your windows licence is due to expire!

[asimovsky]

Hello. I'm new to the computer world and have recently bought a Sony Vaio laptop to start me off. I have been getting a message on the desktop saying your windows licence is due to expire. So I contacted the place I bought it from and they had no idea what I was talking about and they insist that windows is already installed and the licence is current. They did talk me through how to find out where my licence is displayed and asked me to the contact microsoft helpline. This I did, and they were as helpful as the place I bought it from!. So, how do I stop this annoying notice from being displayed, and, have I got a full install of windows 8.1.

I have done some research about this problem on-line and found several helpful things such as going into the cmd mode and typing in slmgr -rearm, but this means nothing to me even if I knew what it meant, so basically, am I doomed to live with this or can someone please help me?

[RandyL]

Hi and welcome to Freepchelp;

 

Although this may just be a glitch other things have to be considered first.

 

What is the model number of your Sony Vaio laptop?

Where did you buy it?

Have you contacted Sony?

 

It needs to be determined if this particular model came pre-installed with Windows from Sony or if this is a volume or trial license installed by the seller and not Sony. If it is a trial or volume license then it may have an illegal installation.

 

What did Microsoft say when you contacted the Microsoft helpline?

 

To see your version of Windows and more information press the windows key and r on your keyboard to bring up the run command. Type msinfo32 and click OK. To copy the information click edit then select all then copy. You can save it or paste it here.

 

Living with it is not an option as you might have a crippled operating system.

 

If you have experienced this since you bought it or it started happening after 30 days then you might want to consider a full refund from the seller because it is a faulty system covered under warranty or something illegal may be the cause. Some sellers will do this to save money.

 

Circumventing Microsoft Licensing rules is not something most people will help with but it could be a glitch that Microsoft or Sony can help with. Either way if this started from the date of purchase or around 30 days from then the seller should take care of it via a refund or I would suspect them of illegal activity.

 

If you could supply some answers to our questions and supply the system info from the run command we may be able to give you some ideas.

[asimovsky]

Hi RandyL. thanks for your help. neither microsoft nor the seller were very helpful. I may re-install windows8 (the seller gave me an unopened copy).then upgrade to 8.1, would that be the best thing to do?

[KenB]

Hi

(the seller gave me an unopened copy

What does it say on the packaging?

A photo would be very helpful.

[asimovsky]

Hello KenB. It says on the packaging Product Description / Win 8.1 64Bit Eng Intl 1pk DSP OEI DVD. then it gives carton number barcodes etc. build date 11.13.2014.

Hope that helps. As for photos, sorry but as I said in my original post, I'm new to the world of IT so, haven't yet learnt how to put photos on a computer, or how to put into something such as this...sorry.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, I think the information may be enough, however a makers name on the disk package would be of help, does it say it is Microsoft or Sony?

 

As for photographs, how to get them on to a computer, and then how to show the photograph on a forum such as this, it would be best to start a new topic or thread in the Miscellaneous hardware issues section, and we will be happy to help you. In that thread it will be important to tell us what type of camera you will be using, is it a purpose built digital camera or a mobile phone type camera or some other type?

For the Miscellaneous hardware issues section, click this link to save you searching.

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/forums/100-Miscellaneous-Hardware-Issues

 

Nev.

[asimovsky]

Hi Plastic Nev. The disc packaging is blue with the words Windows and the logo and Microsoft on it.

[KenB]

Hi again

 

Sounds like a legitimate package.

Is there a 25 character Product Code with it ?

This should be on / in the box that the DVD came in.

[ Do not write the code in your reply ....you need to keep this to yourself :) ]

 

If there is a Product Code you are good to go with a reinstall if you want to take this route.

We can advise with this if you wish.

 

Just a bit confused over the message you got.

 

 

Is this what you got?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1452.vB5-legacyid=2537[/ATTACH]

 

 

If you can still boot up ....... do the following:

Hold the Windows Key down ( left side bottom row ) and press S

Type in .... system ..... click on the "System" box.

 

Right at the bottom it will tell you if Windows has been activated or not.

Has it ?

 

If you cannot boot up - do you get an option to enter the product code ?

If so - you could try the one from the new package.

[asimovsky]

hi kenb. yes the screen looks just like that. did as you said re system and it says windows not activated. I can boot up every time no problem, yes there is a product code, and it says on dvd genuine windows 8.1 which includes latest updates. So am I ok to go ahead and use it?. I really appreciate everyone's help, you've been great. thank you.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, this now sounds like the operating system has not been activated from new. You shouldn't actually require the disk in the package and should be able to activate the system without it or even the product key on the package.

 

In earlier operating systems such as XP, Vista, and Windows 7 when the computer was first turned on from new, you were asked to activate the system and given a time period of so many days or weeks to do so. Instructions were given within the window as to how to do so.

However not being a Windows 8 or 8.1 owner or user, I don't know the procedure for activating that system fully as the product key should actually be already embedded into the BIOS system, though Ken will possibly know what to do next.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi

 

Nev is correct.

There is no sticker on Win 8 / 8.1 systems to let you know what the Product Code is.

It is embedded into the BIOS on installation.

Activation should be automatic when the OS is installed.

 

You should be able to locate the product Key with this piece of software

click here

You will need to scroll down to "Feedback" for the link to download.

 

I have just downloaded the zip option - it is fairly straight-forward to extract it and run the software.

Once you have un-zipped it click on the ProduKey .........Application to show the 25 character product key.

 

DO NOT post this here.

Let me know when you have it. ( obviously make a note of this ...pay attention to zeros / noughts )

[asimovsky]

Hi KenB. yep done that and got product key and product id. Thank you. What next?

[KenB]

Hi

 

Try .....Windows Key + S

Type in ......system .....click on the "System" box

Bottom right corner is an option to "Change Product Key" .....click on this

[ you may need to scroll down the page ]

 

Type in the key ........don't type the hyphens.

 

Hopefully this will sort it for you.

[asimovsky]

Hi kenb. did as you said windows key+s etc. Nothing in corner saying change product key, cannot scroll down. The info on the page gives the following, windows edition, system, computer name domain and workgroup settings, windows activation. So I clicked windows activation and the laptop thought about it then said sorry but windows cannot be activated at this time, please try later. Getting fed up now, if I reinstall windows via the disc I was given, will this make any difference do you think?. Thanks for your help and patience so far.

[KenB]

Hi

I would leave the re-install as a last resort.

 

Try this:

1. Press Windows key + X then clickRun, then type: slui.exe 4 .......[ there is a space before the 4 ]

2. Next press the 'ENTER' key

3. Select your 'Country' from the list.

4. Choose the 'Phone Activation' option.

 

If it doesn't activate from here go through the above process again and do the following ....

5. Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.

 

 

​You will need the Product Code that you wrote down - have the new one to hand also just in case the first one doesn't work.

[asimovsky]

Hi.Did as you say, got to item 2 press enter and a screen came up saying cannot activate by phone.

[KenB]

Strange .... ???

 

Did you try option 5 ?

[asimovsky]

yes and got the same message. now i'm really fed up. might just go ahead and do a full reinstall. will let you know how i've done.

[KenB]

That is very odd ????

 

Let us know how you get on with the install :)

[asimovsky]

Hi KenB. I paid a visit to where i bought machine from instead of phoning as in the past. Guess what? all very apologetic, and my machine disappeared into their workshop, and returned minutes later with....Windows Activated, and a full product ID showing on it as well. Everything is now ok, I really do appreciate all your advice and help, as I do the other contributors to this thread. Many many thanks.

[KenB]

Hi

 

Strange that they didn't know what you were talking about when you phoned them.

Is this a reputable outlet ?

It looks as if your OS is now activated.

All's well that ends well :)