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Go to SolutionAurora R5, Windows will not activate after Dell System Restore
I have an Aurora R5 purchased directly from Dell that I wanted to restore. Reading up it appears that the digital key is stored in the bios and I should have had no issues running the restore from a 16GB USB device.
All worked well until Windows was installed and would not activate.
At first boot I get "You don't have a valid digital license 0xC004C003". The troubleshooter only tells me I can't activate and need to buy a license.
So I install updates per some MS KB articles and the message changes to "your hardware has changed recently". and therefore can't validate. Again, the activation troubleshooter and even signing in with MS account does nothing. I am told to buy a genuine copy of Windows which I already did from Dell on this system.
If I continue to update windows updates by installing the h20 update, the message then changes that I can't activate because I upgraded before activating and therefore must now buy Windows. Again, the troubleshooter does nothing.
I tried using the tool to find the key on the system and it reported that the system is using a generic key that will need to be activated.
I also tried rearming with no success.
I have tried restoring the system 4 times, including redownloading the tools and making a new USB image. Support wants $100 to assist which is just shy of the price of purchasing Windows again and quite frankly, this feels like an issue that should be dealt with warranty or not. I'm actually being blocked from a license I have paid for. I appreciate your time and any help you may have for how to activate Windows on this Dell system that I bought direct from Dell with preinstalled win10 home. (and the recovery tools IS installing home, not pro).
1429
1
Posted July 9th, 2021 07:00
There's some fixes for your issue but the easiest option for you is probably just to wipe the drive and clean install using the latest free Microsoft install media. This will also save you the time of waiting an hour while your PC downloads 3 years of updates from the restore image version of win 10.
1. Go here: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10
2. Install to USB flash drive
3. Boot from the flash drive media restart, hit f12, and select the usb disk
4. When the win 10 setup menu pops up, click custom clean, and then do not enter a product key
5. Download dell specific apps and drivers from Dell if you want.
You're all set.
1405
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Posted July 9th, 2021 08:00
Constantly Rolling back windows can have the same effect.
Legit Aurora R5 would have no issues with clean install.
A client that I have with the same issue sent me this
C:\Windows\system32>wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
OA3xOriginalProductKeyC:\Windows\system32>wmic bios get serialnumber
SerialNumber
To Be Filled By O.E.M.This is a machine that's not Dell and has no key in bios.
1409
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Posted July 9th, 2021 08:00
R5 is Windows 10. . . there's no COA
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Posted July 9th, 2021 08:00
Thanks for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately that did not work. Now the activation error is:
"Windows reported that no product key was found on your device. Error 0xc004f213".
The troubleshooter just states, "We weren't able to activate Windows on this device... Go to store and purchase a genuine copy of Windows."
If I run the following from an elevated powershell instance (it returns = "OA3xOriginalProductKey")
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
1419
1
Posted July 9th, 2021 08:00
Rearming was removed since windows 7 and is not necessary for legitimate BIOS win10 license.
Product Keys are now encrypted so the WMIC command will not work.
You cannot use the Generic OEM WIN7 SLP 2.0 Key.
If you have a WIN7 COA you must re enter the key and it must be for the correct version of windows.
Dell support will require service tag. If out of warranty there will be a charge for help. Dell only supports the OS that shipped with your model.
What Model is an R5 ?
What was the shipped OS?
You cannot use home key for pro or vice versa.
If you have a COA Key you may need to run SLUI 3 and re enter the key.
This issue might occur when you try to activate the operating system with an OEM Activation 3.0 (OA3) Digital Product Key (DPK).
Error 0xC004C003 occurs when a licensing code component tries to access a registry hive without proper access. A resulting access denied error causes the product key not to be extracted correctly.
To resolve this issue, apply update KB5000842 or a later update.
IMPORTANT As part of the end of support for Adobe Flash, KB4577586 is now available as an optional update from Windows Update (WU) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Installing KB4577586 will remove Adobe Flash Player permanently from your Windows device. Once installed, you cannot uninstall KB4577586. For more details about Microsoft’s plans, see Update on Adobe Flash Player End of Support.
1401
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Posted July 9th, 2021 08:00
Thanks Speedstep for your first response, I did see that article earlier and the update was already applied with no success. As for a legit system... I purchased this system direct from dell. This is the first restore I've ever done to it. I have the service tag, express service code, order ID, original box it shipped in and all purchase emails sent to me. Aside from my knowledge of knowing... I can't imagine a more legit system than that. (also, the get serial number provides the correct service tag).
It also occurred to me to try and hold Shift to restore from the recovery partition (something I hadn't seen referenced before). No luck. Every component in this system is from the factory. It was sent in for one repair 2 years ago, but the activation issue only started when I used the dell USB restore tool.
At this point I'm thinking the system 'lost' the key. It is 4.5 years old... wonder if it could fail in that way?
1380
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Posted July 9th, 2021 09:00
I did ask support about the repair and they replied that I had 90 days to notice any issues and get them resolved. Since it was 2 years ago, they believe they installed the key properly. I never noticed any issues with activation, but I wasn't looking for it either.
1386
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Posted July 9th, 2021 09:00
Forum Users or DELL will not be able to Issue new keys.
Those come from Microsoft.
Buy a new drive and reinstall current windows clean on a new drive.
Windows will not ask you for a key at install and will not activate until you get back online.
Then use a dock to recover your data files from the old drive.
https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-BarraCuda-Internal-Drive-3-5-Inch/dp/B07H2RR55Q
https://www.amazon.com/FIDECO-Dual-Bay-External-Duplicator-Function/dp/B07D6L5CJF
LEGIT USB 2.0 FAT32 flash drives are not expensive but often counterfeited so buy retail.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-cruzer-32gb-usb-2-0-flash-drive-black/9288807.p?skuId=9288807
I suggest you do this soon as they will soon be gone as they are not making them anymore. I also recommend running the media tool multiple times so that you can create an installer as well as an ISO of the install media. Thats because eventually this too will be unavailable and windows 11 will be the only OS you can download and install.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO
You can use this page to download a disc image (ISO file) that can be used to install or reinstall Windows 10. The image can also be used to create installation media using a USB flash drive or DVD.
The Update Assistant can help you update to the latest version of Windows 10. To get started, click
Update now.
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=799445Use the media creation tool to make a 21H1 installer.
Then use it again to make an ISO for later use.
https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209
918
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Posted July 9th, 2021 11:00
Thank you vanadiel, it does show the generic windows key and it matches what keyfinder shows (which does not activate). My SLIC table is identical to yours except for the memory address. I do not have a MSDM tab or anything close to that. I'm not sure what all that means. My understanding is the key that aida and keyfinder sees is a standard key that has no value until activated by the digital key, but this is not my area of expertise. One of the programs I used had an asterisk by the key and indicated that it was a generic (not activatable) key.
r72019
8 Professor
•
5344 Posts
1391
1
Posted July 9th, 2021 09:00
Humm, did they replace the motherboard when it was repaired? If so, Dell might have forgotten to load the key and you may have this issue (follow steps in the below Article to fix it):
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000177704/activating-windows-after-the-motherboard-has-been-replaced
Note that Windows will still download updates and work without activation, you might get some pop-ups, is it possible you were running without activation before?