Watermark won't go away on Windows 8.1 upgrade

[my2cents]

I was a bit perplexed about their suggestion myself. I don't wannna spend all day resetting and reinstalling with no result. The HP tutorial said for a computer preinstalled with windows 8 to go into the setup utility and then go to secure boot configuration but my PC came with win 7 preinstalled I don't have that option. I haven't tried setting my bios to legacy yet. I'm not sure how to do this. My bios version is AMI 7.10, date 4/9/2012 if anyone has any further suggestions.

If have installed Windows 8 in UEFI mode, & reset the UEFI/BIOS firmware to Legacy, Windows 8 will NOT BOOT.

I agree with Theog who has the best track record in the business (in the area) IMHO. So, I would recommend that you go back to HP and ask them for a step by step upgrade process; however, be prepared for the worst because I have a Lenovo laptop, that I purchased in late 2010 (I think), and Lenovo has no intention of supporting an installation of Windows 8 and there will be no new BIOS issued accordingly. So, first confirm that HP is supporting Windows 8 upgrade to 8.1, and then ask the for the complete step by step upgrade path. Good luck.

 

[pbm5362]

I was a bit perplexed about their suggestion myself. I don't wannna spend all day resetting and reinstalling with no result. The HP tutorial said for a computer preinstalled with windows 8 to go into the setup utility and then go to secure boot configuration but my PC came with win 7 preinstalled I don't have that option. I haven't tried setting my bios to legacy yet. I'm not sure how to do this. My bios version is AMI 7.10, date 4/9/2012 if anyone has any further suggestions.

If have installed Windows 8 in UEFI mode, & reset the UEFI/BIOS firmware to Legacy, Windows 8 will NOT BOOT.

I agree with Theog who has the best track record in the business (in the area) IMHO. So, I would recommend that you go back to HP and ask them for a step by step upgrade process; however, be prepared for the worst because I have a Lenovo laptop, that I purchased in late 2010 (I think), and Lenovo has no intention of supporting an installation of Windows 8 and there will be no new BIOS issued accordingly. So, first confirm that HP is supporting Windows 8 upgrade to 8.1, and then ask the for the complete step by step upgrade path. Good luck.

I will try that and see what happens. Thanks guys for all your suggestions.

 

[pbm5362]

One more thing, will I be able to get a step by step upgrade path if my PC is no longer in warranty?

 

[j4egerschnitzel]

I found a solution how to disable the secure boot watermark without enabling secure boot.
It's a bit tricky but it does work fine
Windows 8 Secure-Boot-Wasserzeichen entfernen | Antary

 

[TonyB]

UM i'm not going to mess with system files there will i hope be a fix from MS since when i called them they direct connected to my PC and snapped shot my desktop to record the error, the guy told me allot been calling on it i think MS may be getting a fix but i'm not sure.

 

[Stuartie]

I updated from windows 8 to windows 8.1 on my computer and I don't have a watermark? Have you tried changing your background? I think it was on my default background at the start.

If that doesn't work you probably need to activate your windows to do so follow these steps.

1) Right click on your start button (windows 8/8.1) and select "Command Prompt"



2) Type in the following: "slui 3" WITHOUT QUOTES!



3) A display bar should open asking your to activate windows, simply insert the key that you were given and press activate.



Give it a try, should work for you, this method is untested as I have not used it myself since I don't have the watermark for 8.1

 

[TonyB]

according to Control Panel\System and Security\System my windows is activated so this is not the case here, on a side note at least it's in the bottom corner but makes very hard to read y clock and stuff there. Why MS puts this stuff in there OP is beyond me trying to push something on someone is sick. OH i heard from PNY the maker of my card and guess what most if not All cards on the market are not UEFI compatible most if not all have a standard BIOS on them, so like he said MS can't expect all card makers to make one that is UEFI boot compatible just for there operating system.

 

[pbm5362]

Yeah I tried to reenter my product key but it did not work. Thanks for the suggestion. I will be calling a Microsoft support rep tomorrow. I hope they're working on a fix for this.

 

[robgraves]

I found a solution how to disable the secure boot watermark without enabling secure boot.
It's a bit tricky but it does work fine
Windows 8 Secure-Boot-Wasserzeichen entfernen | Antary

Bingo, this is what I was looking for.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I don't know about you guys but my watermark disappeared immediately after activating windows and re-booting.

I had to enter a NEW product key as the automatic activation failed -- slui 3 cmd or simply enter product key at the Windows activation screen

Updating from Enterprise RTM to the 17/ Oct release - worked fine -- all my settings and programs were fine as well - took around 15 mins for the whole process.

I see you tried entering a product key -- did you REBOOT afterwards - that's when the watermark disappears.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[pbm5362]

Hey I know it's been a couple weeks since anyone has replied to this thread. Microsoft has worked out a fix for this. Go to Update removes the "Windows 8.1 SecureBoot isn't configured correctly" watermark in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 , there will be a download option for x86 and x64 versions of windows 8.1. click download now for your respectable version. Computer will reboot. After reboot watermark goes away.

 

[robgraves]

Hey I know it's been a couple weeks since anyone has replied to this thread. Microsoft has worked out a fix for this. Go to Update removes the "Windows 8.1 SecureBoot isn't configured correctly" watermark in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 , there will be a download option for x86 and x64 versions of windows 8.1. click download now for your respectable version. Computer will reboot. After reboot watermark goes away.

Excellent...that EXACTLY solves the issue. I want Secure Boot OFF and Windows NOT to plaster my desktop with garbage telling me about it.

 

[pbm5362]

Yeah it also helped me out too. Also give give thanks to jimbo45. I didn't know that he also posted this solution before I did.