Windows 10 Insider Preview is not activated - does it matter?

I installed Windows 10 in a VMware VM. This was Build 1151 which took my Windows 8.1 and finished installed without incident. For some reason it did not activate online. However I got the Insider Fast Track Builds OK and it upgraded to Tech Preview Edition 11082. Does it even matter that Windows is not activated in this scenario? Is there any registry hack to remove the notification? It only cosmetic it seems so no big deal but still ..

Look at slmgr /xpr



Either you are activated or you aren't. It has nothing to do with insider build versions, Microsoft accounts or anything else.

All insider builds have watermarks (and always have) - that is normal.

lx07 said:

Look at slmgr /xpr



Either you are activated or you aren't. It has nothing to do with insider build versions, Microsoft accounts or anything else.

All insider builds have watermarks (and always have) - that is normal.

I get the above. Screenshot using VMware Linux so thanks for the picture insert - never did before! As you can see my output from the command refers to build 11082. However the text is pretty cryptic What does "Notification mode mean? Any way my quest Also ion was more about whether or not Windows 10 will be disabled - no notification of a time limit like notifications in earlier Windows versions Also I installed your version which is not a preview with a Windows 8.1 key and it accepted it. I'm dthink this is a bug. I kn ow MS employes look at this forum in an unofficail capacity (Brink?) so perhaps they can illumionated .

Notification mode means you aren't activated. You can't make customizations but generally other than that it isn't a big deal. In Vista after 30 days it would start shutting down every 6 hours. Since Vista nothing much happens I think.

11082 will however stop working after July 15th 2016. It just will not boot so you'll have to upgrade it before then.

I have 11082 in a VM which I clean installed but the VM was activated before (so the hardware ID is stored on MS servers anyway). I've not tried doing a clean install of 11082 and activating it with an old key on new hardware.

In theory it should work but perhaps not....

In fact that is exactly what happened it did not active with the key I installed it with. Interestingly enough it is synced to the version I have on my "real" hardisk (dual boot with op[enSUSE). In fact I'm not worried about it aat all and will use the Universal Water remover to get rid of the desktop insider build not in the lower right hand corner

martyfelker,
To be sure, the followings are purely speculations on my part................
I am not sure that Notification mode is merely cosmetic.
In fact, I suspect that your Insider Preview copy will gradually cease to function correctly in about 30 days or so.
Also, in January, Insiders are expecting to receive new build(s), according to Gabriel Aul. I doubt you will get yours if it remains not activated.

martyfelker,

Perhaps this article may be of interest to you................
http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re...ark-windows-10

excerpt:
Word of caution

Unlike some easy registry tweaks, for simplicity today we are relying on an external application called Universal Watermark Disabler. This app does all the work for you, but it does not come without risk. What this app does is more than just change a 1 to a 0 in the registry. Instead, it is altering system files, specifically basebrd.dll.mui and shell32.dll.mui.

Hi there

I had the previous build (insider) created / installed in a VM which WAS activated -- after updating my new one isn't activated . I don't think it matters for these builds.

Cheers
jimbo

We'll know for certain when new Insider Preview build is released or when 30 days have come and passed.

If i remember correctly, you can't receive new insider previews if your current installed build is not activated.