Windows activation, confirmation ID, 0xC004C008 error...

[Neochrome]

Hello and thank you for reading,

this is my first post on these forums, even though I am coming here for an advice now and then. This time I couldn't find what I was looking for, so I registered and, well, straight to the point, I got five months old original Windows 7 Ultimate Full Retail (not OEM) and, yes, I was reinstalling/activating it a lot. During that time, I can say, maybe 30 times (everytime on the same PC, no upgrades/changes, specs provided). But now, all of a sudden, activation failed, returning an 0xC004C008 error. I thought immediately, that I maybe pushed it too far, and maybe Microsoft has enough of me or/and consider me as a pirate/hacker.

Yep, I have done phone activation thing, "talked" to a bot, got the 48 digit confirmation ID (8 fields by 6 digits) and used it to finally activate my Windows and, just out of curiosity, tried it to reinstall W7 again. Wiped it, installed, connected to internet, clicked to activate Windows, and it happened again. So I used the same 48 digit confirmation ID I obtained via phone, and I'm OK again.

Now, my question is, will it stay like this for ever? Now I have to use 25 digit original license key (from DVD box), activate Windows and use 48 digit confirmation ID acquired from automated phone system. And I don't like it much. I thought, when I'll use confirmation ID, everything will be reset and I'll be put in the "reliable client" bracket again, not that I'll stay in the "constant suspect under supervision" one.

Anyway, what is the count of activations, that will start being suspicious for Microsoft? I have heard about it on Windows XP, but did not think, this can happen on W7 too.

So, is there anything I can do to get rid of the PIRATE label I have on my forehead right now?

Thank you.

 

[wanchoo]

Welcome to Seven Forums, Neochrome.

There is nothing to worry about because Microsoft would keep activating your Windows 7 for as long as you want.

Read all about how to go about to reslove your problem at Windows 7 activation error: 0xC004C008.

 

[NoelDP]

My understanding of the MS Activation system is this....

MS has a record of every attempt to activate any Key.
The Activation servers use some metrics to decide whether to pass or fail an activation attempt - apart from the Key's validity.
The metrics include
Location
activation history - how many successgfull atttempts, now often
Hardware hash - is the hardware (nearly?) the same as the last successful activation?
If the metrics fail for any reason, Telephone activation is available - often this can be done using the automated service, where a modified set of metrics is used.
If those metrics fail, then Telephone Activation by Operator is available, where the humand element comes into play, and oddities can be ironed out, and explanations made.
One thing an Activation operator cannot do is re-activate a Blocked Key - but they can request elavation to a supervisor for further investigation which may lead either to the key being unblocked, or the issue of a new Key depending on circumstances.

A Key will be Blocked if, in the view of MS, it has been abused.
It will also be Blocked if it is reported as Stolen, Refunded, Returned, or Expired - Keys are NEVER re-issued.
There are other reasons for blocks, also.

A Key can be Blocked either for Activation, Validation, or both.
Keys such as the Default Keys are Bocked for Activation, but not validation
Keys such as the OEM_SLP Keys are Blocked for both Activation and Validation by MS's servers, as they are supposed to be self-activating using other parameters on the system.

HTH?

 

[Neochrome]

Welcome to Seven Forums, Neochrome.

There is nothing to worry about because Microsoft would keep activating your Windows 7 for as long as you want.

Read all about how to go about to reslove your problem at Windows 7 activation error: 0xC004C008.

Thank you Wanchoo, but I have already activated my Windows 7, using automated phone service ('APS' from here on) before (I even visited the same page you posted, when I was looking for an answer). As I wrote in first post, I obtained 48 digit code (confirmation ID) and used it to activate it.

My only concern was, whether this state will remain like this for ever or not. And by this I mean using that APS generated 48 digit code on top of original 25 digit code (found on the Windows 7 box) everytime I want to activate my Windows. That is why I tried to reinstall W7 again after I did APS activation, and found out that I still need that 48 digit confirmation ID.

As Noel stated, there must be, on MS side, some mechanism that examines other conditions "apart from the Key's validity". In order to that being truth, MS definitely has record of every and any activation, date/time/conditions/etc. As well as there must be some threshold, after which you are considered "suspicious", being preventively refused from activation, and must undergo APS activation. In my case, presumably, it is frequency with which I was activating my Windows. But after APS activation, I thought I have declared being genuine enough, that I won't need that 48 digit confirmation ID again and activation will pass w/o problems. But as I found out, I was wrong (thank God I have written it down).

So again, my question is, will this state (being obliged to use special 48 digit APS generated number every time I activate Windows) stay with me for ever, or is there some time (week, two, month, half a year...), after which I'll be spared of this. As I find it rather restrictive and unfair for MS customer, not to mention this won't prevent fraud not a mite.

Thank you.

 

[wanchoo]

I think if you have got your genuine DVD of Windows 7 Ultimate Full Retail you shall always be able to activate with Microsoft. They are ever so helpful.

However to keep yourself doubly safe I suggest that you create an image of your C (System Volume) Drive using either the Macrium Reflect or the Acronis TrueImage Boot CD immediately when preferably when no other programs have been installed. This will give you two benefits. They are as follows.

01. The restoration time for the image would be about 3 to 5 minutes taking the pain out of reinstalling.
02. You won't have to go running to Microsoft every time you reinstall Windows for activation.

The Macrium Tutorials are at http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/218920-macrium-reflect-create-bootable-rescue-usb-drive.html and http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html.

 

[Neochrome]

I think if you have got your genuine DVD of Windows 7 Ultimate Full Retail you shall always be able to activate with Microsoft. They are ever so helpful.

Yeah I know, and I was surprised, that automat from automated phone service can resolve this problem with me, even though you have to call it anyway. It was done in 5 minutes. It works, and I am activated.
But still, now I can only activate my Windows 7 by writing that 48 digit key into the activation dialog box. While, before this happened (MS started to consider me as potential fraud, due to a number/frequency of activations), activation was matter of few seconds and I was not involved in it at all, MS checked everything on their side and activated it, no phone calls, no long confirmation keys...

I just want to know, what I can do to return to the original Windows activation, with no automated phone service calls, no writing down long confirmation numbers and tedious filling activation dialog boxes. Basically how to regain the MS's trust. Should I just wait and it will return back to normal after a few weeks/months or can I write an explanation email to their customer support?

Nevertheless, thank you for alternatives and C: drive image suggestions, it sounds convenient. I have heard something about bit copy of Windows, system image, or something like this, but didn't do much research about it, I am still quite new to Windows 7.

Thank you.

 

[wanchoo]

I don't think that there is anything that you can do to return to the original Windows activation except for requesting Microsoft after explaining your case to them. But they may or may not agree.

You may however try to change the key to the original Product key at Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System. In case it doesn't succeed then you can go back to the 48 digit Key you obtained from Microsoft. If that too then becomes unacceptable then you can again get another Key over the phone from Microsoft.

But what difference does it make if you have the 25 or 48 digit key? And working with images is about the easiest thing in the world to do and once you get the hang of it you can compute with confidence.

Best of luck,

Amarnath Wanchoo

 

[Neochrome]

But what difference does it make if you have the 25 or 48 digit key?

No no, 25 digit key is actual license key I am using every reinstall, that's original key found on the Windows 7 retail box, everyone should have it. 48 digit activation ID was generated when I called to that MS automated phone service, after I was forbidden to activate Windows normally (0xC004C008 error). Now I have to use it (48 digit code) everytime I activate windows.

Never mind, I came to terms with it, I won't be reinstalling Windows that often now.

 

[seavixen32]

Create a system image backup and you won't have to bother with activation anymore.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

When you need to restore a system image:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html

 

[NoelDP]

No no, 25 digit key is actual license key I am using every reinstall, that's original key found on the Windows 7 retail box, everyone should have it. 48 digit activation ID was generated when I called to that MS automated phone service, after I was forbidden to activate Windows normally (0xC004C008 error). Now I have to use it (48 digit code) everytime I activate windows.

Never mind, I came to terms with it, I won't be reinstalling Windows that often now.

The 48-digit confirmation code is not necessarily the same every install - and certainly not the same, if yu change any of the essential hardware (NIC, CPU, Motherboard, first HD, Video, etc.
You MUST generate a new one every time, and recieve the proper confirmation code every time - or they may not match, and activation will fail.

As Wanchoo said, the best thing is to create a basic activated system that you're happy with, and then image that for the purpose of clean installs. It's not only more convenent, it's also usually quicker than a full reinstall, especially if you include a couple of your standard applications (say Office and AutoCAD which can both take a while to install), and WIndows Updates.

 

[Neochrome]

The 48-digit confirmation code is not necessarily the same every install - and certainly not the same, if yu change any of the essential hardware (NIC, CPU, Motherboard, first HD, Video, etc.

Yeah I know that, to activate via automated phone service, the hardware hash (also 48 digits) was generated by Windows, and I had to tell it to automat, and automat returned 48 activation ID. Since I did not change anything, it worked the next reinstall too. Well, I still hope it will return to normal, after some time without reinstall.

Reinstall of W7 itself is not that time consuming (USB flashdisk ---> Vertex 3), but settings and control panel, and programs I need to install and setup, and of course Windows updates. So it will make drive image with everything, drivers, settings, registry, installed software, all registrations and network settings and Windows Activation? Does it work with games too?
Well, it definitely looks like great idea. Thank you for your replies.