Windows 10 activation problem after factory reset. Error 0xC004C003

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  1. Posts : 22
    Windows 10
       #1

    Windows 10 activation problem after factory reset. Error 0xC004C003


    Hi guys.
    I ran into a problem here. I have a slow internet connection. Somehow it upgraded from the pre-installed 8.1 to windows 10 via the media creation tool. I used the upgrade this machine now option.
    Due to some problem I had to get the track pad and the keyboard of the notebook replaced. After that I did a factory reset using the HP Recovery Manager. After coming back to 8.1 i was not able to upgrade via the media creation tool again it just vanished after downloading. The Microsoft Support guy told me it must be due to a bad connection. So I got the .iso from a friend and installed it, I formatted the partition after installing. The upgrade option required a product key I was able to skip that step only in the clean install option. Then I got the key using show key plus and did a factory reset again and used the upgrade option. But it wouldn't activate. Then I did a factory reset again back to 8.1 and used the disk to do a clean install. I skipped the key part but the key its showing is the same one I get from show key plus. Still its not activating.
    Where did I go wrong?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2

    Welcome to TenForums, Paawan!

    1) Did you confirm that, after the factory reset to Win 8.1, that it was activated before doing anything else?
    2) I don't understand you having "formatted the partition" AFTER installing - after installing what?
    3) In the sequence you describe, you need to have a completed and confirmed activated Win10 upgrade FIRST, before doing a clean install that will activate.
    4) Any product key you're getting out of Windows 10 would be a generic product key and not of any use.

    That's all I have until you feed back a little more info.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 22
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    1) No,I did not confirm. But it came pre-installed with the laptop so would there be a need to activate it manually or it would come as activated only after the reset.
    2) I am sorry I couldn't make that clear enough. I mean I formatted the primary partition while installing windows not after.
    3) I did not confirm it but what I remember is that I used it for some days and the Activate Windows watermark never appeared. So can I assume that it was activated?
    And what should my next steps be? I am currently on the activated Windows 10.
    Thanks I really appreciate your help. :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    Paawan said:
    I am currently on the activated Windows 10.
    Thanks I really appreciate your help. :)
    If you are on the activated Windows 10, then what is the issue?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 22
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    NavyLCDR said:
    If you are on the activated Windows 10, then what is the issue?
    This is a different computer I am using to post here. It has the activated Windows 10. The issue described above is for another machine.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    It's really not clear to me that, in the various installs, you had a solid chain of properly activated Win 8.1, followed by a proper upgrade to Win10 which then activated. Are you sure the DVD you're using has the correct version and bitness for the clean install on a machine that has had a poper upgrade sequence that would have recorded your machine's hardware hash on the MS activation servers?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 22
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Word Man said:
    It's really not clear to me that, in the various installs, you had a solid chain of properly activated Win 8.1, followed by a proper upgrade to Win10 which then activated. Are you sure the DVD you're using has the correct version and bitness for the clean install on a machine that has had a proper upgrade sequence that would have recorded your machine's hardware hash on the MS activation servers?
    Yes in all the installs the Win 8.1 SHOULD have been activated, I did not check it but since I used the factory reset thing to get back to it, it should have been activated. Again I did not confirm the windows 10 was activated but since I used it for some days and never saw the watermark I am assuming it must have been activated.
    Yes it is the home version and 64 bit, those are correct. I am not able to comprehend the second part of your sentence.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,579
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    Paawan said:
    <SNIP> I am not able to comprehend the second part of your sentence.
    You won't get a clean install activated (via the free upgrade) unless you have done a successfully activated free upgrade first - in that activation should be the first time that MS activation servers record a unique "thumbprint" (specific hardware ID hash for the various components) for your machine and provide activation for that machine. From then on out, the MS activation server can identify your machine as having already been activated when you do the clean install.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       #9

    There were some cases during the timeframe that Microsoft was having problems with their activation servers when they seemed to lose the stored activation information and people doing subsequent clean installs could not get an activation until they went back and did another upgrade. Paawan, about all you can do at this point is go back to Windows 8.1, make sure it is activated, and do another upgrade. This time make sure to just do an upgrade - leave applications and user accounts/data in place. Check to make sure the Windows 10 resulting from the upgrade is activated. Then you are supposed to be able to do a clean install, skip entering the product code, and have it activated. I've done three or four clean installs and it has always worked for me, so far, after a fully activated upgrade from various versions of Windows 7 and 8/8.1.

    Or purchase a Windows 10 Product Key, or beg Microsoft for an activation code/Product Key.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2
    win 10 enterprise
       #10

    NavyLCDR said:
    There were some cases during the timeframe that Microsoft was having problems with their activation servers when they seemed to lose the stored activation information and people doing subsequent clean installs could not get an activation until they went back and did another upgrade. Paawan, about all you can do at this point is go back to Windows 8.1, make sure it is activated, and do another upgrade. This time make sure to just do an upgrade - leave applications and user accounts/data in place. Check to make sure the Windows 10 resulting from the upgrade is activated. Then you are supposed to be able to do a clean install, skip entering the product code, and have it activated. I've done three or four clean installs and it has always worked for me, so far, after a fully activated upgrade from various versions of Windows 7 and 8/8.1.

    Or purchase a Windows 10 Product Key, or beg Microsoft for an activation code/Product Key.
    May be you need more information regarding win8.1 key or win10 key, could you contact me ? or add my skype dedy.dela
      My Computer


 

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