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Question

Error 0x8007007B when trying to update Windows

Aug 7, 2017 8:49AM PDT

Hi all,

I am the owner of a Toshiba Satellite laptop bought it January 2015. I bought it with Windows 8.

Recently, I moved countries and while here, I had to get a new hard drive. I had a place fix it and there were some communication issues. Nevertheless, I got a computer back with all my files and just had to install programs so I was satisfied.

One problem - it seems as if I'm on Windows 10 now (my Settings say Windows 10 Pro). I did not upgrade myself. However, I have this watermark in the bottom left of my screen saying ""Activate Windows: Go to Settings to activate WIndows." When I go to my settings, I get an error message that says "We can't activate Windows on this device as we can't connect to your organization's activation server. Make sure you're connected to your organization's network and try again. If you continue having problems with activation, contact your organization's support person. Error code: 0x8007007B."

I am so confused. Not a computer guy. All I know is I bought it back in Jan 2015 with Windows 8 and got a new hard drive via a place and now this. The watermark is annoying. Didn't do anything with Windows 10, not sure if my product key transfers from when I bought it.

What is up? I've googled all over and am so confused. I mean, my computer is working fine, I just don't understand what OS I am using at the moment.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
what it means
Aug 7, 2017 8:56AM PDT

I think, is that your repair place put a Volume Licensed copy of W7 or W8 onto your computer, and then upgraded it that way to W10. Unfortunately it seems at least overseas they expect anyone using that volume license to also verify it from their own location. License overseas has some other situations than the ones we are used to in the states, since most pirated copies are located outside the USA.

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Download a backup OS, just in case
Aug 7, 2017 9:06AM PDT

Go to http://www.linuxmint.com and download both the 32 bit and the 64 bit ISO's of the 17.3 operating system, onto a flash drive. If you have some unrecorded DVD's, then also "burn image" to create a bootable DVD for each ISO file. This way if your W10 expires before you can get the problem fixed, then you will have a fully functioning other than "read only" operating system to access your files and make saves to the hard drive while using it. Of course you can't save anything to the DVD. It's called a LIVE DVD. Or you can get them cheap at http://osdisc.com I do not advise doing the Mint versions 18 yet, I think it still needs more kinks worked out of it.

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Answer
It seems the shop did this.
Aug 7, 2017 8:57AM PDT