FAQ: Error 0xC004F074 when activating Windows 7/8 Enterprise (2024)

FAQs

FAQ: Error 0xC004F074 when activating Windows 7/8 Enterprise? ›

If you encounter error code 0xC004F074 when activating your Windows 7/8 Enterprise, it may due to the Date Time/Regional settings are not matching (If the difference between system time on the client computer and the system time on the KMS host is more than 4 hours).

Make sure that the system time on the client and the KMS host is the same. The time zone set on the client computer doesn't affect the activation since it's based on UTC. Run the w32tm /resync command to resync the time on the client.

0xC004C008 The activation server determined that the specified product key couldn't be used. When you encounter this error, you see this error message: The activation server determined that the specified product key could not be used.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot to run the Activation troubleshooter. For more info about the troubleshooter, see Using the Activation troubleshooter.

If you are installing Windows on a new device or motherboard for the first time and you do not have a product key, select I don't have a product key during the installation setup screens. When prompted, enter the Microsoft account you want to use to purchase a digital license for this device.

If the issue continues to occur, then Contact Microsoft by dialing the Support number listed on the activation screen ("in the United States and Canada for example: 1-800-936-5700") and explain that the error message you are receiving is on a new Dell computer. Microsoft will be able to provide phone activation.

Error: 0xC004F074 The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer could not be activated. The Key Management Service (KMS) is unavailable. This could be because the client is set to a specific KMS server which may no longer be available.

What is 0xC004F074 Windows activation? ›

If you're unable to activate Windows 10, the Activation troubleshooter could help. To use the troubleshooter, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Activation , and then select Troubleshoot .

If you have one copy of Windows and you installed it on more than one PC, activation might not work. The product key has already been used on more PCs than allowed by the Microsoft Software License Terms. To activate new additional PCs, you must buy a new product key or copy of Windows for each one.

Microsoft stopped selling new copies of Windows 10 back in January, and most versions of the operating system will stop getting security updates in October 2025. Even after Microsoft stops accepting Windows 7 and 8 product keys, you should be fine if you've already activated an older install.

Microsoft warned us last month that our favorite Windows upgrade loophole was over, but now it's official: The activation servers no longer let you use Windows 7 or 8 license keys to activate Windows 10 or 11.

You're likely to encounter the 0xc004f074 Activation error when your Firewall prevents Windows from licensing files over the Internet. In this case, you could consider temporarily disabling your Firewall and then turn it back on after activating Windows.

Click the gear-shaped icon in the left-hand side of the Start window. Click Update & security. This circular arrow-shaped icon is at the bottom of the Settings window. Click Activation.

You might see this error if the date and time for the PC is incorrect, or Windows has trouble connecting to the online activation service and can't verify your product key. To verify date and time, select the Start button, then select Settings > Time & language > Date & time.