Windows 10: Activate Windows Watermark - Activation failed?

Hello everyone,
This is my first post in this forum.So I have a HP notebook which had came up with preinstalled win 8.1 Single Language.I waited when windows 10 upgrade notification started coming up until today I upgraded.

Since I have a very low Speed connection(80-100Kbps download speed),I preferred to download the ISO file of Windows 10.It is Windows 10 Home Version build 1511.I mount it up on upgraded to windows with keeping my personal files and settings intact.

Now,the "activate windows" watermark is showing up at the bottom of the screen.I did tried to activate windows but it failed with error 0xc004f074.I check this website's forum and someone suggested to activate the windows by inputting your windows 8.1 product key.I found it out by shadowkey plus.But the 0xc004f210 comes up "you are running windows 10.The product key you entered cannot be used to activate this edition".I am stuck here unable to rectify the activation situation.Someone please enlighten me here....

:)

 

Deleted product key

The watermark says windows isn't activated.

 

WINDWS 10 BUILD 10240 STORE ERROR CODE: 0x80131500

activate windows defender from gpedit.msc option

activate software protection from services.msc

change the time and date and country and location properly

activate watermark if any

 

You cannot upgrade and activate Windows 8.1 Single Language to Windows 10 Home. For that you need to buy a valid Windows 10 Home license.

The Windows edition must remain the same​ to upgrade for free, you need to download and use Windows 10 Single Language ISO to upgrade, or let Windows 8.1 Single Language to do the upgrade.

You can download the Windows 10 Single Language from Microsoft Tech bench: Tech Bench

 

And now that you have already upgraded to Windows 10 Home, you can't just switch over to Windows 10 Single Language without a new install. So, your options are:

1. Revert back to previous OS, if you can and if it works:
Windows 10 - Go Back to Previous Windows - Windows 10 Forums
Then upgrade that to Windows 10 Single Language

2. Clean install Windows 10 Single Language and use your Windows 8.1 Single Language product key to activate it. It should read the product key from bios during install, though, and not even ask you for a product key.

3. Install Windows 8.1 Single Language, either as a clean install from Windows 8.1 Single Language installation media or from HP restoration disc (or a restoration process saved on the computer). Then upgrade that to Windows 10 Single Language.

4. Or purchase Windows 10 Home (or Pro) product key. One note on this: if you get it from the Windows Store in Windows 10, it is only a digital entitlement and not transferrable to another computer. If you purchase a retail version from a 3rd party company, it will be a product key activation and transferrable to another computer.

 

Hi,thanks for showing me options.

Regarding the No.2, Will my personal files and documents,settings,etc will be saved ?

 

The only options that have a chance of keeping everything are Options 1 and 4 - revert back to old OS from within Windows 10 or purchase a Windows 10 product key to activate with.

Options 2 and 3 are clean installs and will not keep any of your data files, settings, or programs. You will have to back up whatever you want to save onto a separate storage location.