After the release of Windows 8, more users are switching to the new OS. One of the early reported problems is the issues related to activation error 0xC004F074. After installing, you are supposed to activate windows. But some users have reported an error code 0xC004F074 during the time of activation.
This error code appears only during the time of activation when the Software Licensing Service reports that it cannot activate the product key since the Key Management Service cannot be contacted.
The steps below will help you fix the problem easily. This can also be tried for the error code 0x8007232B.
1) Open cmd(command prompt) with administrator rights
2) Type slmgr.vbs –ipk xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (x should be replaced by your 25 digit product key)
3) Hit enter
4) Type slmgr.vbs –ato (This will change the product key)
5) Hit enter
Another method for fixing activation error 0xC004F074
1) Start -> Run ->Type Slui 3 (Slui 4 for activating by phone)
2) Enter Product key
3) Click Activate
Other methods to try
The issue might be with corrupt system files. Run an SFC scan.
- Open command prompt(with admin rights).
- Type sfc /scannow
Try activating, once the scan is complete. If the scan produced errors,this might be a problem with corrupted system files that needs to be taken care of.
The product key has exceeded its unlock limit
Trying to activate too many times can lead to a server error “the product key has exceeded its unlock limit”. Once you get this message, there are only 2 things to do.
- Dial the automated system and try to activate product by phone.
- If that failed, talk to a Microsoft technician. Be prepared with details of your purchase of product as the technician is sure to ask questions to confirm if the product is genuine. Once confirmed, they will reset the product key on their server and you wont have any more problems in activating.
At present there are lot of reported issues related to activation. I will be updating this article on a regular basis on steps that could be used to fix this problem.
This should fix activation error 0xC004F074. Enjoy your copy of Windows 8.
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Many, many thanks – the first solution worked perfectly. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Cheers
Thanks man. The slui 3 thingy was the one that worked for me.
Muchas gracias, me funciono de maravilla.
Saludos desde Mexico.
ROAR!!!
Worked perfectly for me.
its not working properly here on my PC I have a purchased key but the error is that a message is displayed
your key has exceeded the unlock limit
please help me
Usually this happens, when the same Windows 8 is used on multiple computers or if you replaced a hardware inside the computer. Please contact the Microsoft Support.Since this is a legally purchased key,you won’t have any problem in getting their help in getting this activated.
thank you very much
i don’t know my 25 digit product key, in this case what to do.
Contact Microsoft Support. They will help you.
Worked like a charm. Thanks
This command worked like a charm and my issue is fixed…
Thank you so much for this solution.
slmgr.vbs –ipk xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
LIKE A BOSS! Thanks mann
First two methods do not work for me..
When i tried the third method sfc/scannow … it throws an error as you must be an administrator to use sfc utility.
I have only one user in my system with admin rights… don’t know why it throws this error.
Unable to do sfc scan, that too with admin rights itself shows that OS is corrupted(seen the same with XP and Vista).This can also happen if the windows installation is an upgrade installation and also when the security software corrupts OS.Try re-installing OS preferably clean install.
I had to change the dashes into forward slashes ie: slmgr.vbs /ipk xxxxx-xxxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
It worked thanks!
i totally hate microsoft for this. why complicate things? why? I am about to give up coz nothing is solving this error issue. damn u microsoft
Lol
still doesn’t works
Hey I tried both methods mentioned above and both of them return the same error, is there anything else i can do to fix the error?
I still have the exact same error when I issue the second line in the command
Try the second method I just added
Worked like a charm..thanks
thanks, i was about to throw out my machine