Open Source Windows 7 activation error code 0xc004f061

So, I’ve just reinstalled Windows 7 as I got a new motherboard, and for some reason, I’m getting activation error code 0xc004f061 as per below, which seems to imply that my copy is some kind of upgrade version. I know this to be utter tosh, because I bought and paid for Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit, and have reinstalled it on maybe 3 or 4 different PCs since I bought it in 2009 and never had this problem before.



Frankly this is utter tosh, and one of the very few cases where I am tempted to resort to piracy.

Has anyone got any ideas about how I can go about getting this activated?

 

Have you tried activating by 'phone, Tom?

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/windows-7-activation-error-0xc004f061


http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...indows-7/7ff167a0-9283-4ddb-b90d-ec610b897dcc


second post give a work around

 

So, just because I didn't put my windows key in whilst installing, I have to do a total system reinstall?

What a load of BS, - games like BF3 take a day or more to download. I'm going to have to crack it aren;t I!

 

Doesn't even give you an option to do that I'm afraid mate!

 

upgrade install over the top should keep all your settings etc

 

There's a reg fix that will sort your problem

The key makes windows think that you did an upgrade so your key is then valid. It's the same as was used for a fresh install of the Win 8 upgrade recently.

 

You know your date an time is incorrect?

Perhaps that is causing this trange behaviour? Bit of a shot in the dark but i know sometimes the MOBO (im assuming) having wrong date and time can cause weird things.

 

have you tried command line?

slmgr.vbs -ipk 00000-00000-00000-00000-00000

to put in the key,

slmgr.vbs -ato

to activate.

 

I've done Atomic's method above before and it works.

 

+ 1 on this. Try setting the time and date properly first. Even if it doesn't help, it's cost you maybe a minute of time.

 

definitely date and time done this many times

 

That wasn't actually my screenshot - my date and time is, to my knowledge correct!

I'll give that registry hack a shot tonight, is that the same one you use with Win8?

 

If the date and time fix doesn't work then the regedit fix will, my win 7 and win 8 installs have both been with upgrade keys and I've always done a clean install then the regedit fix to get it working.

Not sure why you would get that message with a full non upgrade key but it's easy to fix.

 

Yup