Windows 10 activation issues

[Willie Trombone]

I bought a brand new second hand HP ZBook recently. Brand new because it was unopened. Second hand because it was likely pre-owned. No, it's not hot, was purchased on Bid or Buy and has a legit 3 year warranty with HP (have contacted and confirmed that already). It has a Win 10 Pro sticker on the back but came installed with 10 Enterprise. I've since stuck an M.2 SSD into the machine and transferred the OS to the SSD and running the original drive as the data drive.

Windows now wants to activate but won't let me - it gives error 0x8007232B - I'm guessing it was activated on some corporate network. The key ends with 2YT43 but I don't have the key anywhere that I can see.

Can I assume that the machine didn't come with Windows originally, or that someone installed a corporate enterprise version? Anyone else experienced this?

This article suggests it may not just be me...
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...ld-10166/925969b8-2a45-4922-bf5f-10b5c87ce0e4

 

[Rickster]

Use AIDA64 to view the full key if you wish, best bet is to phone MS and explain to them.


Last resort, use a KMS.

 

[Praeses]

When the activation fails, does it not give you the option to phone microsoft? You can also try to do a clean install and see if it activates.

 

[sajunky]

I am afraid Microsoft will not help in such case.
Check with AIDA64 other utilities whether notebook has SLIC Windows licence in BIOS.
You could install Windows 7/8 and go through the upgrade process without entering any key.

Alternatively I think you can change licencing scheme in the current installation using Windows utility "slmgr" and COA sticker. I don't recommend it, as you could use COA sticker better way.

 

[reactor_sa]

Windows 10 Pro is not the same as Windows 10 Enterprise which is volume licenced. Something fishy, never seen a PC sold with a Windows Enterprise licence sticker.

 

[Praeses]

Windows 10 Pro is not the same as Windows 10 Enterprise which is volume licenced. Something fishy, never seen a PC sold with a Windows Enterprise licence sticker.

It's a Pro sticker but with Enterprise installed.

 

[Willie Trombone]

Use AIDA64 to view the full key if you wish, best bet is to phone MS and explain to them.
Last resort, use a KMS.

I am afraid Microsoft will not help in such case.
Check with AIDA64 other utilities whether notebook has SLIC Windows licence in BIOS.
You could install Windows 7/8 and go through the upgrade process without entering any key.

Alternatively I think you can change licencing scheme in the current installation using Windows utility "slmgr" and COA sticker. I don't recommend it, as you could use COA sticker better way.

When the activation fails, does it not give you the option to phone microsoft? You can also try to do a clean install and see if it activates.

Thanks for the AIDA tip... I'll give that a go. I want to avoid reinstalling if possible. Too much work!
I'd give the manual activation process a go but can't see an option for that on the screen.

I'll post here if any success!

 

[Praeses]

Thanks for the AIDA tip... I'll give that a go. I want to avoid reinstalling if possible. Too much work!
I'd give the manual activation process a go but can't see an option for that on the screen.

I'll post here if any success!

I doubt Enterprise will have a manual activation process though.

 

[Willie Trombone]

OK - update. My PC rebooted after a Windows update and the activation link automagically disappeared!

 

[vinodh]

Just in case you need to install Windows 10 Pro in the future:

You don't need to look for a key. Install Windows 10 Pro and skip the screen where it asks for a key. It will activate automatically when you reach the desktop and connect to the net.
Windows 10 doesn't require a key to activate if it has been activated previously. Since your laptop is OEM, then it must have been activated with Windows 10 Pro since it's licensed for it.

 

[Willie Trombone]

*EDIT* Back to square one - it's found it's way back after going to sleep and waking up... urgh...

 

[Willie Trombone]

Just in case you need to install Windows 10 Pro in the future:

You don't need to look for a key. Install Windows 10 Pro and skip the screen where it asks for a key. It will activate automatically when you reach the desktop and connect to the net.
Windows 10 doesn't require a key to activate if it has been activated previously. Since your laptop is OEM, then it must have been activated with Windows 10 Pro since it's licensed for it.

Agree - but to get from where I am - Win 10 Enterprise - to Win 10 Pro, I assume I have to start from scratch... all this for switching the OS to an SSD

 

[vinodh]

Agree - but to get from where I am - Win 10 Enterprise - to Win 10 Pro, I assume I have to start from scratch... all this for switching the OS to an SSD

You could just download the Windows 10 Pro ISO from Microsoft.com and run setup. I can't confirm this but it seems like it will give you the option to "upgrade" to Pro but still keep your apps and settings. This should also then restore Windows's activation status.

 

[Willie Trombone]

That's a good point vinodh, I'll google that a bit and see if others have tried that.