RE: My lunch with Microsoft

[Philip White <pdwhite@xxxxxxxx>]

Kari,

One of the big problems with a lot of software packages, including Windows 10,
is that there a lot of key cracking programs available for download. There are
several that are targeted at Windows. Essentially, they work by trying to unlock
the software using key after key. When they finally find one that works, they use
it. Unfortunately, when someone with that legitimate key tries to register, the license
gets spit out.

You should be able to present your contract or receipt to Microsoft support and
they should be able to help you. If the first person you reach can’t help you, ask

to ‘escalate’ the matter to a supervisor. Also be sure to get a case number.
Ultimately, if you have the correct bona-fides you will be given a new registration.

Windows 10 is mature, and very stable, not to mention being actively supported
in perpetuity. It is well worth it to upgrade.

Hope this helps.

Phil White

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From: xywrite-bounce@xxxxxxxx on behalf of Kari Eveli
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 8:56:05 AM
To: XyList
Subject: My lunch with Microsoft

 

Hello,

I have had an amazing experience with MS licensing policy this week. My
wife as a teacher has been entitled to purchase MS licenses at a heavy
discount. She has a computer with a valid educational license for
Windows 7 which was installed back in 2015. The computer still works,
but the Windows license stopped working a couple days ago. I have read
about a Windows bug that has wreaked havock with licensing in Windows 10
and 7 machines. So I phoned MS to try to solve the problem. I had a
lengthy discussion with the rep who got the product key from me and
tried to check what was going on. Basically, it seems that product key
that this machine has had from 2015 onwards is already in use (code
0xC004C003 – The activation server determined the specified product key
is in use), and we are prohibited from using it. After spending nearly a
half hour (my lunch hour) on the phone, the MS rep recognised this but
the only solution he offered was to give me the address of a MS helpline
(wehelp@xxxxxxxx) giving me the advice of explaining my dilemma to
the good people at MS. Which I did only to receive the following
message: The group wehelp only accepts messages from people in its
organization or on its allowed senders list, and your email address
isn't on the list.

After this, I thought that it would be a better idea to try a new
license key (my wife had one unused Win 7 key in storage for eventual
future needs). The Windows 7 computer graciously declined even this key
stating the reason as in the previous instance.

Best regards,

Kari Eveli
LEXITEC Book Publishing (Finland)
lexitec@xxxxxxxx