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Question

PC Has Been Asking me to "Activate Windows" for 5 years

by Nov 10, 2018 9:16PM PST

I bought this PC like 5 years ago, and ever since, it has continued to prompt me with the message "Activate Windows" every 3-5 hours. This wouldn't be so bad, if it didn't tab me out of whatever game I'm playing. Middle of a competitive game? Nope, tab out, Activate Windows. Big bright blue screen, with the only button sending me to my PC Settings, telling me to put in some random *** key that I don't have. I don't want to upgrade to Windows 10. I'm perfectly fine with my Windows 8. I've calculated that it's asked me to "Activate Windows" over nine thousand times. I've tried YouTube tutorials, everything to find a way to disable this. None have worked. As if this wasn't bad enough, most of the time when I X-out of the PC Settings it directs me to, it lags or whatever and just re-opens, forcing me to close it a few seconds later, having a random delay to it.

Discussion is locked

13 Posts
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Answer
Re: activate
by Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 1:18AM PST

Most PC's you buy come with an already activated Windows.

Some don't, and you must activate them yourself with the key any legal version of Windows 8 came with. If your PC came without such a key, go back to the shop and claim it (maybe they forgot to give it to you) or buy it (in case they deliberately loaded a cracked version of Windows). It's not free.

But since you're perfectly fine with the situation, I wouldn't spend money for a license for either Windows 8 or Windows 10, and continue as you do.

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Answer
On w7
by Nov 11, 2018 2:15AM PST

Start > control panel > system.
At the bottom of the screen I see my key #.

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.
by Golurk Nov 11, 2018 11:53AM PST

For me, it just says "Product ID: (long string of numbers and stuff)"
Is this the key?
Also, if I ever find the key and enter it, won't it upgrade to Windows 10 or something? I do not want Windows 10, I want to keep my Windows 8 while removing the problem.

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Re: long string of numbers and stuff
by Kees_B Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 12:13PM PST

Assuming "numbers and stuff" are digits (0 to 10) and capitals (A to Z) separated by dashes (-):
- If it's 4 groups of 5 characters, it's the product id (as it says)
- If it's 5 groups for 5 characters, it's the product key you need to activate it.
If Windows is activated, the line above the product id says "Windows is activated". I don't know what it says if Windows is not activated. Can you tell?

Belarc Advisor (free download) lists both. I don't know what it says if Windows is not activated.

The product id is in the registry in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\Source OS, but each upgrade (at least in Windows 10) makes a new one, since it's a different product. It seems to say what version of Windows you have.

The product key is in the registry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\BackupProductKeyDefault

Also see https://support.microsoft.com/nl-nl/help/2750773/change-product-key-link-is-not-available-in-windows-8-or-in-windows-se

Post was last edited on November 11, 2018 12:50 PM PST

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not correct, or maybe in your country?
by James Denison Nov 11, 2018 12:40PM PST
" If it's 5 groups for 4 characters, it's the product key you need to activate it. "

Mine are 5 groups of 5 characters.

Post was last edited on November 11, 2018 12:41 PM PST

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You are fully right.
by Kees_B Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 12:44PM PST

I've corrected it in my post. Thanks!

You talk of "mine", which I interpret as "my Windows". Good to see you're not only have Linux.

Post was last edited on November 11, 2018 12:46 PM PST

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I keep an active copy of XP or maybe W7
by James Denison Nov 11, 2018 1:21PM PST

I can't remember, it's been so long since I booted it, LOL.

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Product ID is not the activation key.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 12:19PM PST
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Upgrade to Windows 10
by Kees_B Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 12:41PM PST

If you activate Windows 8 using a good product key, you can update to Windows 8.1 (highly recommended). It could even go automatically.
The upgrade to Windows 10 is not automatic. If you want that (what you don't) you surely have to do it yourself.

And to repeat: entering that 25 character product key is the only way to get rid of the problem. I'm not really amazed that "Youtube tutorials, everything" from your post didn't work.

Post was last edited on November 11, 2018 12:49 PM PST

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Answer
when I used windows
by Nov 11, 2018 3:36AM PST

and that happened, I'd open "regedit" and have it find the WPA area just remove it and then it would ask to activate again and I'd put in the key and that would solve the problem.

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Answer
I can't tell which Windows version. But in the news.
by Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 7:49AM PST
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Re: Windows versions
by Kees_B Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 7:58AM PST

Since it started 5 years ago on a new PC that (now) has Windows 8, I assume it's Windows 8. I don't think this recent issue is applicable.

Post was last edited on November 11, 2018 8:39 AM PST

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That version could have been upgraded to W10.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Nov 11, 2018 8:23AM PST

So I have to ask what is the version.

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