Capital One card Activation Process?

You will have to speak to someone. Assuming you are the rightful owner of the card, they will only ask you stuff which you would reasonably be expected to know - based on what you put on the application form.

Mainly whether or not you want to take out their expensive payment protection insurance?

If they have your landline phone number registered to your account, and you call from that landline, the process is entirely automated. You type in your date of birth and other stuff. I know this because I have a Capital One card.

Otherwise, I'd imagine they just ask you all that on the phone. Not much hassle.

Reece