Systems: Why is my Windows not activated?

If you notice the "Activate Windows" watermark on your screen when starting up your CORSAIR ONE, VENGEANCE, or CORSAIR BUILD KIT, it may be a simple issue to resolve.

To identify the problem, review the Activation settings within Windows:

• Open your Start Menu and click the gear icon to open Windows Settings.
• In the Settings search bar, type "Activation settings."
• Select the "Activation Settings" option.

Windows will provide details on why the system is not activated. Common activation errors include:

• “We can’t activate Windows on this device right now. Try activating later…”
• Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed.”
• “We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key found on your device.”

Depending on the specific error, there are several steps you can take to resolve the issue.

Automated Windows Troubleshooting

Windows includes an automated troubleshooting tool that can help force reactivation. To use it, click the “Troubleshoot” button in the Activation settings window. If successful, the “Activate Windows” watermark will disappear, and your activation status will be updated accordingly.

Updating Your Windows Product Key

If the automated troubleshooting tool is unable to reactivate Windows, the next step is to update your Windows Product Key.

• If you purchased a CORSAIR BLD Kit, you should have a physical copy of your product key on a sticker.

• If you purchased a Vengeance pre-built PC, the Windows Product Key is digitally injected into the motherboard's UEFI/BIOS. Normally, Windows will detect and update this key automatically, but in some situations, you may need to update the key manually.
• To retrieve an injected key:
  • Search for CMD in your Start Menu to bring up the Command Prompt application.
  • Right-click the application and select Run as Administrator.
  • In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press enter: wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
  • Windows should report your system’s injected Windows Product Key.

With your product key retrieved:

1. Choose the Change Product Key option in the Windows Activation Settings window.
2. Re-enter the key. If done properly, the Activate Windows watermark should disappear, and your activation status will update.

Resetting the OS

If you cannot locate or retrieve your product key using the above guide on your system, try resetting the OS:

• Go to Start > Settings > System > Recovery.
• Next to "Reset this PC," select Reset PC.
• Choose "Keep my files," then select cloud or local, change your settings, and set "Restore preinstalled apps?" to No.

For detailed instructions, visit Microsoft's support page.

If you still have issues with Windows activation after this step, please contact our Technical Support team for further support.

For CORSAIR BLD kits, you can request a copy of the product key within the warranty. When contacting our team, please have a screenshot ready showing the activation error.

WARRANTY EXCHANGE