Windows 10 IOT not activated after System-Recovery

[Richi_B]

from time to time, we had to reset / update some of our thinclients ( mt20 / mt21 ) to the current version of windows 10 IoT. After downloading and applying to USB-Stick true HP Thinupdate, the restore from stick runs without errors. but windows is no longer activated and the activation fails with the following error:

We can't activate Windows on this device because the product key was already used on another device. if you think it wasn't used on another device, select troubleshoot below. error code: 0xC004C008

how can we re-activate our thinclients after systemrestore ? The thinclients are never connected to the corporate network, they operate outside the company and getting access true webportal over internet.

Thanks for any tipps and tricks

richi

[AlexandruN]

The Windows activation key is embedded onto the motherboard of newer HP products and if the MB was replaced or a Restore was performed, the activation key could potentially get blocked by Microsoft. This is an automated security measure.

Normally, you would need to contact Microsoft, quote your activation key and explain the situation.

You can find the key by using the following CMD command:

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Or the following powershell command:

powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"

Cheers