Windows not activated

[Nicbloub]

Hi everyone !
So long story short I build pcs for fun in my spare time and sell them. I just finished my 4th pc of the year. As always, I plug everything, including my usb with windows installation on it.
Normally, i install windows through the usb and everything works fine.
Today, I get the <Activate windows> watermark. I never had it before. 4 PCs. Always a new drive and always the same usb install kit.

Why do i have the watermark now, but not the previous 3 times ? This seems odd to me as i did everything exactly the same way i did before.

Thanks for any clarification !

[Illusion of Progress]

Windows will show that when it's not activated.

What motherboards did the three prior PCs have? OEM systems starting around the time of Windows 8 have the code in the firmware for the motherboard and will use that to activate. I'm wondering if the prior systems already had Windows tied to the system (motherboard) you were installing Windows on.

If these were all new PCs built then I don't know.

[↑↑↓↓←→←→BASelect]

Each pc needs to have a unique windows product key.

[🦜Cloud Boy🦜]

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

Hi everyone !
I get the <Activate windows> watermark. I never had it before.

Probably Microsoft server has detected that you are constantly changing PCs with the same Windows license.

If it's showing <Activate windows> watermark, then activate Windows, simple.

Go to control panel, enter your Windows activation key. And you are done.

[Nicbloub]

Originally posted by Illusion of Progress:

Windows will show that when it's not activated.

What motherboards did the three prior PCs have? OEM systems starting around the time of Windows 8 have the code in the firmware for the motherboard and will use that to activate. I'm wondering if the prior systems already had Windows tied to the system (motherboard) you were installing Windows on.

If these were all new PCs built then I don't know.

Previous motherboards were all used. This one i just finished has a new mobo.
So that would be that ? New vs old mobo.

Thats interesting.

[SinCanDory]

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

Originally posted by Illusion of Progress:

Windows will show that when it's not activated.

What motherboards did the three prior PCs have? OEM systems starting around the time of Windows 8 have the code in the firmware for the motherboard and will use that to activate. I'm wondering if the prior systems already had Windows tied to the system (motherboard) you were installing Windows on.

If these were all new PCs built then I don't know.

Previous motherboards were all used. This one i just finished has a new mobo.
So that would be that ? New vs old mobo.

Thats interesting.

This pretty much what you said. Probably the previous had windows installed before

[Agent]

If it's a retail license, go on your Microsoft account and remove all the older PC's.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Does THIS PC have its own Product Key?
If not, well then there's your problem.

Always install the Win10 or 11 USB to where, when asked for a Key, click Skip. If never asked for a key that's because its using the embedded OEM firmware one, in which this will also auto select the edition of the OS to be installed as well; such as Home vs Pro.

Off the shelf boards from ASUS, AsRock, MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte wouldn't have an embedded OEM product key like boards used by Dell, HP, Lenovo.

Also do the installs fully off-line. After the OS is installed, then enter the product key at the activation section of Settings > Updates & Security. With the PC being connected to internet.

And if your Win10 USB was made prior to Nov 2021, wipe it and remake it again with the very latest Win10 64bit ISO, which is 21H2 (Nov 2021)

[A&A]

Originally posted by 🦆Cloud Boy🦆:

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

Hi everyone !
I get the <Activate windows> watermark. I never had it before.

Probably Microsoft server has detected that you are constantly changing PCs with the same Windows license.

True, l tried Windows 10 on my pentium J2900 PC and l waited around 15-30 minutes to get the watermark. There is a way to bypass the licence check.

[Nicbloub]

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Does THIS PC have its own Product Key?
If not, well then there's your problem.

Always install the Win10 or 11 USB to where, when asked for a Key, click Skip. If never asked for a key that's because its using the embedded OEM firmware one, in which this will also auto select the edition of the OS to be installed as well; such as Home vs Pro.

Off the shelf boards from ASUS, AsRock, MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte wouldn't have an embedded OEM product key like boards used by Dell, HP, Lenovo.

Also do the installs fully off-line. After the OS is installed, then enter the product key at the activation section of Settings > Updates & Security. With the PC being connected to internet.

And if your Win10 USB was made prior to Nov 2021, wipe it and remake it again with the very latest Win10 64bit ISO, which is 21H2 (Nov 2021)

I dont use oem parts. I installed windows the same way i normally do (offline). Its as if theres something in the motherboard that communicates with the win10 licence, but that seems kind of odd since theres no memory in the mobo.

Originally posted by A&A:

Originally posted by 🦆Cloud Boy🦆:

Probably Microsoft server has detected that you are constantly changing PCs with the same Windows license.

True, l tried Windows 10 on my pentium J2900 PC and l waited around 15-30 minutes to get the watermark. There is a way to bypass the licence check.

I never bought a licence. Always used the windows usb tool kit. The only factor that differ now is the brand new motherboard. All my previous boards were used. Still hard to figure out why a used motherboard with no drives or ram sticks would get a clean windows and a new motherboard would get a dirty, watermarked windows.

[emoticorpse]

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

Originally posted by Bad 💀 Motha:

Does THIS PC have its own Product Key?
If not, well then there's your problem.

Always install the Win10 or 11 USB to where, when asked for a Key, click Skip. If never asked for a key that's because its using the embedded OEM firmware one, in which this will also auto select the edition of the OS to be installed as well; such as Home vs Pro.

Off the shelf boards from ASUS, AsRock, MSI, EVGA, Gigabyte wouldn't have an embedded OEM product key like boards used by Dell, HP, Lenovo.

Also do the installs fully off-line. After the OS is installed, then enter the product key at the activation section of Settings > Updates & Security. With the PC being connected to internet.

And if your Win10 USB was made prior to Nov 2021, wipe it and remake it again with the very latest Win10 64bit ISO, which is 21H2 (Nov 2021)

I dont use oem parts. I installed windows the same way i normally do (offline). Its as if theres something in the motherboard that communicates with the win10 licence, but that seems kind of odd since theres no memory in the mobo.

Originally posted by A&A:

True, l tried Windows 10 on my pentium J2900 PC and l waited around 15-30 minutes to get the watermark. There is a way to bypass the licence check.

I never bought a licence. Always used the windows usb tool kit. The only factor that differ now is the brand new motherboard. All my previous boards were used. Still hard to figure out why a used motherboard with no drives or ram sticks would get a clean windows and a new motherboard would get a dirty, watermarked windows.

The used motherboards were used then presumably at some point they were part of a whole build, unless you think someone actually used a motherboard all by itself to run Windows. The new motherboard obviously hasn't had a chance to get activate it. If you activate it then pass it down the next person will get your used motherboard already activated.

[plat]

Microsoft has an army of activation servers and there is no mercy there. Any product key would be embedded in the UEFI firmware (BIOS for older boards). You may likely have to purchase a new product key if all else fails.

Edit: or, you can suffer on the phone for hours (I've heard) trying to contact Microsoft customer service to get it cleared.

re-edit: Windows should still get updates, even when it's not activated. Check online but I think that's the case.

[Kiwi {JESUS IS LORD}]

u dont need to activate windows, it acts the same just u have a watermark and cant customize wallpaper or taskbar

wallpaper engine sold here on steam lets you change wallpaper regardless

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You can get rid of the water mark and allow full user customization with a few changes to the registry.

[Crashed]

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

Hi everyone !
So long story short I build pcs for fun in my spare time and sell them. I just finished my 4th pc of the year. As always, I plug everything, including my usb with windows installation on it.
Normally, i install windows through the usb and everything works fine.
Today, I get the <Activate windows> watermark. I never had it before. 4 PCs. Always a new drive and always the same usb install kit.

Why do i have the watermark now, but not the previous 3 times ? This seems odd to me as i did everything exactly the same way i did before.

Thanks for any clarification !

Did you by any chance purchase Windows from a dodgy reseller? If so, it's likely Microsoft has revoked the key making it invalid for activation. In addition, Microsoft has started taking legal action against one company for selling activation keys decoupled from their licensed products.

If you do have a legal license for the software, then you should enter the product key again and follow the instructions to call Microsoft to transfer your license over to the new system.

[Nicbloub]

Originally posted by Crashed:

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

Hi everyone !
So long story short I build pcs for fun in my spare time and sell them. I just finished my 4th pc of the year. As always, I plug everything, including my usb with windows installation on it.
Normally, i install windows through the usb and everything works fine.
Today, I get the <Activate windows> watermark. I never had it before. 4 PCs. Always a new drive and always the same usb install kit.

Why do i have the watermark now, but not the previous 3 times ? This seems odd to me as i did everything exactly the same way i did before.

Thanks for any clarification !

Did you by any chance purchase Windows from a dodgy reseller? If so, it's likely Microsoft has revoked the key making it invalid for activation. In addition, Microsoft has started taking legal action against one company for selling activation keys decoupled from their licensed products.

If you do have a legal license for the software, then you should enter the product key again and follow the instructions to call Microsoft to transfer your license over to the new system.

never purchased it, ever.


Does anyone know what would have happened if i had plugged in my new computer a drive with an existing windows activated on it. Would it then "mark" my new motherboard with an activated license ?
Not sure im being clear.