So i go to pc settings and click activate and it says it's checking this key and then it just comes up with
"windows cannot activate right now. try activating windows later. if this problem persists, contact microsoft customer service and support online to activate windows"
This problem is persisting and the microsoft customer service and support online doesn't help as it's just FAQ's about activation and none of them are relevant.

any ideas?

Were you asked during the first part of your install to enter the key? If not, your download was corrupt. All approved download sites also list the key to enter.

If you entered the key, the OS is already activated. If your is not, your installation is corrupt.

How did you install Win 8 RP? Give me a step by step method you used.

It sounds like your install was either,
A) The download was from an unapproved site or corrupted.
B) You did not burn the ISO file to a DVD using a slow burn and your DVD is corrupted. Or perhaps you did not burn the DVD at all and tried to install over your original OS with the small ISO file download.

Either way it sounds like you should start over, starting with a new download. You should check your Sha 1 Hash (the method has been discussed several times previously, read some other threads to see how) Burn the ISO file to a DVD and boot to the DVD to start the installation. Choose Custom install and proceed from there.

Hello, welcome to this Windows 8 forums.

a: Right Click at the bottom left of the screen and select Run.
b: Now type Slui 4 in the Run dialog box and hit enter.
c: Select the nearest location and click next.

Hope this helps.

If you were able to install Windows 8 RP (or CP), it's activated. Because the installer checks the key prior to install.

When you state that this is a persistent problem, is it because you're constantly checking the activation status, or is there a dialog box or a warning from the Action Center to take action every time that you boot? If there's no automatic warning, all is fine, as far as activation is. You probably also would have a black screen at boot time, or a few seconds thereafter.

If none of this is happening, and your computer is otherwise running fine, don't sweat this thing. It's only a beta OS anyway, not a permanent install.

Cat

1) Ensure you boot from the installable media whether USB stick or DVD. NOT from INSIDE the OS.
2) Choose the Custom method (not UPGRADE)
3) have serial number ready BEFORE starting -- this will be the first prompt you get installing this way --this takes care of activations etc.
4) Delete the existing Windows partition when the system shows up the list of disks -- AND the reserved partition if it exists too.
5) install to the freed space.

And Windows 8 RP is already activated if it installs properly.