Windows 10: Unable to Activate Windows?

So I've had the same computer running Windows since October 2014. Originally it was Windows 8 but I upgraded to Windows 10 as soon as was possible. No problems until a week or so ago when I realised my original hard drive was dying, so I backed up the files I wanted to keep and fresh installed Windows 10 Home on a new SSD.

I had factory reset before but it had automatically reactivated Windows every time. Now however, after I installed Windows using the installation media from the Microsoft website, I need to "Activate Windows" and have this watermark annoying me in the bottom right corner. I don't have my original product key and the one I was able to find using some software was just a generic Windows 10 upgrade key. Anyone got advice for how to either get rid of the watermark, or activate Windows?

submitted by /u/apostolaich
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:)

 

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