Windows 10: Reset my PC, but windows is not activated, even with the key I have.

I restarted my PC to clean it off of files and start fresh.After doing so, I logged back into the same Microsoft account that I have and it says I need to activate Windows.I put in a key that I had from my recently bought XPS15 but it didn't work. How do I reactivate Windows?

:)

 

Windows is not activated following "reset this pc"

My latest rebuild was done using:

• Reset this PC.
• Don't keep files.

I now see the conflicting output as show in post #16.

Also I have a watermark on my desktop. Is this normal?

 

I need my OEM "Windows 10 HOME" activation key to reset PC

I tried it and it cannot find the key, and even after restart nothing changes.
I did this:

1. Open a command prompt as an Administrator.
   
2. Enter slmgr /upk and wait for this to complete. This will uninstall the current product key from Windows and put it into an unlicensed state.
   
3. Enter slmgr /cpky and wait for this to complete. This will remove the product key from the registry if it's still there.
   
4. Enter slmgr /rearm and wait for this to complete. This is to reset the Windows activation timers so the new users will be prompted to activate Windows when they put in the key.
   
   
   
   
   

So the only solution must be to download windows 10 home and install it from scratch ? Without using any key it will install my OEM key based on the computer hardware ?

Where can I download a windows 10 home ?

Thank you again to all !

 

activate windows 7 oem key

There is no difference between the OEM disc and the Retail disc with Windows 7. A retail disc will accept a OEM or Retail key, and vise versa.

If the OEM Key wasn't going to work with the disc you have, it would have stopped you during the install when it first asked you for the key, not during activation.

What is likely the problem is that, since the OEM version has already been activated once, it is failing activation again. Activate it over the phone using the option given to you on the failed activation screen, and you shouldn't have a problem activating it.