Windows 8.1 Product Key and Activation

Anonymous
2013-11-22T04:35:23+00:00

About a week ago, I downloaded Windows 8.1 from MS Store. This was an upgrade for Windows 8 which came installed on my new HP PC.

The download was successful and Win 8.1 installed. However, Win 8.1 did not get activated and I keep getting a reminder screen to Activate Win 8.1.

This Activate Screen asks me to enter a Product Key. It gives me an error code of 0xc004c003 which states that the activation server has blocked my product key. It also gives the last five(5) characters of the blocked product key.

Well, I never entered a product key during the upgrade so I'm not sure where the product key came from.

I did a web search for the last five characters of the product key and it appears to be all over the web.

I used an application that showed the last fifteen(15) characters of the product key in my PC for Win 8.1 and they match the product key that I found all over the web.

It's no wonder that MS has blocked this key.

My question is. How do I activate Windows 8.1 since I have no product key.  MS Store did not provide a key with the download.

Dennis J. Ferrier

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Licensing and activation

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-11-22T19:36:08+00:00

    Hi Dennis,

    When you upgrade to Windows 8.1 from Windows store, then you don’t need any product key for Windows 8.1. This issue might occur if Windows activation file gets corrupted. I would suggest you to activate over phone.

    1. Press Windows key + X then click Run, then type: slui.exe 42. Next press the 'ENTER' key
    2. Select your 'Country' from the list.
    3. Choose the 'Phone Activation' option.
    4. Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.

    Please reply with the status of the issue, so that we could help you better.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-11-23T00:02:56+00:00

    How do you spell FRUSTRATED!!!!

    I followed your instructions and now I have come full circle with no answer.

    The agent at the Activation Site promptly asked me for the long string of numbers on the Activation Page. This is the installation ID number. He determined that this number is INVALID and advised me that I will need a PRODUCT KEY.

    He promptly let me know that he could be of no further assistance and referred me to an 800 telephone number to contact MS Technical Support (*%*&#@).

    I have been through this route before. I spent hours on the phone with Tech Support. They remotely accessed my PC and spent hours trying to solve this problem.

    They dumped the problem on Hewlett Packard stating that HP should give me the Product Key I need.

    HP's tech support is worse than Microsoft.

    It seems simple to me. Microsoft kept encouraging me to get a FREE upgrade to Win 8.1.

    I downloaded and installed the upgrade. Now Microsoft's Activation Server won't activate this FREE upgrade because of an INVALID Product Key. A Key that I have no idea where it came from!!!

    Microsoft, please give me a Product Key that will work to activate your FREE upgrade!!

    It's time for me to change my loyalties away from Microsoft and Hewlett Packard.

    Can anyone help me????

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-11-23T00:58:50+00:00

    This PC(desktop) was purchased just about a year ago from Hewlett Packard online. It came with Windows 8 installed. This was a Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 FREE Upgrade.

    About a month ago, I did buy a Windows 8 Pro Pack as a download from MS Store. That installation failed and after working with MS Tech Support for hours, I requested and received a full refund.

    I fear that something in my system was changed with that failed upgrade  even though my PC reverted to the original Windows 8 OS.

    I have been avoiding a System Refresh or complete Restore because of the work involved but this may be my only option since both Microsoft and Hewlett Packard can't seem to help.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-01-31T04:44:16+00:00

    i upgrade my window to 8.1 but i having problem with the activation key , Pls i need help

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-11-23T00:32:37+00:00

    Was the computer supplied with Windows 8 or was that an upgrade. Check under the laptop for a COA label, Windows 7 has them 8 does not.

    If Windows 8 came preinstalled I would back up all personal files and data, use the recovery tools to reinstate the laptop back to factory state, apply all outstanding updates and then reapply the 8.1 upgrade.

    Preinstalled versions from a large system manufacturer would all have the same key so that key would be fairly well known. The key only works on that manufacturers equipment and only on the right systems to have that version of Windows.

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