Can't activate Windows 8.1 due to product key issue

[Superfly]

Hi! I bought my laptop new about 3 years ago with windows 8. I updatd to windows 8.1 some time ago. Recently (a few months ago) I had a bunch of problems with my laptop and I brought it to a tech place to get it fixed. When I got it back I've had some thing in the corner of my screen saying "activate windows, go to PC settings to activate windows", and it also says "Windows 8.1 Pro, Build 9600". I don't think I ever purchased Windows 8.1 Pro. My sister has the exact same laptop as me and she has regular windows 8.1. I ran the superfly key finder and it found an installed key and an OEM key. They are both different. I tried using each of these to activate my windows but I got the error code 0x8007007B with the text "the file name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect."

I don't know why my windows won't activate! My sister has the exact same laptop and hers runs 8.1 without a problem, and she can find her key using Belarc. Also, hers doesn't run Windows 8.1 pro, just regular 8.1. I don't know how I ended up with 8.1 pro? Anyway, what should I do?

Hi sistersister512,

Chances are that the tech incorrectly installed Pro when in fact they should have installed the core version.
If ShowKey displays "Win 8.1 RTM" only (i.e without "Pro" or "N" or "SingleLanguage" in the description), then you will need to download that version and install it. It will activate automatically with the key built-into the firmware. To confirm please post the OEM Edition description that ShowKey displays.

 

[shartley]

Another Product Key Question

I have read through this thread and found it very informative. However, I didn't quite find exactly what I was looking for in my situation.

I bought a used laptop last year that originally had Windows 7 Pro installed. It had been upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro before I purchased it. I recently had the Windows message that I had an Invalid Product Key and needed to Activate Windows again. From what I can tell, the product key was a group license and is now expired for my use.

Rather than go through all the trouble of trying to figure out how to get around this, I purchased a valid Retail version of Windows 8.1. My computer is working great otherwise, and I don't want to risk losing any of the installed drivers since I do not have any of the original disks. I tried just entering my new product key, but that obviously doesn't work.

My question is, what is the best way to get my valid retail copy up and running with my new Product Key, without having to do a complete clean install. I have backed everything up, just in case I need it, but I would definitely prefer to do this as simply as possible so I don't have to spend days setting everything back up.

 

[Superfly]

Hi shartly

We will need to determine the cause of the problem first. Please post a diagnostic report.
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-...3-please-read-activation-troubleshooting.html

 

[shartley]

WDT just sits and spins....

I was able to run ShowKeyPlus and got this info:

Windows Product Key Information

Product Name: Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center

Product ID: 00261-XXXXX-XXXXX-AA362

Installed Key: 789NJ-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-J8D3P

Original Key: D6RD9-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-FCWWJ

Original Edition: Win Next Starter Retail

OEM Key: OEM key not present in firmware

 

[Superfly]

WDT just sits and spins....

Means it can't interpret the licencing files - it's probably corrupt/missing - try the scripts at the bottom of the page, see if those work.

 

[shartley]

Can't copy and paste the script, so here is the essential info:

Line: 49
Char: 1
Error: File not Found
Code: 800A0035
Source: Microsoft VBScript runtime error

 

[Superfly]

Can't copy and paste the script, so here is the essential info:

Line: 49
Char: 1
Error: File not Found
Code: 800A0035
Source: Microsoft VBScript runtime error

I'm afraid your install has missing files and a reinstall needs to be done.
Having a Pro key, you should install the Win 8.1 Pro version over Media Centre - that will fix not only the corruption but activation as well.

 

[shartley]

Ok, so a full Clean install with my new Windows 8.1 Pro from bootup looks like the best solution? That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for your help and verifying that for me.

 

[Superfly]

Ok, so a full Clean install with my new Windows 8.1 Pro from bootup looks like the best solution? That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for your help and verifying that for me.

Sorry, I just noticed you said Win 8.1 not Pro? - Please run the key through ShowKey's "check product key" to confirm which version is required.

Win 8.1 = Core

PS: I checked and you indeed have an illegal version of Media centre installed - which uses additional software to activate it - this could account for the corruption.

 

[shartley]

Yes, I'm pretty sure it was an Enterprise version, of which I am not a part of. Worked great for almost a year and a half, so I'm good with just installing my new Retail version of Windows 8.1 Pro and hope I get all the drivers installed correctly. Thanks again.

 

[FlyingPC]

I'm having a issue:

My product id is *****-*****-*****-***** but windows say that my windows almost expired and i checked my product id and i try filling in the code to the "New Product Key" but i have many "0" in my code and windows does not allow me to fill "0"there. help please

Here is the image link ( i can't insert image on this post due to a error):
https://photos-4.dropbox.com/t/2/AA...IeUzKKqDpGe019IVFbQ?size_mode=3&size=1024x768

 

[Barman58]

Please follow the instructions here ... http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2598-screenshots-files-upload-post-eight-forums.html to upload your image to this site as more help is likely when users do not have to visit another site to view images

 

[sghouze]

Wow, thanks a million. It worked for me.

 

[MeNaCe]

It worked perfectly on my side, thanks for the info. Big help here.

 

[hakimy]

I have updated this script to show both the installed key and OEM bios key.... See if they match

thank you mate. it's done now.

 

[vivekb83]

I have updated this script to show both the installed key and OEM bios key.... See if they match

Hi Superfly

I had the same issue with my Lenovo laptop having a preinstalled version of Windows 8.1, just sometime back I started seeing the "Activate Windows" message. I tried activating but it kept on failing and asked for providing the correct key, my laptop never came with a Key.
Checked with my Lenovo dealer but even he was of no help. Struggled for almost 8-10 months, tried all the Key finders available, but all in vain.
Just came across your post today while googling around and tried the solution. To my surprise and astonishment it worked perfectly. I got the original OEM key for my Windows and was successfully able to activate the same.

I would like to thank you a ton for your efforts and solution. You have definitely been a saviour.

Thanks

 

[Superfly]

I have updated this script to show both the installed key and OEM bios key.... See if they match

Hi Superfly

I had the same issue with my Lenovo laptop having a preinstalled version of Windows 8.1, just sometime back I started seeing the "Activate Windows" message. I tried activating but it kept on failing and asked for providing the correct key, my laptop never came with a Key.
Checked with my Lenovo dealer but even he was of no help. Struggled for almost 8-10 months, tried all the Key finders available, but all in vain.
Just came across your post today while googling around and tried the solution. To my surprise and astonishment it worked perfectly. I got the original OEM key for my Windows and was successfully able to activate the same.

I would like to thank you a ton for your efforts and solution. You have definitely been a saviour.

Thanks

You are welcome, it's great that it's still useful... as old as it is - I'm assuming you are using the vbs script - it's grown up into ShowKeyPlus now

 

[tiitoedgar]

I have updated this script to show both the installed key and OEM bios key.... See if they match

It worked!! Thank you!!! The keys didn't match so I activated the OEM key.
Thank you!

 

[Superfly]

I have updated this script to show both the installed key and OEM bios key.... See if they match

It worked!! Thank you!!! The keys didn't match so I activated the OEM key.
Thank you!

You are welcome...

Thanx for making the effort to post - it's always nice to know if an app works or not... good is great, bad is good.. that just means some work needs to be done! Anyway I'm glad I could help!

 

[Pinoynaputi]

Good day,

After my Windows 10 crashed i had to reinstall the oem Windows 8 on my PB easynote. After updating to 8.1 it would also not auto activate. Keeyfinders gave the wrong key. But the scrip in this post did the work.

So you see how important it is not to remove old threats like this.

Thanks for the script.