Watermark on Windows 10 activation screen
Watermark on Windows 10 activation screen
Check if the activation server is restricted at the firewall level.
This situation could stem from various causes. It might be due to a program installed previously that restricted communication with Microsoft servers, possibly linked to a router firewall. More commonly, the problem arises from purchasing counterfeit licenses from sites like Kinguin or eBay, where keys are resold. Buying a cheap license carries significant risk. Occasionally, the issue lies with Windows activation itself, but usually resolving it through a manual phone activation works. Another possibility is hardware changes—such as upgrading the motherboard or making a large system change—causing Windows to mistakenly detect a hardware switch. If you have a retail license, phone activation should re-activate it. However, if the motherboard was replaced or modified, you may need a new license following the agreement terms. OEM issues also apply; in such cases, a phone activation might succeed if the license is tied to the original hardware. Lastly, malware could have extracted the product key and been uploaded for resale; if undetected by security software, it might have vanished or spread. If the key was bought from a reputable source and no changes were made, phone activation is likely effective.
Did you change the motherboard? Windows treats it as a fresh PC, provided you purchased a retail version and not an OEM key. You should be able to use that key again unless it has already been used five times.
Aha! A phone activation can fix your issue. If you have an OEM license (not from a computer maker like Dell, HP, Acer, etc.), Microsoft often provides an override code to transfer the license to your new motherboard as a kind of apology for the broken one.