Fix for Activation Watermark


sysgood

New member
Local time
10:13 PM
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1
OS
Windows 11
Hey team, we're having a widespread Windows activation issue after the system restore. About 50 computers are now showing the "Activate Windows" watermark and are missing their digital license.

I need a simple and safe fix to remove the watermark and get these machines properly activated again. I heard there's a quick command we can use. Does anyone have the exact instructions for this?
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11

My Computer My Computer

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Windows 11
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
Laptop
Perhaps it's just that it takes time for each computer to go online & contact the activation servers. As each one does, the watermarks will disappear and each will show that it's been activated.


Denis
 
Last edited:

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Windows 11 Home x64 Version 25H2 Build 26200....
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Windows 11 Home x64 Version 25H2 Build 26200.8037

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    AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 3200-4500 Mhz 8 cores x 2
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    Windows 11 BetaAMD A9-94208 GB of DDR4AMD Radeon R5
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    Asus X751BP
    CPU
    AMD A9-9420
    Memory
    8 GB of DDR4
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    AMD Radeon R5
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 1 TB
50 computers? Does that mean a corporation?

Machines are licensed by what means?
 

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    Windows 11 26200.8728Amd Threadripper 7970X128GB (4 X 32) G.Skill DDR5 6400 (RDIMM)Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    OS
    Windows 11 26200.8728
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D Rev. 1.0
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    128GB (4 X 32) G.Skill DDR5 6400 (RDIMM)
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    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
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    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
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    Innocn 32" OLED
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    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
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    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
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    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
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    BeQuiet! Straight Power 12 1500W
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    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
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    SilverStone Technology XE360-TR5, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
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    Logitech M500s (wired)
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    2000/250 Mbps (down/up)
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    xFinity gateway
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    windows 11 26200.8728Intel I9-13900K64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Operating System
    windows 11 26200.8728
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 27" OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Cherry Streaming (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
I sense something fishy about this. Any corporation with that many computers has a means to resolve an activation issue on VALID windows installations.
Someone who might possibly have bought a pallet of old Windows 7 machines, and installed 11 on incompatible hardware with the intent to resell, that's another story.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8655i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8655
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8457
A couple of years ago you could use any Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8 Pro key to activate Windows 10/11 Pro. Microsoft has disabled this option. However the previously activated computer should have a digital license on Microsoft servers and activate automatically again. If the computers are of the same hardware and you just cloned the original disk on the others, it won't activate as the hardware IDs also depend on the serial number of the motherboard and other factors. You need a separate key for each computer.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8655)Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz4GBMobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8655)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8655)Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generat...2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB...
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8655)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB (GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
Hey team, we're having a widespread Windows activation issue after the system restore. About 50 computers are now showing the "Activate Windows" watermark and are missing their digital license.

I need a simple and safe fix to remove the watermark and get these machines properly activated again. I heard there's a quick command we can use. Does anyone have the exact instructions for this?
Something does not gel here.

I reckon these pcs have been activated using a gross volume licence key, and MS has decided the GVLK is not kosher and have deactivated PCs.
OP is asking how to remove watermark which many did to give illusion pcs were legally activated.

It would be well beyond the bounds of imagination that 50 pcs would become deactivated if they had standard consumer licences.

I am not sure we should assist here as that could be construed as supporting piracy which is against forum rules.

OP needs to provide evidence of legal activation before we could support them.
 

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Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ16 GB solderedIntegrated Intel Iris XE
OS
Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
ASUS Zenbook 14
CPU
I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
Motherboard
Yep, Laptop has one.
Memory
16 GB soldered
Graphics Card(s)
Integrated Intel Iris XE
Sound Card
Realtek built in
Monitor(s) Displays
laptop OLED screen
Screen Resolution
2880x1800 touchscreen
Hard Drives
1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
PSU
Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
Case
Yep, got one
Cooling
Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
Keyboard
Built in UK keybd
Mouse
Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
Internet Speed
900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
Browser
Edge
Antivirus
Defender
Other Info
TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

Macrium Reflect Home V8
Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
Let’s say your computers are legit. You might want to first go online and then try a simple reboot. This works for a personal computer but I can’t guarantee it will work in your situation.

If this doesn’t work out, you need to call Microsoft for advice.
 

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Win 7,8.1,10,11, Mint, Kde Plasma, DebianIntel(R) Core(TM) i7-6500U CPU @ 2.50GHz16 GBIntel(R) HD Graphics 520/Nvidia GeForce 930M
OS
Win 7,8.1,10,11, Mint, Kde Plasma, Debian
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6500U CPU @ 2.50GHz
Memory
16 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Intel(R) HD Graphics 520/Nvidia GeForce 930M
Sound Card
Intel(R) Display Audio/RealtekAudio
Monitor(s) Displays
Generic Pnp Monitor
Screen Resolution
1366 X 768
Hard Drives
ST2000LM024-1EJ164
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Eng (US)
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Sanwa Supply
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Firefox
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Avast One
Other Info
Too many laptops with different system specifications.
Remember what the activation message was before? If it was "activated by digital license" (unlikely for a corporate), then they should activate automatically when connected to the internet, unless there have been major hardware changes (such as swapping motherboard). This is exactly the reason why cloning the disk of identical hardware computers will NOT activate, because the motherboard is the same model, but different S/N along with the rest of motherboard devices. If the message was "activated by your organization", then they have VLK (aka volume keys, not OEM or retail) and were either indeed activated by your business server, or they were ILLEGALY activated! In the first case, just ask your IT to activate them again via the respective service running on your server. In the second case, we cannot tell you how to illegally reactivate them, you have to find out yourself. The simplest legit way is to buy a cheap key for each device and change the key to activate, not sure if you can buy it from Microsoft Store at a reasonable price. The alternative legit way is to contact Microsoft, if all the computers are in a single corporate of course, and buy volume keys which should be cheaper than OEM or retail keys. If you have all these computers in a computer shop and you intent to activate Windows and sell them, then your only legit method it to buy OEM keys from a Supplier. Most will do a better price for more than 10-15.

PS: To find out which type keys you have (retail, OEM, VLK) open an PowerShell as Administrator and execute slmgr /dlv then check the Description line.
 

My Computers My Computers

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8655)Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz4GBMobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (5699), 25H2 (8655)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8655)Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generat...2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB...
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v25H2 (build 26200.8655)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB (GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
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