Windows activation required after SSD clone

[stwert]

I cloned my original 120GB SSD to a new 500GB drive with my Windows 7 Professional SP1 OS. Everything looked good and functional, so I went ahead and wiped the original drive to re-purpose it. Then I realized that Windows was saying "29 days to activate. Activated Windows now".

When I click "Activate Windows Online Now" it gives me an Error Code 0xC004C020. "The activation server reported that the Multiple Activation Key has exceeded its limit."

The product key I used ~6 years ago was from an MSDN Academic Alliance. I called Microsoft about it, and after some hilariously classic transfer transfer transfer-"we are currently closed, goodbye" *click* shenanigans, I found out that the product key is actually an Enterprise volume product key?? (the DMK2T one).

So now I'm questioning if I've got the right one. I had another one that I thought was for Windows 7 pro RTM, so I tried the "Change product key", but apparently that's an Ultimate key?? So it could be that I've messed up the diagnostic tool by putting in this Enterprise key; I don't know how to tell what it was originally, since nothing has worked thus far.

I don't want to upgrade to Win 10 right now, and anyway now it appears I can't for free. I could buy Windows 10 (again, don't want to yet, but they don't sell Windows 7 anymore) but I'm not sure if you can buy it and use it as an upgrade instead of a fresh install?? Ideally I just want my Windows 7 activated again.

I do have an image of my OS from right before the clone, so I could try putting that back on my small SSD, but that will be a bit of a pain, and I'm not sure where that would get me.

Thanks very much for considering my situation and sharing some advice.

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-*****-*****-DMK2T
Windows Product Key Hash: j+TCy3B+m8xqWQUskhXM0KyIkVk=
Windows Product ID: 55041-011-1393397-86794
Windows Product ID Type: 6
Windows License Type: Volume MAK
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {711237EF-C46E-48BE-A4EB-982DEBFF4A16}(1)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.150715-0600
TTS Error: 
Validation Diagnostic: 
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 109 N/A
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Users\Stu\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{711237EF-C46E-48BE-A4EB-982DEBFF4A16}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-BBBBB</PKey><PID>55041-011-1393397-86794</PID><PIDType>6</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-2193822868-2408663649-2928034479</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>System manufacturer</Manufacturer><Model>System Product Name</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>American Megatrends Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>0504   </Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="5"/><Date>20090519000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>F3A13807018400FE</HWID><UserLCID>1009</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Eastern Standard Time(GMT-05:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM/><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514

Name: Windows(R) 7, Professional edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, VOLUME_MAK channel
Activation ID: 9abf5984-9c16-46f2-ad1e-7fe15931a8dd
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 55041-00172-011-139339-03-4105-7601.0000-2452015
Installation ID: 022203686930661144544244957181548551996811291872821411
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: DMK2T
License Status: Additional grace period (KMS license expired or hardware out of tolerance)
Time remaining: 35340 minute(s) (24 day(s))
Remaining Windows rearm count: 2
Trusted time: 02/09/2015 8:07:02 PM

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: 0x00000000
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: 8:14:2015 10:26
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: OAAAAAIAAgABAAEAAgACAAAAAwABAAEACrbUrU40pSmqfxiwdlvC+GrI3ojgRe1frFi0ejJB6oI=

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes, but no SLIC table
Windows marker version: N/A
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: N/A
BIOS Information: 
  ACPI Table Name	OEMID Value	OEMTableID Value
  APIC			051909		APIC1244
  FACP			051909		FACP1244
  HPET			051909		OEMHPET 
  MCFG			051909		OEMMCFG 
  OEMB			051909		OEMB1244
  OSFR			051909		OEMOSFR 
  SSDT			DpgPmm		CpuPm

 

[NoelDP]

This is a Volume License Key - such Keys are issued to an organisation for use only within the organisation.
MSDNAA Keys have some complex rules - and the upshot is that your Key requires re-activation because of changed hardware, but the Key has reached its activation limit, and the organisation has not extended the limit on the number of activations
This means that the Key in use has effectively expired.
The installed Key (DMK2T) is for Pro - which is the installed OS.
MS operators at Level 1 have a very bad habit of getting things wrong

I'm afraid your only option is going to be purchase of a new license, unless you still have the old HD install functional.
I'm not sure whether MSDNAA Keys qualify for the free upgrade to 10?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Noel could that activation code be retrieved with this tutorial method - Magic Jelly Bean http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/153626-product-key-number-windows-7-find-see.html I retrieved my code using it on a new machine I have just bought and could only find the mass install code using Belarc. The seller would not give me a code like the last seller gave me when I bought a new laptop last year.

 

[NoelDP]

The Key is what's blocked - the License goes out-of-spec when it's applied to the new SSD and nothing will change that

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok just wondering if the code ad been saved by a chance

 

[stwert]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the responses. I was worried that this would be the answer. In the time remaining, I will try to restore the old OS (temporarily unplugging the new SSD) and see if it reads as activated again (do you think it might?).

I had the Windows 10 upgrade all set to go on the original SSD, so I'm assuming it qualified for that. Now the upgrade notification has gone, and I don't know if it's wise to attempt to force an upgrade.

I don't really mind that I have to pay for a new license (I have moved on from the institution, that's fair), but if I did buy Windows 10 Pro, could I use that to upgrade or would it have to be a fresh install?

Finally, the timer is ticking down. Would the slmgr /rearm trick work on lengthening the time before I have to act?

 

[NoelDP]

You still have 2 remaining rearms available - so that's 2x29-day extensions (you need to rearm before the date actually arrives)

 

[ICIT2LOL]

For the main part Noel has laid out what is the go and for my part I am wondering if you can still get an OEM for 7.

Personally I was lucky enough to purchase a few copies while they were available out here and I have downloads of the ISO that used to be freely available which I have used as a bootable disk on occasion for a clean install.

PS Meant to add too I am not real keen on the 10 though it is not my cup of tea - main concern is ones privacy.