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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
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I retrieved the Windows Product Key that is stored on my PC and it is the same Product Key that I found available all over the web. If this is the Product Key that was provided by Hewlett Packard on my New PC, then the question is "Why has the MS Activation Server blocked it"????
YOU WOULD THINK THAT SOMEONE AT MICROSOFT COULD GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION THAN A SIMPLE "ACTIVATION SERVER HAS BLOCKED YOUR PRODUCT KEY"
Hi. I may have a solution for you. I had a similar problem. This will only work if you have a digital windows key. (if the key is stored on your motherboard) It sounds like at some point your key reverted to the generic key. Luckily there is a simple way of reading the digital key off of your motherboard. Once you have it, just enter it in the activation window.
All you need is this simple program called Windows 8 Product Key Viewer. (just one EXE file)
I found it here:
http://www.ghacks.net/2013/04/10/how-to-reveal-the-windows-8-product-key/
(the Drop Box link)
I had to check the 'MSDM Key' check box to get the key from my motherboard, otherwise it just showed me the generic one that windows grabbed.
Good luck.
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.
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.
