My Windows 10 Is Expired How to Activate

Hi RX. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 9 year Windows MVP and Independent Advisor, here to help you.

The error normally means that someone has activated Windows with a Volume License Key meant only for business or organizations that activate a large number of PC's, which need to check in with the organization's server regularly to reactivate.

Sometimes this is done by shops reinstalling Windows, unnecessarily because the PC either came with a Windows Product Key embedded in the BIOS/UEFI firmware, or it was already activated for free Upgrade and would have reactivated after a reinstall had they given it the chance and not interrupted this by installing the illegal key.

If you know Windows was originally activated legitimately by one of these methods then to fix the problem what I would do is go offline to remove the Volume License key and then restore the Generic Product Key that is used to activate with the Digital License issued by Upgrade or Factory install. Then we'll see if it activates:

1) Go offline by opening Action center at the right end of Task Bar, then clicking on Airplane mode to turn off internet.

2) Next type CMD in Start Search, right click to Run as Administrator, then right click to copy and paste this command in and press Enter: slmgr -upk

3) Restart PC and then insert Generic Product Key for WIndows 10 Pro from here: http://winaero.com/blog/generic-key-to-install-...

This sets everything back to default so that if there is a Digital License issued during a proper Upgrade it should reactivate within a few days. If not we will need to try something else:

What Windows Operating System came on that exact model PC originally - you can google it's make and model to read the specs to find out? If it says Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Home version then that is a clue you need to reinstall Home instead of Pro to try to activate. We might even be able to still activate it fresh with a Windows 8/8.1 Product Key read from the BIOS or on the Windows 7 COA sticker on the PC, or any of those retail keys.

If nothing else works you may need to reinstall the licensed Windows edition that came with that PC, or buy a copy of retail Windows 10 to reinstall (if necessary) and activate it. I would buy only from a major retailer who backs their sales or Microsoft here: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US...

If you were sold a Volume license product key or the PC came from seller activated with one, then It is piracy when someone resells Windows with no way to legally activate it. You can report this to Microsoft here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/cfr/r.... In the past when victims cooperated with an investigation they would sometimes give them a free copy as thanks.

You can also contact the seller and let him/her know you are taking these actions and that to avoid prosecution for felony theft and piracy they need to make the activation good.

I hope having all possible options helps.

Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

_________________

Windows MVP 2010-20

Millions helped via my tutorials and personally in forums for 12 years. Now an Independent Advisor.

I do not quit for those who are polite and cooperative.

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Hi RX2168

Genuine Windows 10 does not expire . . .

Do you know the history of your PC or version of Windows?

Is your PC second hand or Windows was reinstalled by a PC Repair Shop?

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 . . .

___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Hi RX2168,
was this computer brand made or assembled in local computer store?
Does wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
(need to be run from Windows PowerShell (administrator) shows the product key? Do not publish key here!
Please show the result of slmgr /dlv command/

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Hi Dave, my copy of windows was installed by a PC Repair Shop. Also I've done as you've asked and this is the result I got :-

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Hi RX2168

Thank you for that screenshot . . .

The Repair Shop have installed the Windows 10 Pro volume licence version of Windows, you are not going to be able to activate that . . .

Most likely your PC should have Windows 10 Home installed, if you can, go back to that shop and have them resolve this for you, otherwise it is just a guess that installing the Home version of Windows 10 would automatically activate on that system . . .

___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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My Windows 10 Is Expired How to Activate

Source: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-activation-randomly-expired/3cc4051f-b581-4ae8-97aa-ac5d3fd5b9c3

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