Windows 10: Windows 11 Pro activation issue after a DISC CLONE

Hi,We have done this procedure 1000s of times: We use Acronis to clone a HARD drive into s SSD drive.This is a Dell OptiPlex 3060 and after the clone is done, we are getting the ugly "we can't activate Windows" message attached.Have searched and done many things, even bought a key for it after using one from our MAPS subscription....nothing works.Any help will be appreciated.

:)

 

Windows 11 pro activation issue Error Code 0xC004C008

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

The error code 0xC004C008 in Windows 11 Pro typically indicates that the product key you're using has exceeded its usage limit. This can happen if the key is meant for a limited number of activations and has been used more times than allowed. Here are some steps you can take to resolve this issue:

1. Confirm Your Product Key: First, ensure that the product key you are using is correct and meant for Windows 11 Pro. If you have multiple keys, it's easy to mix them up. Double-check the key and try entering it again.
   
2. Contact Microsoft Support: Since the error suggests that your key has exceeded its activation limit, the best course of action is to contact Microsoft Support directly. They can provide specific details about the usage limit of your key and help you with activation.
   
3. Purchase a New Key: If Microsoft confirms that your key has indeed exceeded its activation limit and cannot be reset, you will need to purchase a new Windows 11 Pro license.
   
4. Troubleshooting Steps:
   
   • Run Activation Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and then click on Troubleshoot. You've mentioned it shows an error (0x80070520), which usually indicates a different problem (often related to communication issues with Microsoft servers). Ensure your internet connection is stable and try running the troubleshooter again.
     
   • Check for Updates: Sometimes, pending updates can interfere with the activation process. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for any pending updates. Install them and try activating again.
     
   • SFC and DISM Scan: Run the System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools to repair Windows images and correct any issues that might be affecting activation.
     
     • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
       
     • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
       
     • After it completes, type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
       
5. Consider Hardware Changes: If you've made significant hardware changes to your PC, Windows might consider it a new device, which can affect activation. The Activation Troubleshooter mentioned above can sometimes help with this, particularly if you're signed in with a Microsoft account that has a digital license linked to it.
   
6. Reinstall Windows 10 Pro and Upgrade: If all else fails and you previously had Windows 10 Pro activated on the same hardware, consider reinstalling Windows 10 Pro and using the free upgrade path to Windows 11 Pro, if available. This might circumvent the issue by validating your hardware through the previous activation.
   

Using a genuine and appropriately licensed version of Windows is crucial for receiving support and updates. If you continue to experience issues, purchasing a new license or contacting Microsoft Support are your best options.

Let me know if you need further assistance.

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

Activation options for Win10 with instant clones

We have a secure (no internet access) lab environment setup to test and validate a VMWare VDI deployment of Win10 clients.

Our issue is activation of the Win10 clients as they require re-activation every time we logoff and back on because we are using instant clones.

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to resolve this? Here are the options we are considering and issues as we understand them:

• Setup a KMS server
  • Requires a Volume license, which is doable
  • Documentation says we must have a minimum of 25 hosts, we don' have that in our lab
• Use our MSDN account
  • No support for Win10 KMS license
  • No support for MKS activation
• Manually activate each time
  • Gonna spend a lot of time on the phone
  • Win10 has no grace period so machines are crippled w/o activation

Anyone have a thought or suggestions? I'm hoping I missed something.

Thanks

 

Moving to SSD. Clone or not to clone?

I kinda agree with you, but on a wholr, do not. While I have done things a bit differently than this specific situation, by installing Windows directly to the SSD, and cloning after, my testing shows that there are no issues doing this, very little that can go wrong, provided your system is stable.

There are certain features that must be disabled in this situation, like auto defrag and such, but even with a fresh install to the SSD, you need to take steps to ensure that you SSD performs properly, regardless of how the data got there.

Arming yourself with a bit of knowledge can go a long way.

Installing the latest chipset driver, and the RST Tools, will ensure optimal performance of the SSD. but rather than taking my advice, I suggest the OP takes a look here:

http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sand...7-and-ssds-to-clone-windows-or-reinstall.aspx

Install A Solid State Drive In Your Notebook

Keep in mind, also, Digibucc, that many retail drives include software and such that very specifically is to be used to ttranser the OS from an existing mechanical drive to an SSD, and if there really was alot fo issues stemming from the cloning process, they would not have packages like that, simply to eliminate tech support costs. While not the optimal option, cloning is NOT a bad thing, as long as you take the nessecary steps.