s.

Did you install Windows 10 from installer created by Windows Creation Tool?  The installer recognize the OEM license embedded on motherboard and use proper license type.  You can not use retail or volume license key.

Alternatively, select activation troubleshooting.

@redxps630​ Tried this with the same error. I am guessing if this needs to be done properly, one needs to remove the embedded key and then register it with new key. I am not sure what the proper steps for this at command prompt.

@Chino de Oro​ Troubleshooting just takes me to store to buy a new key. I dont think that is fair since we already paid for 10 key and MS offered this downgrade service to 7 at that time assuring that 10 can be installed at any time in future.

Re:  one needs to remove the embedded key

I do not think the embedded key in bios is preventing you from manually changing to a new valid product key.  the embedded key appears to have got a bug in MS activation service.     

To activate Windows 10 by phone:

1. Select Start  > Settings  > Update & Security > Activation.

2. Under Activate Windows Now section, select Activate by Phone.

3. Select your location (or the location nearest to you) from the drop-down list, and then select Next.

4. Call one of the available phone numbers listed. An automated system will guide you through the activation process.

5. If you're not able to complete activation successfully, you will be connected to Microsoft support for your region and country.

Just tried via phone and it was unable to verify my installation ID and activate. Was told to try again later, no option to talk to any support agent. Not sure what else I can do

@pavanbabut , we are all community members whom are just trying to assist you in finding solution to your issue.  There is no need to convince us of your downgrade right or what you paid for.   

Going over your posts, I see that you have more than one machine with activation issue.  In that case, verify if those machine may have use VLA (volume license agreement) as group purchase for businesses, govt, organizations.  It's contrary to my earlier comment, you may need to contact your organization for volume license activation instead.