Windows Activation Problem

[Erik5547]

I've had my PC for a few years. Recently I started getting a message saying Windows is about to expire and I need to enter a new activation key. It says Windows is activated using your organizations activation key, but I have no organization. It's a personal computer, and always has been. My Windows shouldn't be expiring... I called Microsoft support this morning and they reinstalled my OS in an attempt to fix it, but it didn't work. They said I need to contact HP for a new activation key.

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

@Erik5547 

As is often the case, MS provided bad information.  HP keeps no records of individual Windows Product Keys associated with individual PCs.  So, HP has nothing to provide you.

Additionally, the Windows version that HP preloads on their PCs does not expire, as it is an HP OEM license.  And, HP is not going to issue you a second license because they do not do that.

But since your PC came with Win8 or newer preloaded, the product key was encoded into the UEFI firmware of the motherboard at the factory.  You should then be able to use this utility to retrieve that key: http://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkey.html

[Prométhée]

Hello
strange as an answer, he could do it themselves it is their activation system which sometimes derails ...
I'm not even sure HP will provide a new key if needed, you will probably be told to factory reinstall

I have an idea, but not 100% sure that it will work
So, normally the product key is no longer visible (as in Windows 7 with label on the box), it is written directly into the system
We can read it with software, so try to give back the key found

sorry, to make it quick, I indicate a page that I already have in FR
http://www.easy-pc.org/2015/08/windows-10-trouver-la-cle-de-licence-et-le-product-id.html

just remember the names, and if necessary Google it

[edit]

Oops, you were faster @WAWood 
we totally agree

[Erik5547]

Thank you. The installed key was different than the OEM key. The installed key said it needed to be activated with my organization(?), but the OEM key that was listed worked perfectly.