Hi, I've never run into this one before, I replaced a hd in a pavillion laptop, win 7 home premium x64, tried 3 diff dvds and all failed the activation with code 0xc004e003. Talked to msft she said it was oem locked version, that I had to get a disk from them. Anyways the sticker is gone on this thing, I used jellybean to get the key, is that the prob? Whats the work-around?
Windows 7 activation issue
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dgiles79
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The key you pulled is the HP volume key, you wouldn't be able to use that to activate. You are going to need the restore discs since the sticker is no longer available.
I was afraid of that, anyway to use the recovery partition from the old drive if it still works?
dgiles79
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Yes, sometimes it works if you clone the recovery partition to the new drive, then set it as active.
I may give that a try, does HP charge to send out disks? I usually get dell to send them for free.
dgiles79
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If you order online there is a charge, you can always try calling and you may be able to get it for free.
PC Ops
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The key you found is a system locked preinstallation key. (OEM SLP). It won't work without a cert(ificate) file.
If there is a working recovery partition then that's the answer.
You can make your own oem dvd but I don't think TN is the place elaborate on this. I'm sure you'll understand
If there is a working recovery partition then that's the answer.
You can make your own oem dvd but I don't think TN is the place elaborate on this. I'm sure you'll understand
Hampden Comp
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Did you pull the battery to look for the COA? I have been finding some hidden there. Keeps them in good shape .
Ah-Ha! this worked like a dream! I know I will use this method again when windows coa sticker is gone but I still have access to a drive. Just put the orig damaged hard drive in a usb adapter and did this! (I copied the files from the orig to the desktop and used the attached script to take ownership (save it as a reg file to merge)
1.Copy and save or backup the following activation-related files to external storage medium such as USB flash drive or portable hard disk drive:
%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwarePlatform\Tokens.dat
and,
%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms
Note: For 64-bit (x64) OS, %SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms have to be backed up too.
2.Retrieve and record the product key used to install and activate the current Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. (use keyfinder or jellybean)
3.Reinstall Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. When installation wizard prompts for a product key for activation, leave it blank (do not enter anything).
4.In the newly installed Windows operating system, stop the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):
net stop sppsvc
5.Navigate to the following folder:
%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\
Note: In 64-bit (x64) operating system, also perform the action in %SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\ folder.
6.Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file.
7.Delete the original default pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file, and replace with the backup copy.
8.Navigate to the following folder:
%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwarePlatform\
9.Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to tokens.dat file.
10.Delete the original default tokens.dat file, and replace with the backup copy.
11.Restart the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):
net start sppsvc
12.Register the product key for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):
slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
Replace xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx with the actual product key.
13.Windows will activated instantly, off-line. To check activation status, uses of of the following commands:
slmgr.vbs -dlv
slmgr.vbs -dli
slmgr.vbs -ato
Note that the ability to backup and restore old activation status in order to pre-activate or ready-activate a machine after re-installation must be on the same hardware without any hardware change, else user will need to activate online again. Besides, the product key used must be the same serial code too. The hack also does not apply to OEM branded computer which has Windows pre-activated and KMS host activated Windows system.
Users who want an automated tools to preserve the activated status by backing up and restore the activation information can also try Win7/Srv 08 R2 Activation Info Backup Tools posted on My Digital Life Forums.
1.Copy and save or backup the following activation-related files to external storage medium such as USB flash drive or portable hard disk drive:
%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwarePlatform\Tokens.dat
and,
%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms
Note: For 64-bit (x64) OS, %SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms have to be backed up too.
2.Retrieve and record the product key used to install and activate the current Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. (use keyfinder or jellybean)
3.Reinstall Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. When installation wizard prompts for a product key for activation, leave it blank (do not enter anything).
4.In the newly installed Windows operating system, stop the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):
net stop sppsvc
5.Navigate to the following folder:
%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\
Note: In 64-bit (x64) operating system, also perform the action in %SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\ folder.
6.Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file.
7.Delete the original default pkeyconfig.xrm-ms file, and replace with the backup copy.
8.Navigate to the following folder:
%SystemDrive%\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetWorkService\
AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\SoftwarePlatform\
9.Take ownership and give user full control permissions (alternatively add grant full control right click menu item) to tokens.dat file.
10.Delete the original default tokens.dat file, and replace with the backup copy.
11.Restart the Software Protection Service in Services.msc or with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):
net start sppsvc
12.Register the product key for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 with the following command (run in elevated command prompt):
slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
Replace xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx with the actual product key.
13.Windows will activated instantly, off-line. To check activation status, uses of of the following commands:
slmgr.vbs -dlv
slmgr.vbs -dli
slmgr.vbs -ato
Note that the ability to backup and restore old activation status in order to pre-activate or ready-activate a machine after re-installation must be on the same hardware without any hardware change, else user will need to activate online again. Besides, the product key used must be the same serial code too. The hack also does not apply to OEM branded computer which has Windows pre-activated and KMS host activated Windows system.
Users who want an automated tools to preserve the activated status by backing up and restore the activation information can also try Win7/Srv 08 R2 Activation Info Backup Tools posted on My Digital Life Forums.
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