Retail version contains USB drive not DVD disk.
Please run command prompt, type slmgr /dlv command and show a screenshot of appeared window.
"Activate Windows" watermark suddenly appeared on my PC
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(131.20000000000002, 63%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EFW%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Felix Wagner
20
Reputation points
Hi,
Since 2 days ago, the "Activate Windows" watermark appears on my PC, usually an hour or two after turning it on.
The license product key was purchased at a retailer, not digitally in the MS store.
In the activation system settings, it says that the status is "Not active", and the error code 0xC004F012 is displayed.
I located the BackupProductKeyDefault here in the Registry Editor: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
When trying to enter that key via "change product key" in the settings, it doesn't work and gives me the error 0xc0000022
Has anyone encountered this, or is familiar with a fix?
Thanks,
Felix
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation
Answer accepted by question author
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(256, 10%, 34%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EIL%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Igor Leyko 107.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-12-04T21:05:07.9733333+00:00 -
Felix Wagner 20 Reputation points
2025-12-04T21:57:48.3866667+00:00 It may have been a USB drive, I don't remember unfortunately. :(
When running slmgr /dlv, I get the following window:
When I run what's said there, I just get this:
I did run the Command Prompt as Admin
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(204.8, 96%, 29%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3END%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Neil D 29,975 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-12-04T22:04:03.3466667+00:00 That's why I'm thinking your installation may need a repair.
Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using windows update and select Reinstall now.
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Felix Wagner 20 Reputation points
2025-12-04T22:32:04.7366667+00:00 This has actually fixed it, thank you very much!
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6 additional answers
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Igor Leyko 107.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-03T23:19:12.2966667+00:00 Hi,
what exactly license did you buy? Could it be it Was Windows 7 or Windows 8 license? Such product key cannot be used for Windows 11 activation now.
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Felix Wagner 20 Reputation points
2025-12-04T08:33:24.84+00:00 Hi, the license was for Windows 10 Home, purchased in 2021, but I upgraded to Windows 11 a while ago already and have not had this issue yet.
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Igor Leyko 107.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-04T11:13:01.3+00:00 How did you purchase an upgrade? AFAIK, upgrade is available for purchase only in Microsoft Store.
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Felix Wagner 20 Reputation points
2025-12-04T14:19:40.4933333+00:00 I'm pretty sure the upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 was free when it was released. Also, as mentioned, I upgraded to 11 right when it released and haven't had the issue until now
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Neil D 29,975 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-12-04T14:25:57.79+00:00 If you bought the licence from a 3rd party then you should have the product key to activate.
The registry entry will not help.
Get ShowKeyPlus from the Store and enter your product key at Check edition. What is the description of the licence?
The app will also show the current licence, does it display the Installed key?
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Felix Wagner 20 Reputation points
2025-12-04T20:06:36.4466667+00:00 I wasn't able to find the original box the key came in from the retailer unfortunately. I got ShowKeyPlus and it says the "MAK key not available" for the Installed Key. There is a code shown in "Original Key" and it says "Windows 10 Core OEM:NONSLP" in the Original Edition field.
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Neil D 29,975 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-12-04T20:21:19.9233333+00:00 The ref to an OEM:NONSLP means you must have the product key to activate. It's difficult to say what has gone wrong although a recovery in Windows 11 may help fix any problems with licencing files.
Settings > System > Recovery > Fix problems using windows update and select Reinstall now.
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Igor Leyko 107.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-04T15:33:44.59+00:00 I mean upgrade Home to Pro.
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Igor Leyko 107.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-12-04T20:09:22.65+00:00 MAK key words mean the key for corporate license was used. It cannot be applied to home users.
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Felix Wagner 20 Reputation points
2025-12-04T20:12:45.12+00:00 But it worked for almost 5 years now, and there is no way it was a corporate license as I purchased a regular home license from a 3rd party retailer.
I updated the PC manually recently as it had trouble installing the latest one. Could it be the case that a wrong version was installed there?
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