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

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 2

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.

Answer 3

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 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

Hi, Maja,

When one sells Windows he has to pass all related document and materials. Did you get them? Seems, you bought only computer but not Windows and you need to buy it e.g. in Microsoft Store.