PowerEdge: Windows Server fails to activate with error 0xC004C008 or 0xC004C020
Summary: Attempting to activate Windows Server results in activation failure with error code 0xC004C008 or 0xC004C020. These errors indicate that the activation limit of the specified product key has been reached. ...
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Symptoms
Error 0xC004C008 or 0xC004C020 is received when attempting to activate Windows Server. The operating system (OS) fails to activate.
Cause
Both of these errors indicate that the product key in use has reached its activation limit. The product key may have been previously used to activate Windows Server. If the key allows multiple activations, all of those activations have been used. When this occurs, this product key cannot be used to activate the OS on a physical or virtual server.
Resolution
If the OS license was purchased through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, its activation limit may be lower than expected. Contact Dell Support and open a service request if you encounter this issue on a Dell server. Support cannot modify the activation limit directly but can submit a request to Microsoft to have it increased. The request may take several days to fulfill.
In rare cases, this error may appear if an OEM OS license was purchased with the server. This typically only occurs when virtual machines (VMs) with OEM licenses are hosted in a cluster, and Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA) is not used. OEM licenses are tied to the hardware with which they are purchased. Running an OEM-licensed VM on a different host can cause an activation issue that eventually results in error 0xC004C008. Using AVMA to activate VMs is the simplest solution in this case, but AVMA requires that virtualization hosts run a Datacenter edition of Windows Server. Non-Datacenter and non-Windows virtualization hosts cannot use AVMA.
If this error occurs in a cluster environment in which AVMA is not an option, contact Dell Support for assistance.
In rare cases, this error may appear if an OEM OS license was purchased with the server. This typically only occurs when virtual machines (VMs) with OEM licenses are hosted in a cluster, and Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA) is not used. OEM licenses are tied to the hardware with which they are purchased. Running an OEM-licensed VM on a different host can cause an activation issue that eventually results in error 0xC004C008. Using AVMA to activate VMs is the simplest solution in this case, but AVMA requires that virtualization hosts run a Datacenter edition of Windows Server. Non-Datacenter and non-Windows virtualization hosts cannot use AVMA.
If this error occurs in a cluster environment in which AVMA is not an option, contact Dell Support for assistance.
Additional Information
More information about Automatic Virtual Machine Activation (AVMA) is available from Microsoft at Automatic Virtual Machine Activation in Windows Server
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.Affected Products
Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Microsoft Windows Server 2019, Microsoft Windows Server 2022, Microsoft Windows Server 2025, Microsoft Windows 2012 Server, Microsoft Windows 2012 Server R2Products
PowerEdge FC640, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C, PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX760c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R250, PowerEdge R260, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R350, PowerEdge R360, PowerEdge R440
, PowerEdge R450, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415, PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R660, PowerEdge R660xs, PowerEdge R6615, PowerEdge R6625, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R760, PowerEdge R760XA, PowerEdge R760xd2, PowerEdge R760xs, PowerEdge R7615, PowerEdge R7625, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R860, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T150, PowerEdge T160, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T360, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T640
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Article Properties
Article Number: 000139763
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 21 Jan 2025
Version: 11
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