Windows is not activated following "reset this pc"

the5krunner said:

I guess my next step is another restore :-(. I assume you mean a fresh install because the original issue was caused after I clicked "Reset this PC" option in system settings?

Yup, Trusted Installer permissions can only be reset when Windows is not running (i.e. from a USB/WinPE type boot - a restore point prior to the issue will work.

BTW... it's not just sppsvc that gets corrupted, but it's dependencies as well (like RPC)

alphanumeric said:

Weird things are happening with the AU. My Education installs, that were activated with my MSDN keys, no Digital License. Now show as activated with a Digital License, after upgrading to the AU. They all now show the same generic key, one I haven't seen before. IMHO, that should not have happened? I can now install Education with a skip key and it will activate with a Digital License. I could not do this prior to upgrading to the AU. They would not activate until I entered my MSDN key.

Agree, it is weird that digital licences are handed out even for Win 10 keys...

Really frustrated. Finally found time to do a complete restore to the factory build of my laptop (this is Windows 10 Home pre-anniversary version). Everything was perfect (windows was shown as activated) and then after upgrading to the Anniversary edition and leaving my computer idle for a while got the same issues as shown in the post. The only difference is that my background watermark simply says "Windows 10 Home" instead of the please activate windows. Once again sppsvc.exe won't start and throws the Error 5 (Access Denied).

What are my next steps? I have no idea.

the5krunner said:

I have just done another factory reset followed by Chrome install.

I have the following on the activation screen:


This appears good. I will proceed with caution and try to verify exactly what updates breaks the activation and corrupts the permissions of the security service. Any further tips?

The "No product Key found" is not normal, especially if it has an OEM embedded key? And the "Subscription" part is definitely not normal? I don't remember ever seeing that on that screen?

Are you doing a factory recovery or Windows Reset? If a factory recovery, build does the factory recovery install? My Education installs switched from activated with a Product key, to Activated with a Digital License when I upgraded to the AU. Build 14393.

Reset this PC will keep what ever build is currently installed. Doing and actual factory recovery will put it back to the OOBE, Out Of the Box Experience. And reinstall the original OS it shipped from the factory with. It will also remove any programs you installed and erase all your personal files. No the Watermark is not normal, that usually indicated Windows is not activated and or in a trial mode. The Windows 10 Preview builds had them but once the official consumer release came out they went away.