So... I've been wondering this for a long time now.  About two years ago I purchased a computer that had all these custom add-ons that I really didn't feel like doing myself.  Call it lazy or such I don't care, but here was the weird thing.  When I got the computer, it turned on nicely, everything worked, and about three hours into using it a pop up appeared asking for a windows key.  Now they never sent me a windows product key, the key was already used to activate windows.  So now my question is why is windows still working perfectly fine when there is no active product key?  Why does "My Settings" keep popping up every 3 hours asking for a key when the system is working perfectly?  It's been going on for years now and I am honestly sick of it.  I'd rather not purchase a key for a computer that is already working fine, it's a waste of money that could be spent elsewhere (lord knows we all need our money right now).  It takes 10 seconds to get rid of but it always closes everything I'm doing to interrupt me with a useless message.  

I'm using Windows 8.1 by the way.  Thanks for any help that comes my way!

From an elevated command prompt, run this:

Licensingdiag.exe -report %userprofile%\desktop\report.txt -log %userprofile%\desktop\repfiles.cab

Paste the contents of the report.txt it creates on the desktop into your reply here. This will help us to understand what state your OS is in currently.

Additionally, it might be helpful to know where you purchased this computer from.

Hi,

Check your system property and make sure your Windows activation statues is Windows is activated.

Windows might work properly even it has not been activated

limitations for Unactivated Windows 8.1

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-windows_install/are-there-any-limitations-for-unactivated-windows/b9a83b29-5788-4bd0-ab61-3d56d09a9ea1

And as mentioned by Tripredacus, it might be helpful to know where you purchased this computer from and what License of Windows you are using (OEM, retail).

Regards,

D. Wu