It works. Thank you very much for your help.
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
2014-11-29T00:16:05+00:00 -
Anonymous
2014-12-08T20:49:12+00:00 i need product key of windows 8.1
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Anonymous
2015-01-05T20:47:37+00:00 This should help, at my expense.
I was looking for the OEM Activation Code with my purchased refurbished Dell desktop.
- BELARC Security Advisor lists it.
- TuneUp lists it.
- Dell STICKER on the TOP of the case also displays it.
Full retail version Windows Activation Code could be on a sticker on the machine, you never know.
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Anonymous
2015-01-05T22:36:58+00:00 If a refurbished PC which was not originally supplied with Windows 8 then it would have to have a sticker. Only recently added to the refurbisher program Windows 8 would depend on the key being integrated into the BIOS, something not done by manufacturers for Windows 7.
As the program is for any PC with a previous Windows License the Refurbisher kit would have to include a key by default. This program has the same terms as the OEM licenses so have to have the key applied. If the computer came with Windows 7 in the 1st place it should have BOTH keys on the case.
It is an OEM requirement to apply stickers to the PC, retail packages normally have the key stuck inside the package and should stay with it. Unlike OEM retail licences can be transferred to another PC so it would not be recommended to apply the key to the PC even if it was removable from the pack.
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Anonymous
2015-02-02T23:50:21+00:00 If you do not have a label on the bottom of youor computer with the product key on it, you can download and run "BELARC" and I recommend printing it...it will have your product key on it if the one on the bottom of the computer wears off (I have kids).