Windows 10: Windows is not activated following "reset this pc"

I have just done another factory reset followed by Chrome install.

I have the following on the activation screen:




This appears good. I will proceed with caution and try to verify exactly what updates breaks the activation and corrupts the permissions of the security service. Any further tips?

 

Interesting how the previous activation screenshot did not show the product key. Using showkeyplus I get:




Update:
I rechecked the activation screen and now see:

 

@Superfly, do you have any ideas about this? I get conflicting information between two windows on my build:

 

The "No product Key found" is not normal, especially if it has an OEM embedded key? And the "Subscription" part is definitely not normal? I don't remember ever seeing that on that screen?

 

Are you doing a factory recovery or Windows Reset? If a factory recovery, build does the factory recovery install? My Education installs switched from activated with a Product key, to Activated with a Digital License when I upgraded to the AU. Build 14393.

 

My latest rebuild was done using:

• Reset this PC.
• Don't keep files.

I now see the conflicting output as show in post #16.

Also I have a watermark on my desktop. Is this normal?

 

Reset this PC will keep what ever build is currently installed. Doing and actual factory recovery will put it back to the OOBE, Out Of the Box Experience. And reinstall the original OS it shipped from the factory with. It will also remove any programs you installed and erase all your personal files. No the Watermark is not normal, that usually indicated Windows is not activated and or in a trial mode. The Windows 10 Preview builds had them but once the official consumer release came out they went away.

 

There two ways of activating windows - this first is via slui,exe (the "change product key" option in activation settings) - this is what is used for digital entitlement - however it does not seem to differentiate Windows 10 keys and returns a digital entitlement for those as well.

The second is the traditional SPP (slmgr) activation with a key specific to the version and edition and will report merely "Windows is Activated".

Regarding the second screen that will only show whether genuine or not and not care about the type of licence.

No it's not normal for an activated system... you are probably in grace period which is a genuine unlicensed state - that may show as activated temporarily

Try creating a diagnostic report so we can check see : Activation troubleshooting - Windows 10 Forums ( there has been a report of a bug on another thread - hopefully yours will run ok)

Lastly - one cannot overwrite Trusted installer corruptions from within Windows as with a Restore - fixes has to be applied from a WinPE/RE boot (i.e with the Windows installation not being booted)

 

Thanks @Superfly, here are the results:
Windows Diagnostic Information
------------------------------


Tool Version: 10.0.14393.0
Licensing Status: Unlicenced
Licensing Status Reason: 0xC004F014
Local Genuine State: Genuine
Local Genuine Result P: 1
Last Online Genuine Result:
Grace Time Minutes: 0
Total Grace Days: 0
Validity Expiration:
Active Partial Product Key: 7MHX4
Active Product Key Pid2: ********-AAOEM
O S Version: 10.0.14393.2.00010300.0.0.101
Product Name: Windows 10 Home
Processor Architecture: x64
Edition Id: Core
Build Lab: 14393.rs1_release.160715-1616
Time Zone: GMT Standard Time(GMT)
Active Sku Id:
Active Sku Description:
Product Uniqueness Groups:
Active Product Key P Key Id:
Active Product Key Pid Ex: *****-03259-592-379813-02-1033-14393.0000-2762016
Active Product Key Channel: OEM*BiggrinM
Active Volume Customer Pid:
Offline Installation Id:
Domain Joined: false
Computer Sid: S-1-5-21-*****-1153690385-1532856144
Product L C I D: 1033
User L C I D: 2057
System L C I D: 1033
Code Signing: SIGNED_INFO_PRS_SIGNED
Service Available: false
Oem Marker Version: 0x00020001
Oem Id: GBT
Oem Table Id: GBTUACPI
O A3 Product Key: **********************-7MHX4
Manufacturer: GIGABYTE
Model: P16G
Install Date: 20161118000733.000000+000
Result: PASS
Tampered Items:
Server Props: 0xc0000022
...
..
****** Errors from Event Log *****
Message: The Software Protection service failed to start. 0x80070005
10.0.14393.0
Time Written: : 20161118124246.602260-000
Message: The Software Protection service failed to start. 0x80070005
10.0.14393.0
....
...
---------------Created by Superfly for EightForums & TenForums

 

Thanks @Superfly. I think I understand now. How do I do this? I am using the MediaCreationTool.exe to create an install on my USB pen. I will then boot from USB and then re-install Windows. Is that correct? Or is there another way.

 

OK. I have re-installed WIndows 10 Home along with the latest updates using a bootable USB pen. The desktop watermark has gone . Here is the latest diagnostic report:
Windows Diagnostic Information
------------------------------
Tool Version: 10.0.14393.0
Licensing Status: Licenced
Licensing Status Reason: 0x4004F401
Local Genuine State: Genuine
Local Genuine Result P: 1
Last Online Genuine Result:
Grace Time Minutes: 0
Total Grace Days: 0
Validity Expiration:
Active Partial Product Key: 7MHX4
Active Product Key Pid2: 00325-95923-79813-AAOEM
O S Version: 10.0.14393.2.00010300.0.0.101
Product Name: Windows 10 Home
Processor Architecture: x64
Edition Id: Core
Build Lab: 14393.rs1_release_inmarket.161102-0100
Time Zone: GMT Standard Time(GMT)
Active Sku Id: 8db63db6-4f8f-46d6-a448-66444faaaa72
Active Sku Description: Windows(R) Operating System, OEM_DM channel
Product Uniqueness Groups: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Active Product Key P Key Id: 8576df92-73ee-a082-d49d-f010192c3a2d
Active Product Key Pid Ex: *****-03259-592-379813-02-2057-14393.0000-3232016
Active Product Key Channel: OEM*BiggrinM
Active Volume Customer Pid:
Offline Installation Id: *
Domain Joined: false
Computer Sid: S-1-5-21-635697712-3682966622-3251237811
Product L C I D: 2057
User L C I D: 2057
System L C I D: 2057
Code Signing: SIGNED_INFO_PRS_SIGNED
Service Available: true
Oem Marker Version: 0x00020001
Oem Id: GBT
Oem Table Id: GBTUACPI
O A3 Product Key: *****-7MHX4
Manufacturer: GIGABYTE
Model: P16G
Install Date: 20161118143912.000000+000
Result: PASS
****** Errors from Event Log *****
No Security SPP Event Log errors found
------------------------------------------------
Created by Superfly for EightForums & TenForums

@Superfly, although I can see that that windows is activated on the settings screens (basic info and activation), I can see the error code in your logs: 0x4004F401. Is this a problem?

 

Well as can be seen from the report, it's screaming to have that service started.

The easiest I found is to boot the Win 10 media - choose repair->advanced options - choose a restore point - the oldest one will do (hopefully prior to the corruption) - restore that - you will have depleted apps (...and such) but the corruption will be corrected, hopefully.

If we have that sorted, to get the apps (... and such) back - run restore from within Windows and select the last restore point.
This will recover the apps (..and such) but not affect permissions (remember higher permissions cannot be changed when Windows is running.. so we are using that to our advantage here)

I haven't yet figured out how to do it without a restore point or clean install...

 

LOL - we sync posted... but nevermind. - no that is not an error, it's just a code...

If you click on the link within the Activation Tool and expand detail - it will say it's a store licence, which is Windows 10 jargon for Digital Licence.

So you are good to go - that report looks all good.

BTW: This is the clincher:

Service Available: true

 

A big super thanks *Smile

 

LOL.. you are super welcome *Wink

BTW: Remove the key in your last report (in the XML at the end under OA3xOriginalProductKey=) - no-one else can use it as it's tied to your hardware id, but better be safe.