Desktop won't activate after re-image, error 0xC004F034

Last night I restored my desktop from a backup image I made in Macrium Reflect Free about a week ago. After the restore operation I couldn't change any of my personalization options because it said windows wan't activated. I went to the activation settings and it said:

"We can't activate Windows on this device as the product key you entered doesn't match the hardware profile. If you recently repaired Windows or made significant hardware changes to this device, select Troubleshoot to try and fix the problem or go to the Store to buy genuine Windows. Error code: 0xC004F034".

I ran the troubleshooter and selected "I changed hardware on this device recently." and the following menu only listed my laptop, not my desktop.

I then ran ProduKey on my laptop and sure enough, it says Windows 10 Pro was using my desktop's product key instead of the OEM key from the BIOS. Apparently it did this after I did a clean reinstall of Windows 10 on both computers about a month ago and logged in using my MS account. I tried changing the product key on my laptop back to it's OEM key, but even after doing that it still won't let me re-activate my desktop using it's old product key. I'm at a loss here....

The key for my homebuilt desktop was given to me by calling MS support after changing my motherboard around a year and a half ago. The laptop is an OEM HP that came with Windows 8.1 Pro and I upgraded it to Windows 10 Pro. Both are running the latest version of the Creator's Update.

Thanks in advance for help.

That's the infamous "we can't contact the activation server" error code. Usually means a mismatch of the PC's digital licence to that stored at MS or in this case it seems they lost it (?) as it's no longer attached to your MSA (which by definition means the activation wizard fails...)

I'm not sure which type of key MS gave you for the Desktop.. if it was the generic and merely manually activated their side, they will have to do that again... please post the PID and last 5 characters of the key.

As far as the laptop is concerned - it should activate with the Win 8 Pro key online through the change product key interface (do not use Slmgr for that) and re-establish a new DL.

MattMcD488 said:

I tried the Change Product Key interface in Settings a couple times on the laptop but ProduKey still says it's installed with the same key (the one from the desktop). The laptop's PID is 00330-80000-00000-AA011.

As for the desktop, the PID is showing as 00330-8000-00000-AA775 and the last 5 digits of the product key are 3V66T.

As of right now both computers are still showing the same key which is attached to my MSA.

Yes, the 3V66T key is a generic key for Windows 10 Pro - it's not for activation, but merely an edition/version indicator.

The Win 8 key will get digital activation and use the generic key as a placeholder - it won't show as the installed key. All our DL's have the key you have as the installed key.

As your desktop has no upgrade key to activate with, you will have to contact MS support to get your DL sorted as the key they provided can only be given a DL when activated by them - not sure how they do that their side.

I assume your laptop is also not activated - what error do you get when entering the Win 8 key in the "change" box on that PC?

MattMcD488 said:

The laptop is still activated. When I put the OEM key it did say it was activated. I didn't know the other key stayed as a placeholder. I'll have to give MS a call and get my desktop straightened out. Thanks for your help.

OK... no prob. ..

Please let us know what happens with the MS support call...

If they give you a new key make sure to take it down for future use....assuming it's not the generic.

I was under the impression they were giving away specific keys but it seems they are just activating remotely with the generic key?

MattMcD488 said:

UPDATE: I contacted MS support. They told me that I needed to buy a new product key since I don't have my old key from Windows 7 handy anymore.

Bummer!... they should have just put you back to the original digital licence... if you want we can resurrect your Win 7 OEM activation and upgrade from there.. I will need the OEM info to create the activation files..an ADT report will have that info if completed by the OEM ...