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Activate windows (windows not recognized)

AlaskanDad
By AlaskanDad
in Windows
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Not really sure how to title this post, but I am having an issue with my PC that was built roughly three years ago. 

 

Anyways, sometime last week after turning my PC on before work it decided to display a message "Activate windows". There was not hardware changes or any software changes that took place to this happening prior. The real kicker is that it has also locked me out of Word which has my much needed resume. I tried walking through this issue with Microsoft tech support and we were not able to locate the key on my computer to finish activating. 

 

Anyone ever seen something like this. Microsoft said I would have to repurchase a new Windows, which is very pricey for my tight budget (kids and wife come first), but I desperately need my resume and access to Word. 

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https://linustechtips.com/topic/944818-activate-windows-windows-not-recognized/
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What version of windows are you using? How was it activated? Did you build it?

 

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41 minutes ago, AlaskanDad said:

Not really sure how to title this post, but I am having an issue with my PC that was built roughly three years ago. 

 

Anyways, sometime last week after turning my PC on before work it decided to display a message "Activate windows". There was not hardware changes or any software changes that took place to this happening prior. The real kicker is that it has also locked me out of Word which has my much needed resume. I tried walking through this issue with Microsoft tech support and we were not able to locate the key on my computer to finish activating. 

 

Anyone ever seen something like this. Microsoft said I would have to repurchase a new Windows, which is very pricey for my tight budget (kids and wife come first), but I desperately need my resume and access to Word. 

If you can't buy a key for word, Import your files into google docs. It does nearly the same thing and is free.

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Windows 8.1

 

I downloaded it and used a jump drive. I do not remember much from doing this because of a medical issue at the time caused my memory to be a bit fuzzy from medications. I've been tearing my house apart looking for my activation information. 

 

Yes, I built it myself, but have never been very good with software. 

 

1 hour ago, H20Burner said:

If you can't buy a key for word, Import your files into google docs. It does nearly the same thing and is free.

Amazing! Didn't know this could be done. Just recovered my Cover letter and Resume. 

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23 minutes ago, AlaskanDad said:

Amazing! Didn't know this could be done. Just recovered my Cover letter and Resume. 

You could use Office online for free. just upload it to OneDrive, and open it on the website. It's free, and the formatting won't be screwed up like Google Docs does.

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1 hour ago, AlaskanDad said:

Not really sure how to title this post, but I am having an issue with my PC that was built roughly three years ago. 

 

Anyways, sometime last week after turning my PC on before work it decided to display a message "Activate windows". There was not hardware changes or any software changes that took place to this happening prior. The real kicker is that it has also locked me out of Word which has my much needed resume. I tried walking through this issue with Microsoft tech support and we were not able to locate the key on my computer to finish activating. 

 

Anyone ever seen something like this. Microsoft said I would have to repurchase a new Windows, which is very pricey for my tight budget (kids and wife come first), but I desperately need my resume and access to Word. 

Your Windows license is in no relation to your Office license.

If you bought either license from the gray market, (ebay, and such) then probably your key was resold and activated on another PC.

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http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

 

Run that.

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7 hours ago, AlaskanDad said:

I downloaded it and used a jump drive. I do not remember much from doing this because of a medical issue at the time caused my memory to be a bit fuzzy from medications. I've been tearing my house apart looking for my activation information. 

 

That doesn't tell much. Did you buy it online? Digital keys are sent to your email. If you bought cheap copy (under $80 for Home OEM), it's like Goodbytes said. Grey market key which either has been sold again or blacklisted by Microsoft. Or if you used activator, we can't help as that is piracy.

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6 hours ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

That doesn't tell much. Did you buy it online? Digital keys are sent to your email. If you bought cheap copy (under $80 for Home OEM), it's like Goodbytes said. Grey market key which either has been sold again or blacklisted by Microsoft. Or if you used activator, we can't help as that is piracy.

I believe it was through Microsoft and under an older account that I probably can not remember. It was not a Grey market purchase. I remember paying full price :-)

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2 minutes ago, AlaskanDad said:

I believe it was through Microsoft and under an older account that I probably can not remember. It was not a Grey market purchase. I remember paying full price :-)

If you can find receipt of purchase, that might be enough for MS support to retrieve the key. But if you have nothing, no access to account used for purchase, no access to account you used before Windows lost activation, there's nothing no one can do.

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21 minutes ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

If you can find receipt of purchase, that might be enough for MS support to retrieve the key. But if you have nothing, no access to account used for purchase, no access to account you used before Windows lost activation, there's nothing no one can do.

Good news! You all jogged my memory and really got my old noggin thinking. The primary reason for this build (other than gaming) was to have a fast computer for college (now graduated). Anyways, I decided to try logging into Microsoft with my college email, which I do not remember setting up and blame the medication at the time. After resetting the password I was able to recover my key. 

 

My wife will be super happy now. I must have used my college email for a discount because the price was fairly low.

 

Edit: Now I can not get the "activate windows" button to work.

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