Dell Recovery and Restore (Windows 10) Protection Error

Did the system ship with 10, I am assuming it did but just wanted to verify. And when you went to run the Restore did you disable Secure Boot in the BIOS? Lastly, if you did, and it still isn't working it might be worth trying to re-download it. Let me know if this worked

Also, if you're just looking to reinstall 10 (starting over and have everything backed up) another option as long as the system was activated is to just download the Win10 ISO from Microsoft directly and skip entering the key (as long as the system was activated previously it will reactivate). Please note this last option is a bit more involved since you will need to install drivers/software etc directly from Dell, and I don't recommend it if you're looking to keep the original factory setup.  

Best regards,

Brad

I am also having this problem.  I also made sure to use the service tag number on the underside of the laptop.  Why is this so difficult to do?  I tried using the DVD that was shipped with the laptop and I tried creating this Dell Recovery USB stick.  Others are having similar issues and no one posts a solution that actually works.

Brad, I tried all of these steps and it is still not working.  I am getting this error:

Protection Error: The key that you are using is either not entitled for this PC or has been modified. Please recreate the key and use it for the designated PC.

How is it that I use the service tag number and it still says that the PC is not entitled to that key??

I followed the instructions found here:

www.dell.com/.../how-to-create-and-use-the-dell-recovery--restore-usb-drive

1) A Dell computer that was shipped with Windows does not need to be activated, and thus doesn't care about the validity of the key it carries.
2) In the odd case where #1 isn't true, Dell provides actual license keys unique to each machine
3) Therefore, any computer trying to activate with Dell factory-integrated SLP  is, in all likelihood, not a Dell computer, and thus not authorized to use the Dell computer's license.

The type of key / method they use is called SLP, or System Locked Pre-Installation

I just attempted to go through the knowledge base instructions for "How to create and use the Dell Recovery & Restore USB drive" to factory reset my daughter's Inspiron 15 5567.   I ended up in the same situation others are describing here with an error describing:

"Protection Error..."

"The Key that you are using is either not entitled for this PC or has been modified.  Please recreate the key and use it for the designated PC.

Since I created the key with the service tag on the bottom of my PC downloaded from the website and used the dell "direct key creator", I assume there must be some kind of validation problem with the generated key for my windows install.  

Has anyone managed to reinstall windows using this process successfully?  I'd hope someone from Dell can shed some light on the key installation process and how to fix it for windows 10.

I am having the same issue. I did a factory reset of Windows 10 and am stuck in a reboot loop. I installed the tool using my computer's service tag number and got a the key that you are using is either not entitled for this pc or has been modified message. Double checked the service tag number, re-downloaded the repair tool, tried it again and got the same message.

I also tried downloading Win10 ISO from Microsoft to repair or reinstall windows. The repair gave me a this computer cannot be repaired error. When I tried to re-install Windows 10 it wouldn't let me it said Windows cannot be installed on any of the partitions.

I am also having this problem.  I also made sure to use the service tag number on the underside of the laptop.  Why is this so difficult to do?  I tried using the DVD that was shipped with the laptop 

and I tried creating this Dell Recovery USB stick.

Same error here with Windows 8.

1. I created with my service tag from the Inspirion 5537 the keyincloud.zip (it takes several times to get a complete and correct ZIP-file) and got the 1.6.3 directory in there.

2. I run the setup on a windows pc.

3. I run the Direct Key creator and created the USB stick.

4. Then I deactivated the secure boot option at the Inspirion.

5. I started the Inspirion from the USB stick and the Recovery & Restore came up.

6. Protection Error...

No clues? I am at my wit's end.

Carsten

You should be able to use either the Dell provided recovery media or the Media Creation Tool media for Windows 10 to reinstall Windows 10 particularly on your system or device.  Anything can work in order to reinstall Windows 10.

When you did the free upgrade to Windows 10, there was a digital entitlement with that upgrade for your device.  more info here (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation)

@Sarah

Thank you for sharing your information with us

I too am having the same problem.  I downloaded the key five times already, but I am still running into the same issue,. Any advice would most appreciated 

So I had this problem and my solution was simple. 
I used to QR to get the Service Tag. This gives you the value in lower case and validates okay so you can download the Dell Recovery & Restore installation but the Dell Recovery and Restore USB drive fails with the Protection error. 
I then used the Service Tag as it is on the back of the laptop, which is in upper case to create a new Dell Recovery & Restore installation . I built the Dell Recovery and Restore USB drive, ran it and it worked fine. 

Changing to upper case fixed the problem for me, too. Thanks for the insight.