- The “Setup failed to validate the product key” error can occur if you’re updating your system using a Windows 10 ISO, an installer created using the media creation tool, or a physical Windows 10 installation DVD.
- If you try to upgrade Windows 10 Pro from a previous version of Windows or perform a clean reinstall, version upgrade, or Windows 10 upgrade repair, you get the same error message.
- Download and install the software.
- It will scan your computer to find problems.
- The tool will then correct the issues that were discovered.
A Windows 10 upgrade error message appears when you attempt to upgrade Windows 10 Pro from a previous version of Windows or do a clean reinstall, a version upgrade, or a repair of a Windows 10 upgrade: “Something went wrong during installation, the product key could not be verified.” After the “We’re getting some stuff ready” screen, Windows setup usually works fine.
Using an ISO, a media creation tool, or a physical installation DVD of Windows 10 can result in the “Setup failed to validate the product key” error. If you repeat the installation, you will receive the same error message. Here are some tips for getting around the error. At this point, you have no choice but to click “Close” to exit the installer.
Windows 10 ISO, a media creation tool-made installer, or a physical DVD can cause Setup to fail to validate the product key. Until you click the Close button to exit the installer, you have no option but to click on the Close button. Restarting the setup will result in a similar error message. Here are some ways to get around the error.
What causes the “Setup failed product key verification” error?
Setup Has Failed To Validate The Product Key
By clearing the Windows Temp folder, we may be able to resolve the problem. You can do this using File Explorer or by pressing Windows Key + R and typing in temp. Then click Delete on all the files in the Windows Temp folder.
Activation of Windows 10 should automatically occur after a few days, especially if a connection to the Internet is detected. Restart your computer and try again if Windows 10 does not activate automatically.
Third-party AV interference: It has been confirmed that the updater may be blocked from communicating with external servers by an over-protected third-party suite. In this case, you can solve the problem by disabling real-time protection or removing the security program completely.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) activates Windows instances using Microsoft Key Management Service (Microsoft KMS). The Microsoft KMS server might not be reachable if your instance cannot be activated. It may also be related to the configuration of the Microsoft KMS client.
Unpacked installer already in the temp folder: Another possibility is that the update tool will trigger this error because it already finds the unpacked installer in the temp folder. If this scenario applies, you can solve the problem by running the Disk Cleanup Utility to remove all temporary files.
The license key is not attached to the installation media: It turns out that the problem may also be caused by a log file (setuperr.log) in situations where the user tries to update using the installation media without the license key. In this case, you can apply the license key with a series of CMD commands.
Damaged system file: A corrupted system file may also be responsible for this error message. It is very likely that some corrupt dependencies cause the updater to terminate prematurely. If this is the case, a full DISM analysis may solve the problem.
Missing configuration file: Another possible scenario is when the upgrade media you are using does not have a large configuration file needed for installation. To fix this, you can simply create a configuration file using Notepad.
How do I fix the “Configuration failed product key validation” error?
Updated: May 2024
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Check the following before rebooting your system if you have this problem:
The first thing you should do is check for Windows updates.
SFC can be used to detect and restore corrupted files on the system.
Open the Run window, type temp in the field and press Enter to open the Temporary Files window. Delete all files there. Press Win + R to delete temporary files.
Validate Windows 10 Key
You can find the Windows 10 product key on the Certificate of Authenticity or on the machine’s chassis if you bought it from a white box vendor.
If Windows 11 setup fails to validate the date product key, the first step is to disable your PC’s third-party antivirus program. In some instances, your PC’s third-party antivirus may conflict with its proper operation, causing this issue to occur. In order to check whether or not this issue persists, you should disable your antivirus installed on your computer.
The %temp% start commands should be repeated as well as the prefetch process.
It is also possible that files in the temp folder may have conflicted with the installation, causing Setup to fail to validate the product key. If you have deleted the temporary files in C:/Users/yourusername/AppData/Local/Temp, you may be able to solve the issue. Once you have deleted, try installing Windows 10.
You should have been able to identify the cause if you studied the ISO file. However, if you are updating an edition, you can use Windows Update rather than ISO.
Validate Windows Product Key
It is always a good idea to use a virus scanner before running any software that checks your product key. This program is not made by Microsoft and it’s never a good idea to run any application that checks your product key without doing so.
Trying to install windows 10 pro from a pendrive. error=”setup has failed to validate the product key”: I’m running windows 8.1 and bought a full version of windows 10 pro. It came on a pendrive. I have followed every instruction I could find. Still no good. Any ideas on how to proceed?
The Microsoft site contains helpful information on how to perform this temporarily for systems associated with the area.
In order to prevent any interference from third-party antivirus software, temporarily remove it from the system.
This solution will require reinstalling the system, so backup of your data is strongly recommended before we attempt it.
- Third-party software is available for free to assist in extracting the ISO file.
- The following contents should be copied and pasted into the Notepad file:
[EditID]
[Channel].
[Retail].
VL
0
Inside the installation ISO file, save the notepad file as ei.cfg.
To repair or reinstall, you can create a bootable USB drive from the setup.exe file.
RECOMMENATION: Click here for help with Windows errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I fix the fact that the configuration could not verify the product key for Windows 10?
- Check if the system has the latest Windows updates installed.
- Run an SFC scan on the system.
- Delete the temporary files.
- If it is an edition update, we can do it with Windows Update instead of ISO.
- For systems connected to a domain, temporarily remove it from the domain.
Why is my Windows 10 activation key not working?
If your Windows 10 activation key is not working, the problem may be related to your internet connection. Sometimes, a network or network settings failure can prevent Windows activation. In this case, simply restart your computer and try to activate Windows 10 again.
How do I fix a failed Windows 10 installation?
- Make sure your device has enough memory.
- Run Windows Update several times.
- Check third-party drivers and download any updates.
- Disable any additional hardware.
- Check your device manager for errors.
- Remove third-party security software.
- Recover hard drive errors.
- Perform a clean reboot in Windows.
How do I check the key for my Windows 10 product?
Windows 10 (including all versions starting with Windows 10 Creators Update) is installed on your device with the appropriate default product key. You can run slmgr / dli or slmgr / dlv to display the default partial product key instead of DPK OA3 as the current license in the firmware.
Mark Ginter is a tech blogger with a passion for all things gadgets and gizmos. A self-proclaimed "geek", Mark has been blogging about technology for over 15 years. His blog, techquack.com, covers a wide range of topics including new product releases, industry news, and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your devices. If you're looking for someone who can keep you up-to-date with all the latest tech news and developments, then be sure to follow him over at Microsoft.
