Windows 7 product key reactivation

Hello all!

I'm having an issue with a Windows 7 Home Premium product key I have lying around that I've been trying to get activated as a 10 key. I believe the one I'm using was an older HP OEM key. I've gone through in a virtual machine with an install of 7 with that key and went through the phone automated system to get it working. It works just fine. Then I went through the upgrade over to 10 and it still retains activation.

Odd thing is, it cannot work again if you uninstall the key via slmgr. Try plugging it in, the error code returns as 0xC004C008. I don't have any options in 10 to go through the phone system again, slui.exe 4 doesn't work.

I'm wondering if this is just an issue that leaving the VM running with the key overnight or after some time because I've read that the activation servers still are taking time processing keys still...

Coke Robot said:

Hello all!

I'm having an issue with a Windows 7 Home Premium product key I have lying around that I've been trying to get activated as a 10 key. I believe the one I'm using was an older HP OEM key. I've gone through in a virtual machine with an install of 7 with that key and went through the phone automated system to get it working. It works just fine. Then I went through the upgrade over to 10 and it still retains activation.

Odd thing is, it cannot work again if you uninstall the key via slmgr. Try plugging it in, the error code returns as 0xC004C008. I don't have any options in 10 to go through the phone system again, slui.exe 4 doesn't work.

I'm wondering if this is just an issue that leaving the VM running with the key overnight or after some time because I've read that the activation servers still are taking time processing keys still...

Run the key through showkey available on this forum and it will tell you what type of Product Key it is.
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

If it is an OEM product key that was used in the past, then reusing it on a different computer to attempt to activate Windows 10 violates the EULA and we can't help you do that.

Coke Robot said:

Odd thing is, it cannot work again if you uninstall the key via slmgr. Try plugging it in, the error code returns as 0xC004C008. I don't have any options in 10 to go through the phone system again, slui.exe 4 doesn't work.

I don't quite get what you're talking about. Uninstall what key? After you've upgraded to 10? You're trying to uninstall the 7 key from the upgraded 10?

NavyLCDR said:

Run the key through showkey available on this forum and it will tell you what type of Product Key it is.
Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

If it is an OEM product key that was used in the past, then reusing it on a different computer to attempt to activate Windows 10 violates the EULA and we can't help you do that.

I like that little utility, that is nice! The key isn't reported as OEM, but Retail. I remember I think I pulled this key from a junked netbook years ago where the owner decided against spending the money to replace the display and charger. So I salvaged all usable parts, retrieved and gave back their user data and pulled the product key just in case if it could be reused. The key must have been used to upgrade from 7 Basic to Home Premium.

But that utility just solved my question I believe. There's the originally used key and then the ACTUAL key 10 uses. I was still using they original 7 key and that wasn't working.