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
    2016-06-02T08:09:37+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.

    hi,

    I follow the above step until I get the installation id. I tried several times the given telephone number, but it keeps on giving me a funny tone as if the number is either not working or does not exists.

    how can you help me to go through to the last step/

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-02T13:03:17+00:00

    What country are you selecting to get the number to dial?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-06-30T02:10:26+00:00

    please help me with my product  key.......packard bell

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-06-30T02:20:52+00:00

    Not enough information, but the product key is likely on a sticker on your system some place.  Find it, read it, copy it and put the copy in a safe place.  Take a picture of it and store that someplace else.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-06-30T11:03:42+00:00

    Would this be the case with Windows 8 onwards?

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