“Windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed.”.Common activation errors include but are not limited to: On this screen Windows should give you an idea of why the system is not activated. At the Settings screen, choose Updates & Security.Open your Start Menu and click the gear icon to open the Window Settings.To open these settings, go through the following steps: To start, it is recommended to check the Activation settings in Windows itself to see what the issue is. If you suddenly see this and find yourself unable to change your system’s background, don’t panic! This may simply be an error that is fairly easy to resolve. Sometimes when starting up your PC, whether it be a new system or a PC you’ve had for some time you may encounter the Activate Windows watermark on your screen.