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Remove the watermark without a product key This will make your life easier if this problem occurs again or if you buy a new computer. If not, click Add Account and sign in to your Microsoft account. After doing that, make sure it says it is linked to your Microsoft account. Once you have a valid Windows key, you can use the steps above to activate your Windows installation. You can then use the key from any of these to activate Windows 10. You may be able to find a cheaper copy online or at a store, but you should make sure to use only reliable suppliers.Īnother option that can save you a few bucks is to get an unused copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, as older versions of Windows are often cheaper than the most recent. You can use the Go to store link in the activation window to purchase a key directly from Microsoft. If you don’t, the best way to avoid this problem in the future is to buy one. The solutions above depend on you actually owning a copy of Windows and having a valid product key to activate it. Log in to your Microsoft account and you’re done! Your Windows installation will be reactivated. Then click I recently changed the hardware on this device. If you have already linked your Windows product key to your Microsoft account, you can fix the problem with the activation troubleshooter.įollow steps 1 to 4 above to get to the activation window and then click Troubleshoot. Most of the time, Windows installations are tied to your computer’s motherboard, so if you’ve recently replaced yours, chances are your copy thinks it’s installed on a new PC. Best, Andre Windows Insider MVP MVP-Windows and Devices for IT twitter/adacosta groovypost.This will activate your copy of Windows 10 and the watermark should now be gone from your desktop.
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Try the appropriate phone number listed here: Microsoft Activation Centers Worldwide Telephone Numbers: You can try activate the existing license through the Activation Center: You should be able to get this key through your MSDN subscriptionĬlick Next to Activate over the Internet. Otherwise, you can contact your IT Administrator for further assistance or consider obtaining a MAK key which works more like a retail key and does not require reactivation every 180 days.
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ReactivationĬan be done by authenticating on the domain at work (log in) or VPN into your Network. The KMS Host is usually hosted on the Domain at your work place where the license was issued. Your copy of Windows 8.1 might be using KMS licensing, which requires that it reactivates the license every 180 days (6 months) by connecting to the KMS Host.
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