Windows 10: Windows 10 Home suddenly thinks my license is illegitimate

Hi,

As of yesterday I've been experiencing a problem where my Windows 10 Home installation thinks my license isn't genuine. It started displaying the 'Activate Windows' watermark in the lower-right of my display, leading me to the activation menu in my settings. However, upon trying to re-enter my 25-character product key a Windows 7 Home Premium which I've owned for 7-8 years and upgraded to Windows 10 during the free period, it throws up an error: the product key you entered didn't work. Check the product key and try again, or enter a different one. 0xc0020036. This happens every time.

I can't troubleshoot my activation because it throws up the same error code: something prevented us from communicating with our activation servers. Wait a few minutes and then try again. 0xc0020036. This happens every time.

I've tried the sfc /scannow command in the command prompt, and it said it solved a few corruption issues but it didn't fix my problem.

I can't enter any slmgr command because again, it throws up the same error code: 0xc0020036 On a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition, run 'slui.exe 0x2a 0xc0020036' to display the error text.

Upon attempting to run said slui.exe, it throws up the same error code: 0xc0020036.

I've run LicensingDiag.ps1with powershell and it created a text file which I can provide if needed.

It may be worth noting that I recently built a new desktop in mid-December after my old one broke down. I wasn't able to unregister my license from that PC and I used the same license to activate on this one, which has worked fine up until now, although I'm unsure if that's connected to my problem in any way.

Thanks for any help~

:)

 

Illegitimate license key

I bought a Windows 10 pro product key off of a website called G2Deal for an insanely cheap price that I couldn't pass up at the time. A friend who is more informed about these kinds of things said that the key is almost definitely an illegitimate one.

I apparently clicked yes on the setting that asked if I wanted to link my MS account with my Windows product key and would like to know how to remove the illegitimate product key from my MS account.

 

Windows 10 upgrade license

Hello guys,

I have 1 license of WIndows 8.1 FPP/retail license. I want to upgrade to WIndows 10, but I one thing is unclear to me.
If I upgrade, will WIndows 10 license be retail or it will "turn" into some sort of OEM license?

I ask this because I upgrade my PC, you know, more memory, replace HDD, and I intend to upgrade the MB and CPU to Kaby Lake platform sometime in the future, (and of course sell the replaced hardware)
This thing is not clearly mentioned anywhere.

Thank you.

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.