Hi again
tbsarchitect,
I might be able to help you with your Activation problem. First, we need complete hardware specs on your machine; make/model if an OEM computer (Dell, HP, Acer, Gateway, Toshiba, etc.);
is it a Desktop PC or a Laptop/tablet? It would be helpful for you to download the free
SPECCY diagnostic program from piriform.com and post the resulting text file back here to this thread so we can analyze it for you. If you don't have an OEM computer, then you have a self-built PC or we call this a Gaming Rig since Gamers often build their PCs to run high performance components for online or local Gaming purposes. Since we've been focusing on software and you are having lots of problems with W10, we now need to address your hardware and see if you have any issues there.
Another question; did your PC or laptop/tablet come with Win7 pre-loaded from the factory or did you install it from purchased boxed retail media (Legit Microsoft retail box & DVD with Hologram), or downloaded ISO file? Did your computer have an earlier version of Windows on it prior to Win7 such as Vista or XP? We are now asking all these questions because we are not mind-readers and can't see what you have in your home or apartment or dorm (you said you were in Graduate School!). We'd like to help you avoid paying for a W10 upgrade if we can. However, you must realize that even if you do get a legit Win7-W10 upgrade, it's only free until
July 29th 2016, this year. After that time, you will still need to pay for your W10 to continue using it on the Internet via Credit Card after that point in time. You may not be aware of this distinction. Folks who run the W10 upgrade from W7x/8x-->W10 don't read the fine print on the Microsoft
EULA (
End
User
License
Agreement) on W10; they assume it's the same as all previous versions of Windows back to Win3.1x or something!
SO NOT TRUE!! For you this is a going to be a problem, because even if we get your machine activated on W10, it will stop working on July 30th and you'll have to cough up your $100; in fact, since you selected to install W10 Pro; that's going to be
$199!! <sorry!>
Pro version is more; Home version is $119.
Some of this information you may not be aware of and that's why you are having so many difficulties. We don't make the rules here, Microsoft does, and we're simply trying to get you the answers you need. Please do not take offense, ok?
Here are some other options I can suggest as possible workarounds:
(1.) Downgrade your W10 back to Win7 that came pre-loaded on your machine; you will be able to run that until 2020 which is the announced end-of-life for the Win7 product from Microsoft. That gives you 4 years or so to keep using that machine without having to buy a Windows upgrade.
(2.) You mention you are in Graduate School, if so, in the US, or elsewhere? What University? We may be able to help you with discount on the W10 OS. Most Universities and Colleges in the US have significant Educational discounts for enrolled students, even part-time students, all you need is your Student ID. When I was last teaching Community College, my College had a deal where students could buy Windows Vista for about $50 through the school discount with valid Student ID number. Retail cost was about $125. That was back in 2007-2008.
(3.) If your University or College isn't participating in an Educational Discount program, you can go to Tech Soup, a discounted technology sales company dealing exclusively with non-profit organizations such as Universities and Schools. Microsoft, Oracle, Corel, and many other top software firms donate their software to Tech Soup for up to 80% discounts off retail pricing. You may be able to purchase W10 through them even if your school doesn't currently have something setup directly with Microsoft.
(4.) Contact your University or College's Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology department if they have one. Many Universities in the US have formal relationships with Microsoft and often they get
FREE licenses for students to use for a limited time. Microsoft distributed this widely back in 2009 with Windows7 Ultimate. Students could use it for a year or two, and then had to buy it outright to keep using it; but by then the next version of Windows would be out (Win8 in 2011 for example). When Win7 Ultimate expired students could go back to their Professor or IT contact who gave them the Win7 software and get the same deal on Win8!
Free is always good, right??
Get back to us with your hardware specs. We'll try and figure something out for you once we have that information, if you're willing to share that with us.
<<<BBJ>>> 
Always good to check as many folks worldwide seem to make that mistake including the majority of my Clients! <more $$ for me!><<<
You should be good to go. My friend 
You'll get use to BBJ
Good night
