Electronics

[smoky22]

We received a strange message on our desktop computer:  Your Windows license will expire soon.  I think there was more, but the message disappeared.  Something about entering an activation key.  We had Windows 7 forever.  It came with the computer.  Then we did the free upgrade to Windows 10.  We have never had an activation key that I'm aware of.  Is anyone familiar with this?  What do we need to do?

[Catty2]

I would ignore it since it sounds like a scam.  My computer also came with Windows 7 and I've never seen an email like this. 

[NickNack]

I would never reply to or do anything that a message that popped up on my computer told me to do.  It would probably allow whoever sent it to access your computer.  It sounds like a scam.

[qbetzforreal]

It's a scam.

[CatLady72]

I got this mesage on my phone.........a tape recording......my windows still works so I know it was a fake......

[gardenman]

It was probably a scam. Anytime you need your activation code, you can typically find it on the back of a desktop or the bottom of a laptop. Every legitimate copy of Windows comes with a sticker with that code on it that's required to be placed on the computer.

[Cats3000]

Sounds like a scam.  I've never heard of a "Windows License".  I do know that "Office 365" has to be renewed each year, but I've never heard of the other thing.  Don't click on any links or enter any "activation keys".  Go to the Windows website and see what you find.

[chrystaltree]

I agree.  You should never ever pay attention to strange pop up messages that don't make any sense.  The fact that the message flashed and then disappeared is pretty much proof that it wasn't legit.  

[smoky22]

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@Cats3000 wrote:

Sounds like a scam.  I've never heard of a "Windows License".  I do know that "Office 365" has to be renewed each year, but I've never heard of the other thing.  Don't click on any links or enter any "activation keys".  Go to the Windows website and see what you find.

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@Cats3000  I did go to the windows website and it looks like there may be a glitch.  Windows did an update two days ago and the message started appearing after that.  The message came up again today.  When I go to the screen where you would activate the Windows license it says we have Windows 10 Pro, which apparently does need a license.  I don't know how we would have gotten Windows Pro.  Windows 10 upgraded automatically last year from Windows 7 Home Edition.  I don't know if the last Windows update caused this glitch but I'm researching how to uninstall the last update and see if that helps.

[Cats3000]

I don't do Windows; I have an iMac.  That said, I'm glad you did your checking.  At least you have some idea of what's going on.  Maybe those who use Windows can help you from here.