Activate Windows" Message on New HP Laptop After 6 Months

[BillyVine]

Hi, I purchased a new HP laptop about six months ago, and it came with Windows 11 pre-installed. Recently, I’ve started seeing an "Activate Windows" message. I was under the impression that Windows should remain activated on a new laptop. Has anyone else experienced this issue? What steps can I take to resolve it, and should I need to manually re-enter the product key or contact support for help?

Thanks in advance!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You are correct.

If the PC came with Windows from HP there is a Windows OEM product key in the BIOS and Windows should never need to be reactivated unless you were to install a new motherboard.

Then you would have to change the product key from the old motherboard to the product key in the new motherboard.

When HP installs Windows factory images on PCs they use a volume license key which is pre-activated.

Sometimes a glitch happens, and Windows wants to be reactivated with the OEM product key, which is most likely the case in your situation.

It should be easily resolved provided your notebook actually came with Windows installed from HP and not with FreeDOS and a PC reseller installed their own copy of Windows.

It should be easy to determine that as well.

Download, install and run the free Showkey Plus app from the Microsoft Store.

ShowKeyPlus - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store

If you look at the Showkey Plus report illustration on the Microsoft Store link, you can see that the report shows an Installed key, a line for an OEM key and if there is an OEM key, the version of Windows the OEM key is good for.

Here is a text report for one of my PC's that does have a Windows OEM key in the BIOS so you can see what it should look like: This PC was upgraded from W8.1 Pro to W10 Pro:

ShowKeyPlus - Windows Product Key Information

Product Name: Windows 10 Pro

Version: 18362.657 (64-bit OS)

Product ID: 00XXX-80000-00000-XXXXX

Installed Key: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

OEM Key: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

OEM Edition: Win 8.1 RTM Professional OEM:DM

If the Installed key in the report you run for your notebook is different than the OEM key, change the installed key to the OEM key in the PC settings and you should be able to activate Windows with the OEM key and not have that problem happen again.