'Windows license will expire soon'- Help please

kelleysam

Hi,
I have had my laptop approx 18 months, never any issues until a month ago.
A pop up keeps appearing saying ' your windows license will expire soon'. And I need to enter a serial key to activate.
Windows was preinstalled on this laptop so I do not have a serial key.
I have run every virus/malware, and I am clean.
I have restored laptop, I have used the recovery to reinstall to factory settings, but nothing has helped.
I even had online chat with microsoft tech, who remotely accessed laptop and told me he had fixed it, but he hasn't.
Please can anyone help me, It says my license will expire in 4 days time.

Lokolo

Online chat with a microsoft tech who remote into your PC sounds very dubious to me. Who were they exactly?

kelleysam

I went through the official microsoft website https://support.microsoft.com/?ln=en-in

Angry_Bear

When Windows comes preinstalled there's usually a sticker (on laptops it's typically on the bottom) that has the serial number written on it. It's also your "guarantee" that you've got a genuine version of Windows.

kelleysam

Yes I have the sticker , with a serial number on but that's not the serial key for Windows. I need a 25 digit code.

jblessing

Did you buy this laptop second hand?

A bit of googling shows that this is a common issue caused by non-genuine licences. I quote from one such google result:

"Based on the information you provided you are likely running a non genuine copy of Windows 8.1.

The reason this is likely is the notice of the Windows license expiring. This is associated with Volume License distribution of Windows available to large customers that use KMS (Key Management Server) licensing.
KMS licenses require that they reconnect to the business network or the KMS Host that authenticated the activation every 180 days (6 months)."

Collabora

Check the sticker as it will tell you what OS it is licenced too and see if it matches to what you have on your laptop

kelleysam

I bought laptop new from Argos in Nov 2013, so my warranty has expired.
I've just been on phone to Toshiba help line, but they say they've never come across this problem. Think they might be fibbing.
The sticker says part no. serial no. but nothing with OS in it.

Big_Graeme

Windows 8/8.1?

I had the same issue with my Lenovo, I ran Windows update, rebooted and it sorted itself after a few minutes. If it doesn't have a word with Argos techies.

EssexExile

There should be another Microsoft sticker with the 25 digit key. Mine has all sorts metal strips, watermarks & holograms on it.

Big_Graeme

EssexExile wrote: »

There should be another Microsoft sticker with the 25 digit key. Mine has all sorts metal strips, watermarks & holograms on it.

Not on Win 8 machines.