Windows 10: kms license expiring - what to do and what will happen?

Other than the watermark, I haven't experienced any issues, but it has only been an hour or so after the license expired yesterday. I tried the generic Windows 10 pro product key mentioned above, and it changed the error code but nothing else. As long as the computer won't shut down every two hours or anything else drastic, I can live with the watermark.

 

Look....



Windows10_InsiderPreview_EnterpriseVL_x64_en-us_15063.iso

 

As far as I know that is not supposed to happen ever!

 

come on folks somewhere on that laptop it says when it was manufactured and should have it's serial number and model number. check with the manufacture and they should have the product key. good chance you will still need to contact ms but with the key in hand you should be able to get the os activated legally.

 

Good luck with that, I would be very surprised if the OEM would give you key based on that info. Assuming they keep that detailed of an info in the first place.

 

Well just for fun I did a change key on my 10 Pro 1703 install and entered my MSDN 10 Enterprise MAK key. It upgraded and shows as activated with a Digital License linked to my Microsoft account. I'm still of the opinion that that shouldn't happen though. IMHO its a glitch that will be fixed at some point.

 

Tried it on a second PC and it didn't work. It was 10 Home 1703. MAK key was rejected via change key. Entered the generic Pro key and it upgraded to pro though, and activated with a DL it already had. Then tried my MAK key again and it was accepted, upgraded but won't activate? Windows can't activate with this product key, 0xc004b100. Was able to go back to 10 Pro by entering the Pro generic key though. Now shows activated with a digital license.

 

Glad to see it works your way too. Curious if the OP has a MS account ? Maybe he would do well to join the insiders, but I think he may need to reinstall fresh now that it has expired. Eventually his expired 10pro will start shutting down and if I remember correctly eventually it will cease to boot.

 

Worked once and failed once. And no insider builds here.

 

What would really help is for someone to tell me how long i can keep using the computer in the current state.

 

As far as I am aware, there is no time limit. It is however against the EULA to use an unlicensed system.

 

On This Forum, Nobody is supposed to give any help to someone running a Pirated copy of Windows, or possibly a PC that's been stolen from a University, Business, or etc. There are other Forums where You could get that kind of help, but Not here.

If You'd post Your Specs and the results from ShowKeyPlus it would most likely be a simple process to get You a Genuine copy of Windows running.

 

Lately, I've been having activation problems on the activation screen under updates and security. I've had to open a command prompt and run slmgr /ato to get activation.

 

Tried doing the upgrade from Pro to Enterprise on a second PC and same deal. Upgrades but won't activate. I'm going to clean install Enterprise on my spare desktop PC latter on today some time and see what happens.

 

No it will not expire BUT it will if he joins Insider and does not keep it up to date.

There is a common misunderstanding about using Insider versions without activation. Whilst you can do it, you get all the same restrictions as a normal install.