Windows 10: Win 10 activation is expiring - volume license

I just started getting the popup message that "win 10 activation is expiring"
reading some threads here I figured out that it is expiring on 3/13/18 and it is a volume license

I bought this computer from a private seller on ebay. I'm pretty sure it was upgraded from Win-7 because
under the battery I found a COA , it says "Win7 Pro OA"
and it has a different product key than shown by ShowKeyPlus


I ran ShowkeyPlus, here is what it said.

ShowKeyPlus - Windows Product Key Information
Product Name: Windows 10 Pro
Version: 16299.248 (64-bit OS)
Product ID: 00331-10000-00001-AA753
Installed Key: W269N-*****-*****-4J6C9-T83GX
OEM Key: Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware


ShowKeyPlus - Windows Product Key Information
Original Key: W269N-*****-*****-4J6C9-T83GX
Original Edition: in 10 RTM Professional
Volume: GVLK EULA Type: Volume

So now I'm not sure what to do.
when I go to the control panel is says computer is activated.
what can I do to get it re-activated and stop the message?

:)

 

Does Windows Operating license expire on your laptop personal computer?

Basically a expiring license indicates that the license is a Volume License Edition.

Try opening CMD with Admin Rights

Type in - slmgr -dli

This will give you the channel whether Retail or OEM or Volume etc.

Try that command and post your results.

Mostly if it is volume license, then we might have to try to reactivate it with your Windows 7 key.

Worst case scenario is if we fail to activate and if it is volume license, after the expired period Windows will automatically restart after 3 hours - Since the product is no longer active, this happens. In this case, depending upon the product key of Windows
7, we might need to reinstall the appropriate edition of Windows 7 or 10 using the Windows 7 key

 

Activation

If it was activated by your organizations activation server, then it means, it is using KMS volume license requiring that you connect to the Domain or VPN into the organizations network to activate. If this does not work, then you should contact your Network
Administrator for assistance.

Also see:

Why does Windows 10 say 'Your license will expire soon' and How to Fix It

https://windows10.help/blogs/entry/49-why-does-...

 

Fro reference: see discussion here as to the difference between license keys and what you might find on your PC:
Windows 10 Prod key shows different - Windows 10 Forums

 

If its volume license it doesn't activate via Microsoft it needs a local enterprise kms server. So basically you have a pirated copy as it only for enterprise customers. I would contact the seller or ebay and get a refund for a new o/s

 

If I get a non-volume product key - can i just activate with that or do I have to re-install Windows.?

 

Chances are it wont activate as it will be the wrong type of key but its the first thing to try if it fails the you would have to do a clean install. If you bought it in good faith then seller should pay for a genuine copy ebay , paypal or credit card would force that. It needs to be done as he may be doing this to other people and and as win10 pro cost £220 he could be making thosands with pirate software Ebay should take immediate action

 

Try changing the product key to the Windows 10 Pro generic product key:
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Then if Windows 10 Pro does not activate with a digital license, see if you can change the product key again to the one shown on the Windows 7 COA sticker.

But, yes, as stated, the seller sold you an illegitimate version of Windows 10 with the computer.

 

For the OA part on the COA sticker, it means OEM Activated. Earlier stickers may have had OEMAct.

 

Who knows what hacks may have been done to the installed Windows to get it to work. If you're not able to get your money back, I would try a clean install. This article suggests that the CoA key should be able to activate it.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...39a0559?auth=1

 

sounds like the best solution would be to download Win 7 pro from Dell and reinstall that since that is what the key under the battery is for.
I'm assuming if I try the method suggested above (try the genic win 10 key) if it doesn't work I will be locked out of my computer.

 

No the generic key won't harm your installation.
Worst case scenario, it will say 'unable to activate'. In which case the COA key will work.

(BTW: No need to install Win 7 Po... Win 10 Pro will accept the Win 7 Pro key)

 

both methods did not work.

1st I entered the generic win 10 key
result - can not activate error code 0xc03f6506

then I tried the win 7 key
'key is not valid" error code 0xc004f050

any other ideas?

 

Backup your data.

Clean install Windows 10 Pro and enter your 7 Pro key.

Unless your 7 key on the sticker is fake as well it will work.

There are a dozen ways to do it but you can definitely activate Windows 10 with a Windows 7 key.

 

I ran the Dell OS recovery tool. It says I can only install Win 7 pro.
I'm guessing this laptop was delivered as a Win 7 Pro, then either it was wiped clean by the guy who sold it and he installed Win 10 with a volume license and activate it with KMS or it was updated at the company that owned it with a volume license and the guy who sold it on ebay bought it after the lease expired.

as I was searching around with some different key tools and I found out this Win 10 installation was activated almost exactly 1 year ago. So sounds like some kine of corporate license that has to be re-activated each year.

to the last post-- I can't re-install Win-10 because I don't have it. I bought this laptop used and it was already installed. I didn't get any backup disks with it.
Why would it work with the Win7 key after a clean install if it will not active with the win7 key now?