Why is there a watermark in Windows 8?

[UncleSpellbinder]

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.

[TPreston]

Did you stop the software protection service ?

[UncleSpellbinder]

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

[cybertimber2008]

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.

[TAZMINATOR]

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

[UncleSpellbinder]

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.

[TPreston]

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

[xfx]

That usually happens when Windows is not activated.

[TAZMINATOR]

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.

[neufuse Veteran]

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

[Churma]

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.

[Aergan]

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.

[UncleSpellbinder]

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

[Fid]

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

[Aergan]

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).

[+LogicalApex MVC]

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

OEM has the key in the BIOS no activation needed on the user part.

[Ambroos]

OEM has the key in the BIOS no activation needed on the user part.

Not anymore since Windows 8. The mechanism has changed, each machine now has a unique key in the BIOS that needs to be activated through Microsoft and is only valid for that specific machine. They did that to stop Windows Loader-like piracy options for Windows 8.

[+LogicalApex MVC]

Not anymore since Windows 8. The mechanism has changed, each machine now has a unique key in the BIOS that needs to be activated through Microsoft and is only valid for that specific machine. They did that to stop Windows Loader-like piracy options for Windows 8.

You just said the same thing I said ;)

[Brandon H Supervisor]

You just said the same thing I said ;)

yes and no, the mechanism works differently

[nyolc8]

My watermark dissapeared only when I restarted my pc after I activated it. Then when I applied the WMC key for about a month ago, the watermark appeared again then dissapeared after some time without restart.

[TAZMINATOR]

OEM has the key in the BIOS no activation needed on the user part.

Sometimes it doesn't get activated automatically... which is why you have to activate it manually. If not working. then activation system is messed up and the user will have to contact retailer or Microsoft for activation problem.

Don't forget that you have to be online in order to activate the Windows. If you install Windows without internet access, watermark will show until you activate it via internet as soon as you get internet enabled...

My laptops are OEM... I have to activate them manually. My newest laptop was activated automatically because I enabled internet connection during Windows 8 installation.

If you do not have internet access at all, you have to call Microsoft to have it activated via phone which they give you numbers that you enter it on the screen so it can be activated without internet.