Do I need An Activation Key?

Hello to all. I just built my new sys a few weeks ago & it ran great but I didn't do my homework & I installed ASUS Amoury Crate for my PC & since then it's been a nightmare. I'm using Windows 10 Pro but it was put on without a retail disc & I'm not sure what my friend used to put it on my rig, I'm guessing a USB.

I'm going to/want to use the “Reset your PC” option to erase all the erratic bloatware & crap this software put on my sys.
What I need to know is do I need an activation key? YES or NO.

That's all I need to know because there's not much on my PC that I can't replace in a few hrs.

I have a ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-E WIFI board & the mentioned software package above is so erratic & invasive it's like malware.

Thank You for your help.

OK. I have an app that shows me my windows 10 key can I just use that key??

1. I had some1 nstall windows for me I know he used Win10. How he activated it I got no idea??
2. I don't have a win10 pro disc of any sort.
3. I tried this RUFUS thing & somehow bricked 2 USB drives, probably my fault.
4. I'm trying to do this on my NEW sys.
5. I used an app called ShowKeyPlus. It showed me I had Win10 Pro installed & activation key.
6. I don't know how to disable secure boot. I'm used to old school boards.
7. Every time I think I got an answer I hit a wall of No's, don't know, Use this instead ( sh!t don't work ) type answers.
8. I see I can get FREE keys from a Microsoft webpg, specifically retail keys but how reliable are they? is it more smoke & mirrors??
9. I've heard u can use win7 & 8 keys to activate Win10 & 11.
10. What I want is to fix my PC. Wanna reinstall windows ( was gonna do the "Reset PC" thing & be done w/it. I want the OS to be activated.

There did I cover every thing??

Sign: Frustrated as F*$K
P.S. I'm not a total idiot I've built my last 5 PC's just overly frustrated...... Sorry.

Pardon my jumping in here, but I noticed that there was one important piece of information that you did not provide:

When your friend installed Windows on that system, did they activate that copy of Windows?

You can check the activation status by following the steps found here:

Check Activation of Windows 10

Follow-up: When you check the activation status, could you possibly grab a screenshot of that page. I would like to see what edition of Windows you have as well as the activation status. That same screen will show that information.

The info that Denis provided is spot on. If I may, I would just like to add that the key you use (whether it be a Win 7 key, a Win 8 key, etc.) needs to match the edition of Windows you have on your system. In other words, if you have Windows 10 Home edition installed, the key needs to specifically be a Windows Home key. This is why I requested the edition information in addition to the current activation status.