Windows 10: It says I already have an account, but still says I need to activate it. What do I do?

I am trying to activate Windows. It says I already have an account and I keep getting circular messages that get me nowhere. What do I do? I cannot loose my doctoral dissertation work, Help!

:)

 

My PC suddenly says its not activated

For verification, now you are saying it isn't activated and Microsoft won't help you?

 

Activation says linked to your Microsoft account, how do you sell it?

No need to create any user accounts.

Step 1.) Clean install Windows 10, the same edition you are currently using and which is digitally licensed. Be sure to delete all existing partitions and install to unallocated space!

Step 2.) When you arrive to region selection screen, press SHIFT + F10 (press and hold SHIFT key, press F10 key and release both keys). This will open Command Prompt:





Step 3.) Enter following command and press Enter to shut down PC:

shutdown -s -t 0 -f





That's it. PC will be shut down, when the new owner will power on it first time it will be like a first boot of a new computer, letting new owner to select region and keyboard, set up user account and select privacy options.

 

My PC suddenly says its not activated

So now I have a clean install and windows is activated, what are my steps to find out why my original windows install wasn’t activated......

I await instructions........

and apart from checking activation, I do everything else as per your suggestions......will in future check validated once a month.......