Solved: Windows 7 activation failing with OEM key - HP Support Community

sumit1483 · ‎08-26-2018

I reinstalled with 7 on my HP Pavilion dv6t-6b00 CTO Quad Edition Entertainment Notebook PC. I purchased it in 2011. I have the actual product key and Product Id. Product id is 00359-OEM-8992687-00010.

When I am trying to activate windows I am getting error "A problem occured while activating windows. Error code 0xC004E003". I tried calling microsoft and they told me that this key is blocked by manufacturer.

Please let me know how can I activate my original wondows key. Laptop order no. was [edited].

Serial number:[edited]

Model number:QJ912AV

Thanks

sumit1483 · ‎08-28-2018

Finally, I was able to recover sticker codes by applying some acrylic paint. The whole process took around 30 minutes with hit and trial. Thanks, everyone for all your help and guidance.

Recommendation for everyone - Dont rely on online softwares to retrieve windows key before reinstalling windows. Use below code to find out your current windows key:

Method 1:

productkey.vbs

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"))

Function ConvertToKey(Key)
Const KeyOffset = 52
i = 28
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
x = 14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur
Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255
Cur = Cur Mod 24
x = x -1
Loop While x >= 0
i = i -1
KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Then
i = i -1
KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput
End If
Loop While i >= 0
ConvertToKey = KeyOutput
End Function

Method 2: Go to Registry

Navigate to the \"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\" key in the registry. This holds several Windows settings for your machine.

View solution in original post

CherylG · ‎08-26-2018

Are you using the license key from the Microsoft COA attached to bottom of laptop? May be in the hdd compartment.

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sumit1483 · ‎08-26-2018

Yes. Microsoft is saying the key is correct but it's blocked by manufacturer.

CherylG · ‎08-26-2018

@sumit1483

HP does not block license keys they put on their machines. Microsoft is responsible for activation issues-not HP. MS sells the licenses to HP.

This block can happen if an owner uses Belarc to retrieve license key-which is not the official key. It is the mass production key used by HP in manufacturing. Only the key from COA can be used for installing/activating Windows installed from a disk.

It can also happen if the Licensing Store needs to be reset. You might try resetting it as mentioned here:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/10b87bbf-8abb-40d6-aee0-6fccf037fb00/windo...

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sumit1483 · ‎08-27-2018

I don't think I am using the key from the sticker. It's all faded. I can't find another sticker in the battery compartment. I used some online program to retrieve my windows activation key before reinstalling windows.

David_J_W · ‎08-27-2018

As @CherylG noted, the chances are that your key retrieval program has retrieved a generic OEM key, not the machine specific one that was on the Microsoft sticker which you need to use to reactivate Windows 7.

There really is nothing we or HP can do for you - Windows 7 keys are a physical artefact attached to the system case. I very much doubt HP have a record of the key for your system. From Windows 8 onwards OEM keys moved to being stored in the BIOS chip which helps prevent this scenario.

It might be worth trying examining the sticker under magnification and strong light to see if you can make out the Windows 7 key. Another trick that might work is taking a photo with a digital camera under strong light, then blowing it up on screen and perhaps playing with tools such as Curves in Photoshop or the equivalent in your preferred software.

If you really cannot make out the key on the sticker, I suggest contacting Microsoft for their assistance.

sumit1483 · ‎08-27-2018

Can I request HP to send me recovery discs?

David_J_W · ‎08-27-2018

At least in the UK, the provision of recovery media is a chargeable service - and I think your system might be too old for HP to offer recovery media. If HP do offer recovery media, I expect it will prompt you to enter the Product Key from the Windows 7 sticker as I cannot see you being given another Windows 7 licence simply by requesting recovery media.

Indeed, I don't think HP will have any Windows 7 licences left to distribute; we are way past Microsoft's "stop sale" date for Windows 7. Moreover, Microsoft's terms required the Windows 7 Certificate of Authenticity sticker to be permanently attached to the system when an OEM licence was sold.

I think your only options here are to try to figure out the Product Key on the sticker as I suggested in my last post or work with Microsoft on this issue.

CherylG · ‎08-27-2018

@sumit1483

Do you still have the Recovery (D) partition on your laptop?

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mdklassen · ‎08-28-2018

@David_J_W wrote:
1. At least in the UK, the provision of recovery media is a chargeable service -
2. I think your system might be too old for HP to offer recovery media.
3. If HP do offer recovery media, I expect it will prompt you to enter the Product Key from the Windows 7 sticker

1. Agreed.

2. Correct. I looked on the HP Support web-site, and HP does not currently offer to sell the Recovery Set for your model.

Instead, see: Windows 7 64B Recovery Kit 671630-001 For HP Pavilion Select Edition Entertainment Notebook PC Model...

to purchase a copy of the original HP software, for $27 US.

3. Disagree.

The HP-modified software verifies that it is being installed on HP hardware, instead of prompting you for the product-key. The product-key embedded with the software is the OEM key -- same for every unit of the same model of HP computer. You never need to "activate" this key -- Windows recognizes that it is an OEM key, and does not need to try to activate over the Internet. Microsoft "blocks" this key from being used to "activate". You need the product-key on the decal only if you try to install the "generic" version of Windows, where the media is supplied by Microsoft.

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Windows 7 activation failing with OEM key

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