Windows 10 not activated

[MichaelEC]

I had a computer dropped off last week for PSU R&R. I finish the job and boot the machine to make certain all is well and Windows 10 OS is loaded.

I didn't look at the machine that closely when it was brought in. The customer also wants to know why the machine is so slow and to fix that too.

I pull up the System specs and find out it's only running on 2GB of RAM but has an AMD Quad Core processor of some sort.

Then I look farther down and see that Windows 10 has not even been activated.

The customer said it was a custom build. I checked around on the machine and sure enough I find an XP Home sticker on the back.

Now I'm trying to figure out what happened.

1. Did this 'custom builder' (3rd party or the owner) forget to activate a purchased retail copy of Windows 10?

2. Did the above burn an .iso during the free period and then N&P the hard drive before the PSU died and couldn't activate because XP was the original OS?

3. Did the 3rd party builder, if there was one, try and scam the owner with a 'free' upgrade to Windows 10 knowing that it would go inactive in 90 days?

4. Anyone else with any ideas?

The customer comes tomorrow for this machine and I'm going to tell him what I've found and see what his reaction is and how he wants this fixed.

 

[Porthos]

1. Did this 'custom builder' (3rd party or the owner) forget to activate a purchased retail copy of Windows 10?

2. Did the above burn an .iso during the free period and then N&P the hard drive before the PSU died and couldn't activate because XP was the original OS?

3. Did the 3rd party builder, if there was one, try and scam the owner with a 'free' upgrade to Windows 10 knowing that it would go inactive in 90 days?

1 Probably not.
2&3 Are most likely.

Hope he is not a cheapskate, This is going to cost one way or another depending on your rates.

 

[MichaelEC]

Yes it is, one way or another.

 

[GTP]

I find an XP Home sticker on the back.

I've copped a few of these now. Old computers that had XP N&P'd by the owner to get Windows 10. They've obviously worked out how to download the .iso and get it installed. Thanks Youtube, not!
They come to me with such and such (simple problem, like the browser wont open etc) then when they come and take it away, they call back later saying that 'Windows is not activated!" "But it was definitely activated when we dropped it off to you!"
Of course I didn't even look to see if it was or wasn't! So now they are demanding that I give them license keys!

 

[MichaelEC]

I'll be asking the customer if he realizes it is not activated. I'm not having him come back and accuse me of screwing up his OS.

If I have to I'll put it back on the bench and fire it up to show him.

 

[GTP]

I'll be asking the customer if he realizes it is not activated. I'm not having him come back and accuse me of screwing up his OS.

If I have to I'll put it back on the bench and fire it up to show him.

Problem is that I didn't check to see if it was activated or not - why would I?
They have a simple "browser won't open" or "email client wont open" sort of issue, but when I click on the icon it fires up immediately.
This is obviously just a ploy to get it into my shop!
I have learned from this so I will be more diligent in future!

 

[MichaelEC]

I would not have known either if I hadn't gone to the system menu to check his RAM and processor.

 

[GTP]

...well, as I said I think it was just a ploy. It was a very minor issue they said they had. I just clicked the icons and got responses so went no further. There were four of these very similar scenarios within a week, so I think they may be friends/related and thought it was a good way to get a "legal" copy of Windblows 10 on their old XP computers?

 

[Porthos]

I would not have known either if I hadn't gone to the system menu to check his RAM and processor.

Since I base my flat rate price on projected time I always look at system menu to see what specs I am dealing with.

With 10 I always look because I always plan for a clean install because upgrades were so buggy.

 

[fencepost]

Well, given how Windows 10 activation (and digital fingerprint) work, hopefully it's a little easier to deal with. "If you had it activated before, it should be activated now - unless you're claiming that I've replaced the motherboard without charging you for it."

 

[nlinecomputers]

Well, given how Windows 10 activation (and digital fingerprint) work, hopefully it's a little easier to deal with. "If you had it activated before, it should be activated now - unless you're claiming that I've replaced the motherboard without charging you for it."

You can't upgrade from XP. The End user tried it and then brought it in. OP is afraid that they will falsely claim it was activated when it could never have been short of a paid copy.

 

[MichaelEC]

Since I base my flat rate price on projected time I always look at system menu to see what specs I am dealing with.

With 10 I always look because I always plan for a clean install because upgrades were so buggy.

That's hard to do when the computer comes in DOA with a bad PSU.

He downloaded Win 10 himself not knowing it wasn't free if you had any OS besides 7, 8, or 8.1. I showed him how to buy the authentication key and sent him on his way. His buddy built the system for him several years ago.

 

[Porthos]

That's hard to do when the computer comes in DOA with a bad PSU.

Spare bench PSU. But I would not have needed it. I would have seen the XP COA( I look hard at custom PC's) and questioned him right there. I generally wont work on a XP system unless there is a special need. I like XP is not a special need. I will do it if there OS is legit and are willing to spend the money. ( Considerably higher.)

Most of the customs I see have pirated windows.

They have not been willing to pay to go legal except ONCE in the last several years.

 

[MichaelEC]

I have to get a spare supply for the bench among other things.