Windows 10: Purchasing/Activating Windows 10 Pro product key...help!

We purchased our computer off Ebay in Oct 2016 and it came with Windows 10 Pro. In the past few days I started getting the "Your Windows license will expire soon. You need to activate Windows in Settings." error on my screen. So I checked Settings and the Control Panel to discover that both are saying Windows is not activated. I tried calling support and they told me that my Windows was activated from a generic product key used for multiple activations. They said if I could provide a confirmation of purchase showing it came with Windows 10 Pro they could refresh my Windows with another generic key. However, I don't want to go through this again so I'd rather buy one that only going to be for my system.


What is the best route for buying a Windows 10 Pro product key?


And once I get it and activate it, will it wipe anything from my computer or will my computer continue operating normally with all my stuff still there?

:)

 

Can't upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro

Hi Bill,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and will assist you in the best possible ways.

I suggest you to download and create an installation media for Windows 10 Pro form the link provided below:

Download Windows 10

After the installation media is created, suggest you to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from the installation media. When the upgrade asks for product key, enter the product key purchased for Windows 10 Pro. If it does not accept, suggest you to skip the activation
step. After the Operating System is installed, suggest you to activate by phone by following the steps below:

• Press “Windows key + R” and type “slui 4” and press Enter.
• Select the Region from the list and click Next.
• Call the Toll-Free number provided on top and can activate via phone.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted on the status for further assistance.

 

Enter a Product key

Hi MohammadMoharram,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



To get clarity on this issue and assist you with appropriate troubleshooting steps, kindly reply with the answers to the questions below.

1. What is the version of Windows installed on your PC, is that Windows 10 Home or Pro?
2. Are you receiving any error message, when you are trying to activate your Windows 10?
3. Have you purchased the product key for Windows 10 while purchasing the laptop?
4. How did you run windows recovery?

However, I suggest you to refer this thread article on
using the Activation troubleshooter and
Activation in Windows 10, and check if that helps.



I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

 

Windows 8.1 pro + WMC key activation

So it will be fine installing 8.1 pro with a KMS key, then switch to my 8 pro key and it will activate ok?

Maybe a daft question but why can't you just install 8.1 pro with the 8 pro key, or is it different keys for 8 and 8.1? seems silly when 8.1 is a free update anyway.