Windows 10: Windows 10 activation and other problems

Hello! This is my last ditch effort to remedy my problems, as I feel I have exhausted most other options.


Currently, my Surface Pro 4 is throwing an error when trying to activate. I've had this tablet for years, and have reset it more than once.


"We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key. If you think you have a valid license or key, select Troubleshoot below. Error code: 0xC004F012"


Troubleshoot:

"We can't activate Windows on this device right now. You can try activating it again later or go to the Store to buy genuine Windows."


I...shouldn't be getting this error. Prior to my first, most recent reset, signing into it with my Microsoft account activated it just fine with the Digital License. However, after that first reset, I've been plagued by other problems which has led me to reset this tablet an additional three times in the same week. Namely - native Windows applications don't work. Calculator, Store, Calendar, etc, due to what I think is a permissions error keep in mind, this is immediately after reset AND post all updates, I've tried both. The only actual fix was I've found was resetting all permissions in admin elevated CMD:


icacls "path_to_system32" /reset /t /c /l


...and in doing so caused a few other problems with *other* applications like the event viewer/log services, and launching/installing applications. I'm now on reset #4, and am unable to activate Windows. I used media via usb for this most recent installation, thinking that I'd have a different result.


I'm pretty sure at this point, the tablets' hardware may be faulty. I'm not quite sure where to go from here. Thanks for reading.

:)

 

Windows 10 Activation (Insider)

How long did you wait for activation?
When I re-installed with a fresh install... it took a few hours to sync and activate.
However, it did, finally, activate.

 

DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 10 NOW - Upgrade and ISO direct from microsoft

Click to expand... Yeah I went to that site, why do I need to buy a key?
I won't buy a key, stupid.

I'll revert back to windows 7 then.

When I still was on windows 7, about a year ago I added 4GB extra ram which is a total of 8GB now,
is that causing the problem?

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.