New Windows PC


  1. Posts : 748
    windows 7
       #1

    New Windows PC


    A few days ago, I was given a PC with Windows 10 installed but NOT activated. I hooked up a monitor, mouse and key board. I called my computer guru and asked if it was necessary to connect to the internet. He said it would be a good idea, so I did.

    After turning on the PC, it started asking questions and I thought "this is going to be easy". Was I ever wrong. It asked me personal questions that I don't think Microsoft any right or need to know (such as birthday).

    Another thing I found out is that Microsoft thinks everyone in the world has a cell phone. I don't have one, never have had one and never will have one.

    At first it did NOT like my email addresses it asked for (both legitimate emails). After four hours and multiple attempts to activate, it gave me a work around that sent me a code to my email and from there I was able to activate Windows.

    It should never have taken that long or created so much aggravation. If there were a good alternative, believe me "Microsoft" would NOT be in my vocabulary.

    Now I have the chore of making sure everything is up to date. Then start installing an uninstaller, extra browsers etc. There will be very little installed on this PC. It will be my wife's PC and she does not use much.

    Take care everyone.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,487
    Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
       #2

    Sounds like you didn't use a local account.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 748
    windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Have no idea what you mean by local account. This is NOT the end of the crap that is going on.

    About an hour ago I turned the PC on and entered my password. So far so good.

    I wanted to check for updates. Guess what? The search box does NOT work. The start button does NOT work either.

    I can NOT see anything I need to work that is working. NOW WHAT?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,487
    Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
       #4

    Tough to say what is going on since the PC was given to you and apparently you don't know much about its prior history.

    I can tell you that:

    Windows can be configured to not be asked for a password.

    I did not give up my birth date or my email during installation and configuration.

    I don't use cell phones and didn't need one.

    Normally, I'd just say to hell with it all and do a clean install.

    But you may be in a tough spot if this machine has never been activated.

    Do you have the proper Product Key?

    Has this machine EVER had some other operating system on it.....maybe Windows 7 or Windows 8? If so, was that installation ever activated?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18,471
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    huffman said:
    NOW WHAT?
    Do your own clean install of Windows.

    huffman said:
    A few days ago, I was given a PC with Windows 10 installed but NOT activated.
    Most members here would recommend doing your own clean install of Windows 10 in a situation like this. Do the clean install of Windows without connecting to the internet. Go through and set up a local account (the only type of account you can without internet). Once you are all logged in with your local account and at a stable desktop, then connect to the internet.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 748
    windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I think I have a bad mouse.

    For now I would like how to keep the monitor screen from going black after a given amount of time.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2,487
    Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
       #7

    Settings/system/power and sleep,

    set to "never";


    assuming nothing's broken and you can get that far.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails New Windows PC-untitled-1.jpg  
    Last edited by ignatzatsonic; 14 Mar 2021 at 13:24.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 93
    Windows 10 pro 64 Bit Version 21H1 (OS Build 19043.844)
       #8

    ignatzatsonic said:
    Tough to say what is going on since the PC was given to you and apparently you don't know much about its prior history.

    I can tell you that:

    Windows can be configured to not be asked for a password.

    I did not give up my birth date or my email during installation and configuration.

    I don't use cell phones and didn't need one.

    Normally, I'd just say to hell with it all and do a clean install.

    But you may be in a tough spot if this machine has never been activated.

    Do you have the proper Product Key?

    Has this machine EVER had some other operating system on it.....maybe Windows 7 or Windows 8? If so, was that installation ever activated?
    Exactly, not enough info to help here. How old is the computer? download a free spec software like speccy and let us see some info from it like how much ram etc this computer has. Try this, open Powershell as admin and type sfc /scannow and hit enter see is that helps.
      My Computer


 

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