Sometimes you may need to install Windows 10 in a virtual environment like Hyper-V or VirtualBox for evaluation purposes, and don’t want to activate Windows. In most cases, you should be able to skip the product key page during setup and complete the installation successfully. However, in some cases although the reason is not clearly known, Windows 10 Setup won’t allow you to skip the Product keys page.
In that situation, you can use the generic product keys for Windows 10 officially released by Microsoft. These generic keys work with any ISO or DVD/USB Windows setup media.
Generic Product Keys for Windows 10
If you have upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8 using the digital entitlement free upgrade scheme, your system is automatically assigned a generic key during upgrade. When you use tools like ProduKey, MagicalJellyBean Keyfinder or a custom script to view the product key, only the generic key is shown and not the key from your previous (Windows 7/8) installation.
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Here is the list of generic keys for various Windows 10 Editions.
Note that the above keys are for evaluation purposes and you can’t activate Windows using those keys. Doing so would cause the error
0x803f7001 .
We can’t activate Windows on this device because you don’t have a valid digital licence or product key. If you think you do have a valid licence or key, see Troubleshoot below. (0x803f7001)
If you want to replace the generic key with a retail key which you’ve purchased, use these steps to update the Product key.
How to Change the Product Key in Windows 10
Open Settings (Win + i) and go to Update & Security > Activation
Click Change product key
Alternately, you can use the built-in Slmgr.vbs script. Open an elevated command prompt window and use the following command-line to apply the new product key. Replace XXXXX-. with the actual product key, and hit Enter:
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Microsoft allows anyone to download Windows 10 for free and install it without a product key. It’ll keep working for the foreseeable future, with only a few small cosmetic restrictions. And you can even pay to upgrade to a licensed copy of Windows 10 after you install it.
Whether you want to install Windows 10 in Boot Camp, put it on an old computer that isn’t eligible for a free upgrade, or create one or more virtual machines, you don’t actually need to pay a cent.
How to Download Windows 10 and Install it Without a Key
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First, you’ll need to download Windows 10. You can download it directly from Microsoft, and you don’t even need a product key to download a copy.
There’s a Windows 10 download tool that runs on Windows systems, which will help you create a USB drive to install Windows 10. If you aren’t on Windows, you can visit the Windows 10 ISO download page to download an ISO directly (say, if you’re installing Windows 10 in Boot Camp on a Mac). If you visit that page on a Windows machine, it’ll redirect you to the download tool page instead.
Just begin the installation process and install Windows 10 like you normally would. One of the first screens you’ll see will ask you to enter your product key so you can “Activate Windows.” However, you can just click the “I don’t have a product key” link at the bottom of the window and Windows will allow you to continue the installation process. You may be asked to enter a product key later in the process, too–if you are, just look for a similar small link to skip that screen.
If you don’t see this option, you can also provide a KMS client setup key to continue. These keys won’t give you an activated copy of Windows unless you’re in an organization with a Key Management Service, but they will allow you to get through the Windows installation process.
When you select this option, you’ll be able to install either “Windows 10 Home” or “Windows 10 Pro.” Bear in mind that, if you plan to pay to upgrade to the paid version later, it’ll be cheaper to upgrade to Windows 10 Home, so you may want to install the Home version. Whatever version you choose, Windows 10 will install normally.
The Cosmetic Limitations
RELATED:How Does Windows Activation Work?
After you’ve installed Windows 10 without a key, it won’t actually be activated. However, an unactivated version of Windows 10 doesn’t have many restrictions. With Windows XP, Microsoft actually used Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) to disable access to your computer. These days, Windows just complains at you in a few minor, cosmetic ways.
Initially, you won’t notice a difference. Eventually, Windows will start nagging you a tiny bit. First, you’ll notice a watermark in the bottom-right corner of your screen. You’ll also see a “Windows isn’t activated. Activate Windows now.” link at the bottom of the Settings app. This is the only form of nag you’ll see–there are no pop-up windows, for example.
Second, you’ll be unable to change your desktop wallpaper and from the Personalization > Background screen in the Settings app. You’ll see a “You need to activate Windows before you can personalize your PC” message at the top of this window, and the options for changing your wallpaper will be grayed out.
You can still change your wallpaper in other ways, however. For example, you can right-click an image in File Explorer and select “Set as desktop background.” You could also open an image in the Photos app, click the menu button, click “Set as,” and click “Set as background.” Windows 7 eventually switched you back to a black background, but Windows 10 doesn’t seem to do this.
You’ll find Windows 10’s included wallpapers under the C:WindowsWeb folder in File Explorer.
Aside from these basic limitations, your Windows 10 system will continue to work forever. There are no nag prompts aside from the watermark, you’ll get all the system updates, and everything else is completely functional. The only thing that could change this is a Windows 10 update, but Microsoft has become increasingly lenient since Windows 7.
How to Upgrade Windows 10 to an Activated Version
With Windows 10, you can now pay to upgrade a “non-genuine” copy of Windows to a licensed one. Open the Settings app and head to Update & Security > Activation. You’ll see a “Go to Store” button that will take you to the Windows Store if Windows isn’t licensed.
In the Store, you can purchase an official Windows license that will activate your PC. The Home version of Windows 10 costs $120, while the Pro version costs $200. This is a digital purchase, and it will immediately cause your current Windows installation to become activated. You don’t need to purchase a physical license.
We installed Windows 10 Professional as an example here, so the Windows Store will only let us purchase the $200 Windows 10 Pro license.
This option may not be available in all countries. The prices here are for the US version of the Windows Store. Microsoft charges different prices in different countries and currencies.
Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 worked about the same way. Microsoft just didn’t officially allow you to download Windows without a product key, and there was no way to fully upgrade to a licensed system from within Windows. That makes this all the more tempting with Windows 10–for example, you can install Windows 10 in Boot Camp on your Mac for free and, if you find yourself using it frequently, you can quickly pay to remove the watermark if that’s worth it for you. It’s like a free demo, and you can use it to make all the virtual machines you like for testing purposes.
Sure, the license agreement may say you’re not supposed to use it without a key, but Microsoft’s license agreements say all sorts of confusing things. Microsoft’s license agreement still forbids using the popular “OEM” copies of Windows 10 on PCs you build yourself. If Microsoft doesn’t want people using unactivated copies of Windows 10 for extended periods of time, it can release a system update that disables this.
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In that situation, you can use the generic product keys for Windows 10 officially released by Microsoft. These generic keys work with any ISO or DVD/USB Windows setup media.
Generic Product Keys for Windows 10
If you have upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8 using the digital entitlement free upgrade scheme, your system is automatically assigned a generic key during upgrade. When you use tools like ProduKey, MagicalJellyBean Keyfinder or a custom script to view the product key, only the generic key is shown and not the key from your previous (Windows 7/8) installation.
Here is the list of generic keys for various Windows 10 Editions.
Note that the above keys are for evaluation purposes and you can’t activate Windows using those keys. Doing so would cause the error
0x803f7001 .
We can’t activate Windows on this device because you don’t have a valid digital licence or product key. If you think you do have a valid licence or key, see Troubleshoot below. (0x803f7001)
If you want to replace the generic key with a retail key which you’ve purchased, use these steps to update the Product key.
How to Change the Product Key in Windows 10
Open Settings (Win + i) and go to Update & Security > Activation
Click Change product key
Alternately, you can use the built-in Slmgr.vbs script. Open an elevated command prompt window and use the following command-line to apply the new product key. Replace XXXXX-. with the actual product key, and hit Enter:
One small request: If you liked this post, please share this?One 'tiny' share from you would seriously help a lot with the growth of this blog.Some great suggestions:
You'd like to read these articles:About the author
Ramesh Srinivasan founded Winhelponline.com back in 2005. He is passionate about Microsoft technologies and has a vast experience in Windows — delivering support for Microsoft's consumer products. He has been a Microsoft MVP (2003-2012) who contributes to various Windows support forums.
RECOMMENDED: Click here to fix Windows errors and improve PC performance
Activation not only makes your PC genuine but also it saves from various viruses’ attacks. If you have already a genuine file of windows, then you need not require a product key while upgrading to a new build. However, if you have changed your product key, it might be that your PC is no longer activated.
Here, in this article, we will show you on how to change your current Windows 10 Product key Home, Pro, Enterprise. This article also consists some of the Product Key provided by Microsoft. Look at the end of the article for Product key and Activator.
You may read:
How to Change Windows 10 Product key Home, Pro, Enterprise
We will tell you three ways of Changing Windows 10 Product key Home, Pro, Enterprise. You can choose either option which suits you the most.
Note: – You need an active Internet connection while activating your windows.
Method One: Using Command Prompt
Method Two: Using Settings of Your Windows 10
Method 3: Using System present in your Control Panel
Serial Key Windows 10
Windows 10 Pro Product Keys and Activator
To activate Windows 10, you will require product keys. Some of the product keys for different build-ups are given below. These all product keys are provided by Microsoft itself.
ConclusionWindows 10 Pro Product Key Free
All the product keys mentioned in this article are genuine and have been tested. Choose one among the multiple product keys which match your PC specification and you are done.
Windows 10 Pro Activation Key Free
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