The answer depends on how you got Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 in the first place. Can you tell us that?
Windows 8.1 Product Key and Activation
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Anonymous
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
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
127 answers
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Anonymous
2015-09-08T17:44:28+00:00 -
Anonymous
2015-09-09T10:06:43+00:00 I UPGRADE FROM WINDOWS 8.0 TO WINDOWS 8.1 PRO FROM THE INTERNET
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Anonymous
2015-09-09T10:23:14+00:00 I UPGRADE FROM THE INTERNET
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Anonymous
2015-09-09T12:17:34+00:00 Warren H Smith60,
First, the question you answered with that reply was not asked of you. Not only that, it would not be the answer looked for. So, either you are a troll or you should not be using a computer unsupervised.
Secondly, I will repeat the last response in this conversation that was directed at YOU, Warren H Smith60, and see if you have the ability to answer something directly asked of you...
It is very simple... Questions were asked if you in these forums and you have ignored them completely and just continued to rant in all uppercase lettering instead of answering the questions.
This is a peer-to-peer volunteer-based public worldwide web forum. Not a psychic hotline, not some spy organization focused on you for the past decade... If you want assistance, you have to give up some information beyond a rant about how you have 'tried everything' and what the end result you are getting is.
- What is the make and model of your computer?
- Did the computer come with Windows 8 or 8.1 pre-installed? (Also, which was it - Windows 8 or Windows 8.1?)
- If the computer did not come pre-installed with Windows 8 or 8.1, from where did you purchase the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product and product key? (Again, still important, which one, Windows 8 or 8.1?). How was the software and the product key delivered? (Example: DVD and a sticker, download of a file and an email with the product key, etc.)
- What happened that caused you to feel the need to clean install your system and/or have to try and re-activate your installation of Windows 8/8.1? What changed between it working fine for up to the last three years to it not working so well? What occurred in-as-far-as you can tell?
- Just for clarity: from where are you reading your product key specifically?
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Anonymous
2015-09-24T19:39:11+00:00 I have a similar issue as above.My laptop came with a language which i do not understand,so i demanded that it be formatted and be reprogrammed with English.It is when i have upgraded to windows 8.1 that i know that it must be activated with a key.I have been trying for the past two weeks to find that key without success.Please help.