Activate Your Windows

[Kain_2]

Hey ive noticed a message that is like permanently in the bottom corner of my screen, it says i need to Activate Windows and when i go into settings it says i have not activated windows and i am running a unverified version or something, it also says to enter a key or buy a real copy??? i bought this pc with windows 10 like 3 years ago please help, PS my windows key is long gone as i have a new case and lost the sticker

 

[USAFRet]

You didn't buy it with a valid Windows 10 "like 3 years ago". Win 10 was released publicly in July 2015. Not quite 2 years ago.

2 options:
Contact the store where you bought it
or
Contact Microsoft.

 

[Kain_2]

Bought it with windows 8 and upgraded to windows 10 when it came out

 

[USAFRet]

Bought it with windows 8 and upgraded to windows 10 when it came out

Have you changed any parts? Like the motherboard?

 

[Faike]

You can call microsoft and try and get it reactivated. You can call your original manufacturer as well and try and get a replacement recovery disk or tool with the activation code on it. But a lot of posts say this can either be fruit-fall or a waste of a lot of hours.
But besides that there's really no harm in it not being activated; just you can't personalize your themes and what not. You still can do everything else.
Not sure why after 3 years your drive would randomly lose your key

 

[USAFRet]

But besides that there's really no harm in it not being activated; just you can't personalize your themes and what not. You still can do everything else.

No.
If I had a previously valid OS, and it was now presenting as unactivated...I would absolutely call and get it fixed.

 

[Faike]

But besides that there's really no harm in it not being activated; just you can't personalize your themes and what not. You still can do everything else.

No.
If I had a previously valid OS, and it was now presenting as unactivated...I would absolutely call and get it fixed.

If it was a laptop it would've been easier cause he could've just used the OEM key from his manufacturer. But he changed parts. I mean if it randomly deactivated a bit recently he could preform a system restore to that point. I was just trying to provide an easier answer as I went and researched how to get back your Windows 10 system in this situation and a lot of people stated it was impossible but some stated that after several calls and being stubborn with Microsoft they were able to get a key reinstated. If he has anything from the original build (Windows 8) like perhaps a recovery media this would most likely have the activation key and he would be good.

 

[USAFRet]

But besides that there's really no harm in it not being activated; just you can't personalize your themes and what not. You still can do everything else.

No.
If I had a previously valid OS, and it was now presenting as unactivated...I would absolutely call and get it fixed.

If it was a laptop it would've been easier cause he could've just used the OEM key from his manufacturer. But he changed parts. I mean if it randomly deactivated a bit recently he could preform a system restore to that point. I was just trying to provide an easier answer as I went and researched how to get back your Windows 10 system in this situation and a lot of people stated it was impossible but some stated that after several calls and being stubborn with Microsoft they were able to get a key reinstated. If he has anything from the original build (Windows 8) like perhaps a recovery media this would most likely have the activation key and he would be good.

1. The old Windows 8 is now irrelevant.
2. The only part we know he changed is the case. And we don't know when.
3. It was apparently a valid Upgrade from Win 8 to Win 10.
Unless he changed the motherboard, there is no reason why it should now present as unactivated.
If the motherboard was changed....that's a different story.

But I would not just live with an unactivated OS, if it was previously activated properly.

And calling MS to get it fixed works far more often than you've been informed.

Let us await further info from the OP.

 

[Kain_2]

The full story is, my pc is roughly 3 years old and since then i have made many changes, infact last night i got a new CPU/Motherboard installed and now it is asking me to Activate my windows, although i cannot do this is the code for my copy of Windows 64Bit was scrubbed of my old case and is long gone, i only have the disk for it

 

[USAFRet]

The full story is, my pc is roughly 3 years old and since then i have made many changes, infact last night i got a new CPU/Motherboard installed and now it is asking me to Activate my windows, although i cannot do this is the code for my copy of Windows 64Bit was scrubbed of my old case and is long gone, i only have the disk for it

Well yes...this is exactly what happens.
The OS thinks it is a whole different PC. Which it is.

You should have done this before changing the hardware:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Now...your only recourse is to call Microsoft.
Or live with it.