Activation troubleshooting

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  1. Posts : 3,453
    Thread Starter
       #11

    DAVEY JONES said:
    I didn't knowingly chop off any top part. I don't see that any part of it is missing. As for "Why would a reputable site . . . . ?" I think you can answer that for yourself.. Like, why did MSFT allow a fake pop-up to appear with their software? Point being, ordinary users like myself have no idea what or who to trust anymore. And no, I don't know you but your avatar is not exactly trust-inspiring. Did you think it was? Sorry, but its rather scary.

    The pink pop-up was the reason I called for help as I mentioned, this was my third install and they wouldn't even allow two as the second time they tried to force me to buy another copy and I raised holy hell about that until they finally gave me a new key. So I knew this activation wouldn't work and I called.
    Well check the report again... it's chopped and the turquoise colour is also edited.

    MS did not put a pop-up in a genuine iso - only external malware could have installed that.

    My avatar scary?.... would Snow-White be better?... sorry, but that's no excuse to misstrust my work.

    If you purchased a genuine key (i.e genuine source) all would be well.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 56
    Win 10 Home
       #12

    Well, I am sorry you didn't get my point . . . . I'm tired, frustrated and sick of the monumental problems of trying to keep my computers functioning, a task at which I'm failing. This is a brand new build and it didn't last even two days, so cut me some slack. Blaming the victim doesn't go very well with me these days.

    Well check the report again... it's chopped and the turquoise colour is also edited. Yes, I added the color for emphasis.

    MS did not put a pop-up in a genuine iso - only external malware could have installed that. Didn't say they did, I said "allowed".

    My avatar scary?.... would Snow-White be better?... sorry, but that's no excuse to misstrust my work. There was no reason to distrust the fraudulent pop-up, either but look what happened.
    There is no reason to take umbrage over a legitimate question. You could have answered that you were the author, but you didn't. I didn't find out until I actually took a chance and downloaded and saw your name on it.

    If you purchased a genuine key (i.e genuine source) all would be well. My (Non) genuine key came on a card in the box with the USB flash drive containing the o/s purchased at Best Buy. Was that also not legitimate?

    Enough of the silly banter, does the report indicate that I've been "had" yet again?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,453
    Thread Starter
       #13

    OK, no more silly banter... yes you have been had...

    IIRC we had a similar issue with a Best-Buy deal quite a while ago at Eightforuns... can't remember how/if it got resolved...

    Thing is to take the PC back to them... run ADT, in the GUI it will show the full key... then show them the report as non-genuine and they should re-imburse you.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 56
    Win 10 Home
       #14

    Not a PC. a retail copy of Win10. Why would they refund me, I don't see how it was their fault? I tried to get a refund when Microsoft refused to let me install it a second time because there were traces of the prior install on the HDD, So what I did was outsmart them, changed the drives and the key worked.

    Do you know where that pop-up with the fraudulent phone number came from? Apparently, I my machine was already compromised (hacked). Are you assuming it was on the software? Could I make that argument?

    Secondly, do you not find it very odd that the hacker spent nearly an hour with me on the phone? THAT is what ultimately convinced me he was legit. These guys were true con (confidence) men. Really slick.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #15

    Before we go too far down the road on this.
    @DAVEY JONES,

    1. What operating system did the computer come with installed?

    2. You have a supposed retail Windows 10 Product Key. Where did you purchase this product key from?

    3. @Superfly is 100% genuine and is THE Winodws 10 licensing expert here on Tenforums - and Tenforums is very picky about what it allows on this forum. If there is a hint of anything shady in any post any one of large number of regular members or moderator will spot it, we will report it to a moderator, and they usually remove the post and/or ban the user within hours. You will notice @Superfly has been a member here for 2 1/2 years. You can trust him and his work posted here. SO.......

    I would recommend you download his ShowkeyPlus application:
    ShowKeyPlus

    See what it says about product keys that are installed on your computer. Then select the option on the right to Check Product Key and see what it says about the retail product key that you purchased.

    And here's a final question. Have you ever had a good, solid Windows 10 activation on that computer? If you have had a legitimate Windows 10 activation on that computer before chances are you have a digital license for Windows 10 stored on Microsoft activation servers and you don't even need a product key.

    You've gotten taken badly in the past. We are here to help. We are very careful to remain reputable and we have no desire to mess with people, only help them.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 3,453
    Thread Starter
       #16

    DAVEY JONES said:
    Not a PC. a retail copy of Win10. Why would they refund me, I don't see how it was their fault? I tried to get a refund when Microsoft refused to let me install it a second time because there were traces of the prior install on the HDD, So what I did was outsmart them, changed the drives and the key worked.
    A HDD change has no effect on activation.

    DAVEY JONES said:
    Do you know where that pop-up with the fraudulent phone number came from? Apparently, I my machine was already compromised (hacked). Are you assuming it was on the software? Could I make that argument?
    Can't answer that... Dunno what surfing you did... BTW there are separate AV's for browsers and email from whence ransomware eminates.

    DAVEY JONES said:

    Secondly, do you not find it very odd that the hacker spent nearly an hour with me on the phone? THAT is what ultimately convinced me he was legit. These guys were true con (confidence) men. Really slick.
    @$200/hr?

    NavyLCDR said:
    Before we go too far down the road on this.
    @DAVEY JONES,

    1. What operating system did the computer come with installed?

    2. You have a supposed retail Windows 10 Product Key. Where did you purchase this product key from?

    3. @Superfly is 100% genuine and is THE Winodws 10 licensing expert here on Tenforums - and Tenforums is very picky about what it allows on this forum. If there is a hint of anything shady in any post any one of large number of regular members or moderator will spot it, we will report it to a moderator, and they usually remove the post and/or ban the user within hours. You will notice @Superfly has been a member here for 2 1/2 years. You can trust him and his work posted here. SO.......

    I would recommend you download his ShowkeyPlus application:
    ShowKeyPlus

    See what it says about product keys that are installed on your computer. Then select the option on the right to Check Product Key and see what it says about the retail product key that you purchased.

    And here's a final question. Have you ever had a good, solid Windows 10 activation on that computer? If you have had a legitimate Windows 10 activation on that computer before chances are you have a digital license for Windows 10 stored on Microsoft activation servers and you don't even need a product key.

    You've gotten taken badly in the past. We are here to help. We are very careful to remain reputable and we have no desire to mess with people, only help them.
    @NavyLCDR
    Thanx John, gonna recommend a promotion to Lt Gen...in the Licensing Military :)

    Anyway... as long as Davey is upfront (no redaction, oblivious of the author when it's at the bottom of the intro and report... and what info was provided for the refund thing)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 56
    Win 10 Home
       #17

    I'm sorry Commander, you haven't been following all my posts because your questions have already been answered. Oh, and Super Fly, I first want to thank you for your help, it is appreciated along with your work. I've only been registered for this forum a couple weeks so I am not familiar with it so forgive me for being skeptical. For some strange reason I no longer believe everything I read on the 'net.

    I don't know what ransom ware is but looks to me like my best bet is to wipe the drive and reinstall the o/s if there is no way of locating the cancer. There are really no other options, are there? LATER UPDATE: Having looked up the definition of ransom ware, I answered my own question.The only "out" I see is wiping the drive IF there isn't anywhere else the virus could be located.

    In this case, looks like I should do it now, before the virus takes effect. If I can't get the computer to even boot, I'm screwed. I have a USB boot "disc". Is that likely to work?

    "Not a PC. a retail copy of Win10. Why would they refund me, I don't see how it was their fault? I tried to get a refund when Microsoft refused to let me install it a second time because there were traces of the prior install on the HDD, So what I did was outsmart them, changed the drives and the key worked."



    "A HDD change has no effect on activation." I was referring to the installation and product key needed to even start the installation.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #18

    Yes, I did miss your answer, @DAVEY JONES. Sorry about that. Probably what happened, I am guessing, is that when you let the scammers have access to your computer they obtained your product key from it and used it. The USB flash drive you purchased from Best Buy should be read-only and you should be able to install a clean copy of Windows 10 from it. Boot your computer from the flash drive, not the hard drive. When you are asked to enter a product key, click the little link that says "I don't have a product key". You can always activate it with a product key later.

    The best way to do a totally clean install is to select the custom install option, then when you get the list of partitions on the hard drive, delete every one until you see nothing but unallocated space. Highlight the unallocated space and click next to let Windows 10 create it's own partitions.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 56
    Win 10 Home
       #19

    DISREGARD THIS POST, SEE NEXT.

    Gotcha, thanks. One more thing,If I recall rightly the second time I did an install from that Win10 USB, it refused to accept my product key. MSFT finally gave me a new product I.D. and a Windows Activation code made up of 48 numerals. I keep a hand written log book for my machines so I have a record of what was done and how.

    I also wrote "Denied activation 3X by phone so I reformatted drive C (with 1st Win10 install on it, 2nd install was on another drive) and the online activation then worked."

    Today is day 5 after the scam and still no virus active, what are they waiting for???. It occurs to me that what may have happened is that the scam was actually pulled off by a real Microsoft contractor who extorted $200 from me but actually performed a legitimate service and removed a Trojan as he claimed. But that doesn't explain License Activation Failed, does it? If the above was true, I should have a positive Diagnostic Report, yes?

    I also recall seeing him install, run, and then remove Malwarebytes.
    Last edited by DAVEY JONES; 29 Dec 2016 at 07:41. Reason: SELF EXPLANATORY
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 56
    Win 10 Home
       #20

    NavyLCDR said:
    Yes, I did miss your answer, @DAVEY JONES. Sorry about that. Probably what happened, I am guessing, is that when you let the scammers have access to your computer they obtained your product key from it and used it. The USB flash drive you purchased from Best Buy should be read-only and you should be able to install a clean copy of Windows 10 from it. Boot your computer from the flash drive, not the hard drive. When you are asked to enter a product key, click the little link that says "I don't have a product key". You can always activate it with a product key later.

    The best way to do a totally clean install is to select the custom install option, then when you get the list of partitions on the hard drive, delete every one until you see nothing but unallocated space. Highlight the unallocated space and click next to let Windows 10 create it's own partitions.
    I gave him the key by phone.

    What happens if one doesn't activate, OR if my original key doesn't work? As I recall MSFT doesn't let the o/s being installed on more than one machine. If it doesn't recognize this as the same machine (which seems to be what happened previously. I wrote the following in my handwritten log:

    "Denied activation 3X by phone so I reformatted drive C (with 1st Win10 install on it, 2nd install was on another drive) and the online activation then worked."
      My Computer


 

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