Settings is not working. Activate windows is on screen after the computer is on for an hour or two.

m g 5 Reputation points
2026-09-13T23:01:15.73+00:00

Activate Windows is showing. Settings is not working. I signed into Administrator account to which this e-mail address is connected, and when I tried to reactivate it said the digital windows key was incorrect.

I registered this computer when it was new, in 2023. I did not find it listed as a device when I signed into microsoft. And I tried to access help, it is like a snipe hunt as it opens a new page and another and another ad infinitum.

I have no idea what the actual digital Key is. I've never seen it in the registry or anywhere else, but it was accessed and registered when I initially set up my account. I did use an app that says it reveals the key. And when I plugged that in, in the administrator account it said it is the wrong key.

Seems that microsoft has disabled my account. Or . . . on one page I was stopped from going further because it said locations is not on. I have never had locations on in this computer, and have no idea how to turn it on. I do not use a wireless connection, so unless locations shows up with an ethernet connection it is not possible to use it.

At the moment I am signed in to both accounts. I rarely use the administrator account. Settings is working in that account, however activate windows is showing, and when it is not recognizing Firefox as my default browser. When it open Edge, I get some popup that says the app is not registered. So it is not possible to sign in from that account. But some of the setting are working. I plugged in SLUI 4 in the administrator account and nothing was returned. That too was another instruction in a help tab that opened.

Each time I go to a link I am asked to sign in, even though I have signed in (with stay signed in) with my yubi key.

It seems a number of apps are not associated with files that open them.

How can I activate online, through the browser, with the information I have? All the automated moving around is to access solutions not providing any answers. Microsoft is able to access my computer, because numerous changes are made, frequently, on a daily basis. So that is not the problem. But when I'm trying to activate, suddenly microsoft can not access my computer. What is the problem and how can I solve it? If I can active online through the browser it may solve all the problems I'm having.

I would appreciate some assistance that is not from preprogrammed automated A.I. if that is possible.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation
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  1. Alexandr S 106.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-13T23:51:15.6366667+00:00

    Hello, m g.

    Post a screenshot of the command window here

    slmgr.vbs /dlv

    (run the command when the OS is not activated).

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  2. m g 5 Reputation points
    2026-09-13T23:34:50.9466667+00:00

    I do not know if I accept the answer. Because when I went to the Administrator account to signin I was required to change my password.
    When I tried to sign I get the same response as before, no password or e-mail verification choice, and it will not do anything except show the the face, pin, key choice that is not working.

    Maybe it is not working because I am signed in with this account. So I don't know if I sign out from this account, if I will be able to sign back in either account with the new password.

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  3. AI answer

    2026-09-13T23:01:43.5566667+00:00

    Use one of these supported activation paths:

    1. Run the Activation troubleshooter from the account where Settings still opens.
      • In Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Troubleshoot.
      • This requires an administrator account and an internet connection.
      • If Windows is not activated, the troubleshooter can sometimes detect the correct digital license or show the path to reactivate after a hardware change.
    2. If the PC had a major hardware change, especially the motherboard, Windows may no longer match the old digital license.
      • Error 0x803F7001 means a valid license could not be found.
      • If Windows was preinstalled and the motherboard was replaced, a new license may be required.
      • If the same Microsoft account was linked before the hardware change, go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Troubleshoot and use the reactivation path shown there.
    3. If the wrong Windows edition is installed, activation can fail even with a valid digital license.
      • The troubleshooter can detect when the installed edition does not match the digital license and then show how to install the correct edition.
    4. If SLUI 4 is not available, browser-based activation is supported through the Product Activation Portal by using SLMGR to get the Installation ID.
      • Open Command Prompt as administrator.
      • Run: SLMGR /dti
      • This displays the Installation ID.
      • Go to the Product Activation Portal, sign in, select Activate a Microsoft Product > Windows > Windows 10, enter the Installation ID, and submit it.
      • The portal returns a Confirmation ID.
      • Back in the elevated Command Prompt, run: SLMGR /atp <enter your Confirmation ID>
      • Then verify with: SLMGR /dli
    5. If Settings or activation components are unstable, a Windows repair install may be needed before activation will work correctly.
      • This was the accepted resolution in similar cases where Settings, activation, or app registration were broken.
      • Use the Windows ISO or Media Creation Tool and run Setup.exe as an in-place repair so personal files, settings, and installed apps are kept.
      • Risk note: although this is described as keeping files and apps, important data should still be backed up first.
    6. If the troubleshooter, product key entry, and browser activation all fail, contact Microsoft support directly.
      • If the troubleshooter cannot fix activation, the documented next step is to contact support.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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