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
    2015-08-08T19:45:32+00:00

    If the computer was original sold  with Windows 8 (the BIOS date may be an indicator) then the key will be embedded into the BIOS. Installing from a Windows 8.1 DVD and choosing the option to enter a key later may allow Windows to pick up the license state from the BIOS so some time after the install it shows up as licensed. However which particular version would require some trial and error

    If supplied with Windows 7 it should have an OEM license sticker underneath or it could be in the battery bay. It may be possible to get more information from the manufacturer.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-08-09T03:05:31+00:00

    My computer that I bought was built by the person I bought it off, he has suggested I download windows 10 but I would need help on how to do this he has told me that he downloaded a free version of it so the key will not work

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-08-09T03:08:19+00:00

    my version is windows 8.1 pro x64 build 9600 installed 21/10/2014

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T11:35:49+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.

    did not work

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-09-04T12:04:37+00:00

    i have sorted my problem out and gone further and downloaded windows 10

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