Activate Windows...

[ILoveZed]

Hi, i recently reinstalled my graphics drivers and got a message from Windows saying that I need to activate my Windows by going to settings. I tried that and all I got was a error message saying "Something prevented us from communicating with our activation servers. Wait a few munites and try again. (0xc0020036)". I tried some methods from YouTube for activating and getting rid of the watermark, but none of them worked, because my Windows version wasn't supported. BTW my version is a Windows 10 Home. Does someone know how can I activate Windows?

[NelizMastr]

Yes, buy a genuine license, fill it in and activate.

[Fasauceome]

Unlicensed copy blues. The way to remedy it is to get a windows key, but make sure not to get an OEM version. However, you may not find it worth it, since it's pricey and just removes the watermark. You'll get used to it eventually.

[LaughingCheeze]

35 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

Unlicensed copy blues. The way to remedy it is to get a windows key, but make sure not to get an OEM version. However, you may not find it worth it, since it's pricey and just removes the watermark. You'll get used to it eventually.

Why not get an OEM version? You can find those really cheap. 

[Fasauceome]

6 hours ago, LaughingCheeze said:

Why not get an OEM version? You can find those really cheap. 

OEM windows stores a version of the hardware you're using, so if you change CPU or something, you need a new license. I did a system that I took from sandy bridge to AM4, and windows wouldn't allow it.

[porina]

Was windows activated before that? Reinstalling video drivers alone is NOT going to trigger a re-activation need. Changing GPU alone isn't In practice, you can change almost everything other than the mobo without triggering a re-activation on Win10. Were there any other changes recently?

 

Make sure the computer time is correct, and retry activation. Also, if possible allow Windows Updates to run.

[LaughingCheeze]

23 minutes ago, fasauceome said:

OEM windows stores a version of the hardware you're using, so if you change CPU or something, you need a new license. I did a system that I took from sandy bridge to AM4, and windows wouldn't allow it.

Yes, OEM is locked to the motherboard but since you can find those for cheap I don't see why its a big deal. I haven't seen cheap copies of retail windows floating around. 

 

Presumably there was a long time between sandy bridge and am4? Doesn't sound like a big deal to me to buy another license for $12.

[Fasauceome]

1 minute ago, LaughingCheeze said:

Yes, OEM is locked to the motherboard but since you can find those for cheap I don't see why its a big deal. I haven't seen cheap copies of retail windows floating around. 

 

Presumably there was a long time between sandy bridge and am4? Doesn't sound like a big deal to me to buy another license for $12.

If you can get away with $12 then go for it. I was more in the mindset of the $100 ish that microsoft charges from their store.

[LaughingCheeze]

1 minute ago, fasauceome said:

If you can get away with $12 then go for it. I was more in the mindset of the $100 ish that microsoft charges from their store.

I figured. I'm still not sure how legit these copies are but your basically just buying the CD Key. I've bought two so far and one has worked no problems. I haven't activated the other one yet but I have no reason to believe it won't work. 

 

For reference: 

 

Hope this sets you free from the pain of retail licenses.