How to re-activate Windows on my Rok Box

Created by Brian James Lorelle, Modified on Sat, 28 Mar at 5:28 PM by Brian James Lorelle

Windows is installed and licensed for you when your PC is built.

You do not need to install Windows nor enter your license key during the normal usage of your PC.

If your PC is connected to the Internet, Windows will occasionally connect to Windows licensing servers to ensure that your license is active and registered.

In some cases, Windows may report that it is not activated due to Microsoft system error.

If you receive a notice from Windows that your installation is not activated, it will be necessary to reactivate Windows.

DO NOT PURCHASE A NEW WINDOWS KEY. YOUR KEY IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE. FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.

To do so, start by locating the Windows license key for your PC.

Your license key is located in one of two locations on your Rok Box:

- On a sticker that is located on your PC case,

OR:

- In a text file in the c:/PCAL/OEM folder on your Rok Box's hard drive.

This is your OEM license key for Windows, purchased with your PC.

RokBox PCs built from 2025 and on will have their Windows license key located in a text file on the hard drive (see below). PCs built before 2025 will have their license key on a sticker on the PC chassis.

The only exception to this is a RokBox MC Mobile laptop -- all of these models will have a Windows license key located on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop chassis.

If your Rok Box Windows license key is included on a sticker:

You can find the sticker for the license key on a sticker on the back or bottom of your PC.

On Rok Box MC Mobile systems, the sticker will always be on the underside of the laptop chassis.

The license key is 25 characters long and comprised of letters and numbers.

Please locate this sticker on your PC's case, and snap a photo of it for your reference using your smartphone, or write it down.

Then, skip to the Activate Windows step below.

If your Windows license key is not on a sticker on your PC:

If your PC doesn't have a Windows license key sticker on it, you'll find the license key in the c:/PCAL/OEM folder on your primary hard drive.

1. Open that text file.

2. Select the 25-character key in the text file.

3. Copy (Control+C) the product key to your Windows clipboard, so that you may paste it in the next steps.

4. Move on to the Activate Windows step below.

Activate Windows

Right-click the Start button and click Settings.

In the settings panel, click System:

Then click Activation:

Then, click Change Product Key:

Enter the product key, either from the photo of your Windows license key sticker, the text from the sticker that you wrote down, or paste into the resulting dialog box from the text file on your hard drive:

Once entered, click NEXT.

Windows should display a message that Windows has been activated on your PC.

Windows should now be reactivated.

You may close any open dialog boxes and proceed to use your PC as normal.

If you receive a message that the product key has been used on another PC

In some cases, you may receive a message that the key has been used on another PC and cannot be activated, prompting you to purchase a new Windows license key.

You do not need to purchase a new license key. This is due to a Windows bug.

This is because your key has been previously-registered on your PC, and Microsoft activation servers may have confused the registration of the key.

This is not because your key was used for another PC.

In the case this happens, it is best to reactivate Windows using a method which requires usage of the Command Prompt, which is a text-based data entry system for interacting with Windows.

Activate Windows via Command Prompt

1. Right-click the Start button, and click Terminal (Admin)

This will open the Command Prompt:

2. Select the text below and copy (control+c) it:

slmgr -ipk <Your product key here>

Paste (control+v) this text into the command prompt window, replacing the text between the <> characters with your product key that you snapped a photo of, wrote down, or copied from the text file on your hard drive.

Hit ENTER.

You'll receive a message that the product key has been successfully installed.

3. Copy the line of text below (select all text, then right-click/copy or Control+C on your keyboard).

slmgr -ato

Paste (Control+v) this text into the Command Prompt window.

Hit ENTER.

You will receive a message that Windows has has been activated.

This will be reflected in your Windows settings:

If you encounter an error, reboot Windows, and then check Windows activation again -- Windows should now be activated.

If you continue to encounter Windows activation issues, please reach out to support.