Win 10 activation is expiring - volume license

both methods did not work.

1st I entered the generic win 10 key
result - can not activate error code 0xc03f6506

then I tried the win 7 key
'key is not valid" error code 0xc004f050

any other ideas?

Backup your data.

Clean install Windows 10 Pro and enter your 7 Pro key.

Unless your 7 key on the sticker is fake as well it will work.

There are a dozen ways to do it but you can definitely activate Windows 10 with a Windows 7 key.

I ran the Dell OS recovery tool. It says I can only install Win 7 pro.
I'm guessing this laptop was delivered as a Win 7 Pro, then either it was wiped clean by the guy who sold it and he installed Win 10 with a volume license and activate it with KMS or it was updated at the company that owned it with a volume license and the guy who sold it on ebay bought it after the lease expired.

as I was searching around with some different key tools and I found out this Win 10 installation was activated almost exactly 1 year ago. So sounds like some kine of corporate license that has to be re-activated each year.

to the last post-- I can't re-install Win-10 because I don't have it. I bought this laptop used and it was already installed. I didn't get any backup disks with it.
Why would it work with the Win7 key after a clean install if it will not active with the win7 key now?

It sounds like the laptop came with a version of Windows 7 that could only be installed and activated from factory supplied recovery media. It doesn't have the type of product key that can be activated from Microsoft - the "product key" is embedded in the factory recovery media and activates against the corresponding key stored in the computer's bios. I think you are pretty much out of luck - you are either going to have to find and/or purchase the factory recovery media containing the Windows 7 for that laptop, install it, then upgrade to Windows 10 - hopefully still for free. Or purchase Windows 10.

In any case, file a complaint against the seller, if they advertised the laptop as coming with Windows 10.

Superfly said:

I'm thinking it's likely the activation files on that installation have been tampered with... in which case a clean install will be required.

BTW: When checked, does ShowKeyPlus validate the key?
PS: Check if this file is present C:\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig-downlevel.xrm-ms
(without it the Win 7 key will not be recognised on Win 10)
-- I'm just wondering if a Win 10 Pro VL ISO image was used to install which may not have it (as VL does not qualify for the free upgrade) -- answered my own question below...

that file is there

i don't really know how to use that command but here is what / dlv returned.

NavyLCDR said:

It sounds like the laptop came with a version of Windows 7 that could only be installed and activated from factory supplied recovery media. It doesn't have the type of product key that can be activated from Microsoft - the "product key" is embedded in the factory recovery media and activates against the corresponding key stored in the computer's bios. I think you are pretty much out of luck - you are either going to have to find and/or purchase the factory recovery media containing the Windows 7 for that laptop, install it, then upgrade to Windows 10 - hopefully still for free. Or purchase Windows 10.
In any case, file a complaint against the seller, if they advertised the laptop as coming with Windows 10.

This is a Dell laptop. i went to their support site and I can download the win7 recovery ISO. Since it has the win7 COA I assume I would have no problem re-installing Win7. i was just hoping there was a way to reactivate win-10.

I tried to contact the seller. no response. I will contact ebay.