Bought my Laptop installed with windows 8.1 but it can not be activated do not have the product key
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
2016-08-25T13:08:16+00:00 -
Anonymous
2016-08-13T02:42:35+00:00 I agree.
Although it sounds like it is defective (possibly) in terms of hardware and outside of warranty?
In any case, who is the manufacturer and what is the model of the system?
Also, you may want to do a Google search for "get windows 8 product key from BIOS" and read up on some options in the mean time.
Will this manufacturer just send you restoration/recovery media on DVD or USB stick (you may have to pay a fee for that, usually for media and shipping if at all)?
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Anonymous
2016-08-13T02:08:18+00:00 It was preinstalled and embedded in the system BIOS. Unable to repair, must do a restore and am being prompted for the product code. Contacted manufacturer, they will not provide a product key. They advised only two options:
"You can send the unit in for repairs (and pay for it) or you can purchase a recovery media and recover you operating system."
I don't think having to pay for something twice is logical...
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Anonymous
2016-08-13T01:23:40+00:00 Did you purchase the operating system (Windows) separately and install it yourself (no operating system came with the system) or did you purchase the system with the operating system (Windows) pre-installed by the system manufacturer?
If so, and it was/is Windows 8/8.1 or 10, your product key is likely embedded in your system BIOS by the manufacturer or it is on a sticker on the system itself (placed there by the system manufacturer.)
In other words: you seem to be getting the correct and logical advice.
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Anonymous
2016-08-13T01:01:43+00:00 I called and was told it could not be provided to contact the manufacturer of my pc.
Not happy!