Win 10 Home product key has changed from original activated key

[Nine Layer Nige]

I bought a win 10 Home key on ebay which activated successfully.
Then I ran the GetWindowsKey vbs script and it displayed a totally different key.

Can anyone tell me why ?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

First of all Windows 10 Ebay keys aren't legit and will be blacklisted eventually.

 

[USAFRet]

I bought a win 10 Home key on ebay which activated successfully.
Then I ran the GetWindowsKey vbs script and it displayed a totally different key.

Can anyone tell me why ?

Buying licensed software on ebay is rarely a good idea. Especially if it is significantly cheaper than retail.

Why is it different? More info needed.
Was this a brand new PC with no previous OS?

Also, install and run Belarc Advisor. See what license key that reports.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Second the key doesn't really matter as long as the hardware is the same and can be activated by using a Microsoft Account . When you install , you should be able to skip entering the license key and will activate. It's going to linked to your account instead of your key , so open up a Microsoft account.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Windows keys bought from Ebay usually are Blacklisted within 3 months.

 

[Colif]

Don't all home installs get one of 10 generic licence keys displayed in the system. It doesn't matter anyway as I am sure the original key recorded on Microsoft's servers and they only ones who need to know it going forward.

If you ever install on PC again, just click "I don't have a key" and win 10 should auto activate on install, once its checked the servers to confirm PC name is on list

 

[Nine Layer Nige]

Yes, I did a fresh install, then did a re-install and it activated ok using my Microsoft account.
Regarding keys from Ebay....if it states that the keys have been sourced from a genuine Microsoft authorised re-seller and I am purchasing in good faith, what is my protection (if any) regarding it being a non-revocable licence key ?
Can I not assume that if the Microsoft authentication machine (how ever it works) does its checks and grants an activation...and that's it for life ?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Nope they can be genuine , and a short time later be non.

 

[USAFRet]

Regarding keys from Ebay....if it states that the keys have been sourced from a genuine Microsoft authorised re-seller and I am purchasing in good faith, what is my protection (if any) regarding it being a non-revocable licence key ?
Can I not assume that if the Microsoft authentication machine (how ever it works) does its checks and grants an activation...and that's it for life ?

No protection at all.
That is like the guy in the Walmart parking lot selling a brand new Sony 70" TV for $100, telling you it is 'legit', and he got it from an 'authorized wholesaler'.

MS can and has revoked such license keys.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Several years ago Ebay was loaded with the so called legit Windows 7 resellers , selling keys at cheap prices , 1000's of people jumped on them and a few months later 1000's had a non genuine license issue.

 

[Nine Layer Nige]

I understand, but why then does Microsoft allow activation in the first place if it can at a later time, de-activate it ?
I just trying to understand the MS brain ??

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

The keys eventually get added to a Blacklist on their servers , because they were illegally sold in some manner. Then they end up non genuine.

 

[USAFRet]

I understand, but why then does Microsoft allow activation in the first place if it can at a later time, de-activate it ?
I just trying to understand the MS brain ??

No one understands the MS brain. Not even MS.

Future deactivation? It's just that the activation servers have not yet correlated the license you bought with actual valid sources.

If it is significantly cheaper than the usual retail sources, ask 'How'.
How is he able to do that and not sell at a loss?
He got them from an authorized reseller? Where did that reseller get them from?
Several layers of 'resellers' later, you find that these are hijacked MSDN keys, or bought in bulk with stolen credit cards (money laundering).

1 guy selling his own license key for cheap is one thing.
1 guy selling 5,000 license keys for cheap is something else.

We'd all like that Windows OS to be cheaper. Sadly, it is not.

 

[USAFRet]

And sadly (or to be expected), ebay is FULL of scammers.
Often, these cheap licenses are actually the (broken) hardware, and the theoretical software that came with them.
You have to read ALL the small print in the ebay posting.