2013 Archives

[robinp]

Acer Aspire V5-571P-6499 (Windows 8, Touchscreen)

My PC Settings-Activate window, opens on its own accord prompting me to activate my product key. Since the product key is apparently embedded in the BIOS, do I actually need to activate. I know the product key numbers & letters that I extracted from the system, but they are blocked when I try to install them in the appropriate window. I don't really want to reset back to factory settings again. I had to do it once before for another problem & that didn't unblock my key, so why should it if I reset again. I would prefer to leave as is, I can put up with the activation window opening occasionally. Any advice ?

[Acer-Cory]

You should be able to activate your copy of Windows through your computer. If a red flag was raised with Microsoft, you can follow the links below to reactivate.

I'd start with this article on how to activate Windows: http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26289

I'm assuming there is an issue on Microsofts end, if so I'd suggest following this article which will detail the process for reactivation over the phone: http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/29281

Edit: Just to clarify, you are correct. With Windows 8, your product key is injected into the BIOS, and there is no need for a certficate of authenticity label as with previous versions.

[robinp]

Thanks for your reply Acer-Cory, but you are only advising me to do something which I obviously have already done. I have tried activating by phone after giving 63 numbers, but they state they can't verify the activation.(3 times). I have inserted the Product Key on the PC Settings-Activation window, (5 times), but it checks the insertion & then nothing. If I go into the control panel activation page I get an error code: 0xC004C003. My product key has been blocked, & it means the activation server has determined the specified product key is in use. I haven't changed any hardware since I bought the notebook from SimplyAcer in Jan. 2013. Acer has arranged 5 cd's for me for recovery, I understand this means going back to factory settings. I previously stated that I have done a factory reset once already for another problem & that didn't solve this continual request for activation. Another thing I discovered, is that the Product Key I extracted from the BIOS, when typed into the Internet Explorer search box comes up on on several websites. It was my understanding that the product key was for my machine exclusively! I don't want to do another factory reset again, (if that is what a recovery entails). Even though I had put all my personal stuff on a flash drive, it took my weeks to download all the additional apps that I had downloaded over a period of time. Please read this email carefully & let me know what you now advise. Thank you for your consideration to this matter.

[robinp]

Acer-Cory, please respond to my post of Sept. 20. Thank you.

[padgett]

"My product key has been blocked, & it means the activation server has determined the specified product key is in use."

Agreed and that means you only have two courses of action:

1) Contact a human at Microsoft who is able to reset your code, the computer will not.

2) Obtain a different valid key.

Actually there is a third possibility but have no idea if it will work and that is in three weeks when the free 8.1 upgrade is released, try with that but odds are about 1 in 4

Am assuming you do not have nor plan to get a Technet or MSDN subscription.

[robinp]

Thanks for that Padgett, but what is a 'Technet' or 'MSDN' subsription?

By the way I have since found out that my product key is in fact a 'default' product key, & I quote: These product keys cannot be used for activation, you will need to type a software product key during the installation process. These keys will be removed when 'sysprep' is run. Can anybody enlighten me as to what that means!

When I first rec'd this notebook, Windows would not complete its installation & Acer arranged for the collection & sent it to Plymouth to fix it. This is what they did:

'Passed Hitachi hard drive test, memtest & all other hardware tests. Re-imaged hard-drive & performed software recovery. Updated BIOS.

Could any of this have affected the activation of my product key?

[XMB]

Hi,

I had a similar problem and the solution is to extract the activation key from BIOS as the one in use is a generic installation key (which is why you find it when doing a search on the web).

The link below will let you download a .Zip file which contains a clever little utility called ‘Windows 8 product Key Viewer’ 

Run the utility and tick the checkbox labeled ‘MSDM KEY’ (by default it will show the key embedded in the Windows installation disc, the MSDM key is the one located in the BIOS and the one required for activation).

Download the utility here!

Make sure you tick the box as shown above otherwise you will see the wrong (generic installation) key!

Paste the recovered key into the activation screen and all will be good.

[ElizabethS]

While our members are generally eager to provide useful information, be advised that Acer does not validate third party external links for downloads or content and is not responsible for them. Acquiring files through such links or using directions found there is at the user’s own risk.

[XMB]

Hi Liz,

Thanks for adding your comments, they go without saying.

It would be nice though if the Acer System Information utility also provided this information as it may save users a lot of grief in finding this useful information.

[robinp]

I ended up doing what somebody told me to do on windowseightforum.com. The notebook was returned to an Acer Service Center & they fixed it, but didn't tell me how. They had however done a complete factory reset which took me ages to get sorted out, even with all my personal details on flash drives. It is now working fine & I have a product key whose last 5 alphnumerics are different than what was on there before.  I hate factory resets!

Thanks everybody for contributing to this post.