windows 10 activation

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Nil_Skrzypczak

PCHF Member
Dec 31, 2019
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i just built a pc and installed windows using a usb drive with windows 10 on it. However windows isn't activated obviously since I didn't use a product key or license. How can I activate windows now? I am not looking to spend no money here, I'm willing to pay for it, but I legit just cannot figure out where or how to buy a license or product key. Please help me
 
You will need to contact Microsoft directly to get windows activated here are a couple of links.


 
have you tried getting it directly from MS; https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-10-home/d76qx4bznwk4?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

typically, as in retail stores as well, when you buy Windows, the money is not for the medium it comes on but for the actual Product Key. so you'll have to go through the motions and download the Win10 image but part of that process is they should also email you the Product Key, which is what you are really after.
 
How can I actually contact Microsoft? I tried both of those links and those were pages I had already seen before, and neither helped. This is what I see when I open settings and go to activation:
 

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have you tried getting it directly from MS; https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-10-home/d76qx4bznwk4?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

typically, as in retail stores as well, when you buy Windows, the money is not for the medium it comes on but for the actual Product Key. so you'll have to go through the motions and download the Win10 image but part of that process is they should also email you the Product Key, which is what you are really after.
I am currently using the pc that is un-activated. So if I were to purchase the product that this link leads to, the $140 windows 10 Home download, what would happen? Would a new copy of windows start downloading? Or is it something that is shipped to me?
 
Open an Adimn Command prompt and type the following command
slmgr /dlv

post a screen shot of the window that comes up.
 
Last edited:
someone tried to use a volume licens to activate that version of windows which explains the screen shot in Post #5 and confirmed in Post #9.


Windows provides licenses to companies who purchase the rights in bulk for multiple computers. This concept is called volume licensing. While it has its own benefits, the condition is that the system needs to be connected to the company’s network once in 180 days. This is to prevent the misuse of the licensing terms, particularly preventing unauthorised distribution of the licensed operating system to non-company individuals.

Microsoft Assisted Support for Volume License Key can assist you
 
Run this cmd within powershell with admin powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”
Or wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey if using cmd prompt.
Or: Check this program to reveal if there’s a key embedded in the BIOS:
Or: Download and run this: https://www.microsoft.com/p/showkeyplus/9pkvzcprx9nv to find all keys used on the PC.
If it doesn’t show any key then don’t worry as this is normal if the PC came with Windows 10.
If it shows a key then please let me know - do not post the key.
 
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