Windows 10 OS update issue

[thiisnacc]

Hi!

So sometime recently my OS has been giving me issue since I updated (or tried to update) to the Anniversary version of Windows 10. I now have this recurring “Activate Windows Go to Settings to activate Windows.” message at the bottom of my screen. I got my Windows 10 OS from college and I’ve been trying to figure out if it’s because I am an alumnus, that it (the license key) expired. I did not know that the license key would expire else I would have bought my own personal Windows 10 code/key. So now I try to even download Office and it gives me issue. I don’t know if the issue is related to the OS not working either. The key I put into the pc was valid and I used MS Word, Excel, Access, and Powerpoint for school work and they worked without error.

The Activation page says, “We can’t activate Windows on this device because you don’t have a valid license or key, select Troubleshoot below. Error code: 0xC004F012”

Any help is appreciated.

[ATTACH type=“full”]9511[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH type=“full”]9513[/ATTACH]

[Pyro]

Here you go:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-activation-error-code-0xc004f012/6dc81deb-604b-4c62-9728-ae6b5de3f3d8

Another option is to buy a new W10 key, but I would try calling first.

[Bruce]

+1 with calling first.
the many times I have had to ring the MS activation team, they have been extremely helpful.

[Bastet]

Run this cmd within powershell with admin powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”
Or wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey if using cmd prompt.
Or: Check this program to reveal if there’s a key embedded in the BIOS:

https://neosmart.net/OemKey/

Or: Download and run this: ShowKeyPlus – Lataa ja asenna maksutta Windowsissa | Microsoft Store to find all keys used on the PC.
If it doesn’t show any key then don’t worry as this is normal if the PC came with Windows 10.
If it shows a key then please let me know - do not post the key.

Also run this to see what is currently installed & post the screenshot:
Right click on start & choose powershell with admin & enter: slmgr.vbs /dlv
This will show a popup showing whether your license is OEM, Retail, or Volume amongst other information.
If this states you have a volume licence then there is a way to return to a legal key if there’s one in the BIOS.
If it does, please post back.

[thiisnacc]

Run this cmd within powershell with admin powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”
Or wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey if using cmd prompt.
Or: Check this program to reveal if there’s a key embedded in the BIOS:

https://neosmart.net/OemKey/

Or: Download and run this: ShowKeyPlus – Lataa ja asenna maksutta Windowsissa | Microsoft Store to find all keys used on the PC.
If it doesn’t show any key then don’t worry as this is normal if the PC came with Windows 10.
If it shows a key then please let me know - do not post the key.

Also run this to see what is currently installed & post the screenshot:
Right click on start & choose powershell with admin & enter: slmgr.vbs /dlv
This will show a popup showing whether your license is OEM, Retail, or Volume amongst other information.
If this states you have a volume licence then there is a way to return to a legal key if there’s one in the BIOS.
If it does, please post back.

Hi!
This is what I got back:

[ATTACH type=“full”]9529[/ATTACH]

[thiisnacc]

Run this cmd within powershell with admin powershell “(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey”
Or wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey if using cmd prompt.
Or: Check this program to reveal if there’s a key embedded in the BIOS:

https://neosmart.net/OemKey/

Or: Download and run this: ShowKeyPlus – Lataa ja asenna maksutta Windowsissa | Microsoft Store to find all keys used on the PC.
If it doesn’t show any key then don’t worry as this is normal if the PC came with Windows 10.
If it shows a key then please let me know - do not post the key.

Also run this to see what is currently installed & post the screenshot:
Right click on start & choose powershell with admin & enter: slmgr.vbs /dlv
This will show a popup showing whether your license is OEM, Retail, or Volume amongst other information.
If this states you have a volume licence then there is a way to return to a legal key if there’s one in the BIOS.
If it does, please post back.

Also:

[ATTACH type=“full”]9532[/ATTACH]

[Bruce]

try the Powershell command, that worked for me.

also, the Installed Key of *****.3V66T is a known cracked key.
it is in a list I have of used, dodgy keys.

do you have the Product Key for the installed version of Windows the PC came with?
should be a Certificate of Authenticity sticker somewhere on the case.

Win10 AE was released mid-2016, any reason you are trying to update to that?

[thiisnacc]

try the Powershell command, that worked for me.

also, the Installed Key of *****.3V66T is a known cracked key.
it is in a list I have of used, dodgy keys.

do you have the Product Key for the installed version of Windows the PC came with?
should be a Certificate of Authenticity sticker somewhere on the case.

Win10 AE was released mid-2016, any reason you are trying to update to that?

The computer came with Windows 7 already installed. What I did was upgrade to Windows 10 from the school’s student tech resources. This is a sort of outdated computer but when I upgraded to Windows 10 it didn’t give any upgrade issues before while I was schooling except the firmware (I think) wouldn’t have allowed the pc to “wake from sleep” without the need to reboot.. So in essence I don’t have the original key. I was only upgrading to anniversary version because that was the most recent available upgrade for my pc for Windows 10 (see pic).
[ATTACH type=“full”]9538[/ATTACH]

[Bruce]

in that case there will be a CoA sticker on the case for Win7.
you really are going to have to either ring the MS activation line or buy Win10 yourself now you aren’t a student or not at the school.

when ringing the MS help line, either the robot, or the human (if the robot can’t help) will ask for the current Product Key.

[thiisnacc]

in that case there will be a CoA sticker on the case for Win7.
you really are going to have to either ring the MS activation line or buy Win10 yourself now you aren’t a student or not at the school.

when ringing the MS help line, either the robot, or the human (if the robot can’t help) will ask for the current Product Key.

Thanks I’ll try again when they’re open

[Bruce]

24/7 - always open.
I’m in Australia and the number, 1800 642 008 (God, I still remember it, and haven’t rang it in over 4 years!) was always answered by someone in India.

[thiisnacc]

24/7 - always open.
I’m in Australia and the number, 1800 642 008 (God, I still remember it, and haven’t rang it in over 4 years!) was always answered by someone in India.

I called the Windows activation call center, pressed some numbers, it asked me about the error code, pressed more numbers, asked about the build version, pressed more numbers then it told me to call back between 8 am and 9pm and that was it.

[Bruce]

if it asked for error codes, you may have gone down the wrong path or rang the wrong number.
you need to ring the Product Activation Centre number for your country.
as said, mine for Oz is 1800 642 008, I just rang it and option 1 is to activate Windows.

list of numbers found here; https://www.urtech.ca/2014/07/solved...ffice-product/

[thiisnacc]

if it asked for error codes, you may have gone down the wrong path or rang the wrong number.
you need to ring the Product Activation Centre number for your country.
as said, mine for Oz is 1800 642 008, I just rang it and option 1 is to activate Windows.

list of numbers found here; https://www.urtech.ca/2014/07/solved...ffice-product/

Got you. Thanks!

[Bastet]

The Win 10 partial key shown is the generic key, this is shown when a user upgrades to Win 10 or 11 from a previous Win version - I have the generic key shown on my laptop. If the pc shows a digital license connected to your Microsoft account then the license is genuine imo.
If you try entering your Win 7 key what happens?
Did the pc come with Windows 7 Pro or Home?
Did you use an Education key to activate Windows 7/10?
If yes & you’re no longer a student then the key is invalid.