Windows product key lost after getting hacked

WMAL 21 Reputation points
2022-07-27T04:05:26.177+00:00

Hi.
My name is W, I'm twelve. My secondhand computer just got hacked a few months ago, which causes my product key to disappear in the settings. Since it's a secondhand computer, the product key in the PC's sticker is being scratched by the previous owner.
But in the settings, it said that my Windows is activated by my organization's activation service (previously it wasn't like that, it only shows the product key number).
Today when I'm turning on my PC, there's a pop-up notification saying that my Windows will expire soon and I had to enter the product key.
My computer is HP Compaq LA1951g, version Windows 10 Pro (previously 7).
PS: The computer's virus is DJVU (which encrypts all files into .qbaa).

Help me getting this PC done without product key, this computer isn't just mine. It's also for my brother's English class homeworks (we're homeschooled). My mom would be angry to hear this (;_;)

Windows 10
Windows 10
A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.
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  1. Dillon Silzer 54,646 Reputation points
    2022-07-27T04:25:13.457+00:00

    Hello @WMAL

    I would recommend doing a full clean install. Warning: You will lose all of your data when running a clean install, but in your situation I don't think your data is recoverable due to a ransomware virus.

    What you will need:

    1) A USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of memory

    2) The Windows 10 installation media tool.

    3) A new Windows key since your computer is saying that you don't have one activated. (You can try downloading BelArc Advisor at https://www.belarc.com/products/belarc-advisor to see if you can see your current Windows key)

    Steps:

    1) Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10 and press Download tool now

    2) Insert your 8 GB USB flash drive into an available USB slot.

    3) Open the media tool and choose your USB drive to download Windows 10 image on to.

    4) Restart your PC and boot to the USB drive (use the following steps)

    225095-image.png

    5) Delete all partitions on your disk to rid of the virus and install a fresh Windows 10. You can use the guide in the following link to take you step by step to perform a clean install:

    https://www.groovypost.com/howto/clean-install-Windows-10/

    6) Once you load up Windows you will need to enter your new Windows 10 key that your purchased.

    If you found this helpful please mark as correct answer.

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  1. Limitless Technology 39,376 Reputation points
    2022-07-27T14:29:19.447+00:00

    Hi there,

    I would suggest you to contact the HP support and see if they can help you here as OEM products keys will not be supported by Microsoft.

    You can also try to clean install the PC and see if you can activate the Windows version. You can also try the activation troubleshooter . Using the Windows Activation troubleshooter https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-the-windows-activation-troubleshooter-d717cdff-cf19-9770-7198-40119c2a696c

    I hope this information helps. If you have any questions please let me know and I will be glad to help you out.

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