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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
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.
That product key you "found all over the web" is just the generic install key for the Windows 8.1 download from Microsoft. You needed to grab the OEM Windows 8 key from your HP computer internals ahead of the upgrade. You should still be able to recover it from the BIOS chip.
I believe the accepted solution is to just call Microsoft.
Read my comments before yours, and in fact you need to go through the whole of the list. Basically yet again I reiterate you have to upgrade through the original supplier. Exactly the reasons I do not get a machine of the shelf.
My produc key
Let me tell you I have gone through the same EXACT experience. I mean literally exactly. This is awful. You aren't alone in this
Windows 8 active code send please
If you meant, "Please send me a product key for Windows 8 so I might activate my installation" : no.
If Windows 8/8.1 was previously installed and working for you, you have one (you purchased it and should have kept track of it better or it was pre-installed and is embedded in your BIOS and will activate your copy later.
If Windows 8/8.1 was not previously installed: buy it.
