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Why is there a watermark in Windows 8?


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#1 UncleSpellbinder

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:07

I just got back from Office Depot with a new HP Pavilion 23. It's up and runnung. Came with Windows 8 pre-installed. Why is there a watermark on the lower right corner?

Can it be removed? It's REALLY annoying.


#2 TPreston

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:08

Did you stop the software protection service ?

#3 OP UncleSpellbinder

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:09

I guess not. I'll dig into settings and see if I can locate it. I didn't know about that.

#4 cybertimber2008

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:12

Is it part of the background? I've never heard of a Windows 8 watermark.
Change the background to a solid color and then post a screen shot.

#5 shozilla

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:13

Have you activate the Windows? If not, that's why you have the watermark on there. After you activate it, it will go away.

#6 OP UncleSpellbinder

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:15

Bottom right corner it says

Windows 8
Build 9200

I'll get a screenshot as soon as I can...

AH! Never mind. I just completed a Window Update and it dissappeared. Odd.

#7 TPreston

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:16

View Postcybertimber2008, on 13 December 2012 - 19:12, said:

Is it part of the background? I've never heard of a Windows 8 watermark.
Change the background to a solid color and then post a screen shot.

Its there if you dont activate enterprise his oem might have messed up the bios oem activation.

Go into system properties or do a slmgr.vbs /dlv to make sure you are activated. It goes away (and returns) even if you are not activated

#8 xfx

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:16

That usually happens when Windows is not activated.

#9 shozilla

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:16

View PostUncleSpellbinder, on 13 December 2012 - 19:14, said:

Bottom right corner it says

Windows 8
Build 9200

I'll get a screenshot as soon as I can...

Then it looks like it has not been activated yet... activate it then it will go away.

#10 vetneufuse

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:17

View PostUncleSpellbinder, on 13 December 2012 - 19:07, said:

I just got back from Office Depot with a new HP Pavilion 23. It's up and runnung. Came with Windows 8 pre-installed. Why is there a watermark on the lower right corner?

Can it be removed? It's REALLY annoying.

screen shot? I've never seen a watermark on any OEM systems, only beta software had them and software that was not activated

#11 Mikee4fun

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:25

I have seen this all the time on OEM I have been deploying. Most do not come activated from the factory which I suppose is some new anti piracy method or simply Microsoft new rules. For those not seeing OEM with this it is possible those units are tested before leaving the assembly plant.

Just go to your main start windows and type windows activation, click on settings, activate, reboot, and your done. You will need to be online to do this. I have not tried offline activation yet, I am sure you can do this to, you just have to call in to Microsoft.

#12 Aergan

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:27

Usually removes itself after activation. I tend to find that doing Windows updates should kick start it or make sure that it's able to get through a network proxy if you have one.

#13 OP UncleSpellbinder

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:28

Well, It says I'm activated, and as of now, no watermark. I'll reboot in a moment and see if all is well.

#14 Fid

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:34

Yep, I got this until I activated, once you've done that it will disappear for good.

#15 Aergan

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Posted 13 December 2012 - 19:49

Should be fine. It will come back though if you restore the system to it's OEM default state (I'm talking about a restore DVD / partition and not the "Refresh my PC" option in Windows 8).