Activation in Window 10 on a second-hand computer

Question

I bought my laptop computer from a person who had already had Windows 10 installed on it. Now I am getting a note that my Windows license is going to expire soon and that I need to activate it. How to do that, since I don't have the original package of the Windows 10?

Answer 1

See your other replies, and let me add the following:

If I acquired a used computer, no matter how I got it or who previously owned it, the

first thing I would do with it would be to reinstall the operating

system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer has been maintained,

what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing, what viruses and

spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with somebody

else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddy p00rn, etc., and I

wouldn't recommend that anyone else do so either.

Your choice of course, but in my view, you're playing with fire if you

don't reinstall Windows cleanly.

Answer 2

To better diagnose the issue,

Right click Start>Command Prompt-Admin and type in the following command:

slmgr.vbs /dlv

You will get a window, take a screenshot using snipping tool and paste it it next reply.

How to get a screenshot and post back:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wik...

Please let us know if you need any assistance in posting.

Answer 3

To help us to help you and to properly get answers to your post you should include some minimum information.

1.  Device type. ie Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, Surface, Phone

2.  Who made it and model, HDD size. If home built what type motherboard, Intel, AMD

3.  OS type, Home, Pro, Enterprise, etc

4.  Current build.  Hit the WIN key, type winver, hit Enter.

To check if your computer is activated;

Right click Start, click Command Prompt(Admin)

enter slmgr /xpr  Then hit the Enter key

It will tell you when it expires.

Answer 4

Hi Maja

Open the Settings App

Go to System - About

What version of Windows 10 is reported there, is it Home, Pro or Enterprise?

Then in the Settings App, go to Update and Security - Activation

What exactly is reported under Activation?

Click your Start Button, type cmd then right click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as Administrator'

Run or paste this command and hit Enter:

slmgr.vbs /dlv

Please post a screenshot of the resulting dialog . . .

Answer 5

What you describe is evidence of a pirated copy of Windows on the PC. The corporate versions of Windows will display that message and corporate versions are not legal unless used in an enterprise.