hp stream 11 windows 8 deactivated , how to reactivate it ?

[Windows Central Question]

My hp stream 11 is 2/3 yrs.old. It has windows 8 or maybe 8.1 ( I don't remember which. It suddenly deactivated and to this date I have not found a way to reactivate it.
does anyone here have any clues ?
HP has been no help whatsoever.
thanks for any help anyone can give me. Or should I just scrap it ?
Carl S.