Volume Activation 2.0 Operations Guide
Microsoft Corporation Page 32
Appendix 2: Troubleshooting by Error Code
The following table provides troubleshooting help when using volume editions of Windows Vista and Windows Server
2008 operating systems.
Error Code Error Message Activatio
n Type
Possible
Cause
Troubleshooting Steps
0xC004C001
The activation server
determined the specified
product key is invalid
MAK Invalid MAK
entered.
Verify the key is the MAK provided by Microsoft.
Contact the Microsoft Activation Call Center to
verify the MAK is valid.
0xC004C003
The activation server
determined the specified
product key is blocked
MAK The MAK is
blocked on the
activation
Contact the Microsoft Activation Call Center to
obtain a new MAK and install/activate the system.
0xC004B100
The activation server
determined that the computer
could not be activated.
MAK The key is
unsupported.
Verify the key is the MAK provided by Microsoft.
Contact the Microsoft Activation Call Center to
0xC004C008
The activation server
determined that the specified
product key could not be
used.
KMS The KMS key
has exceeded
the activation
limit.
KMS keys will activate up to 10 times, on 6
different computers. If more activations are
necessary, contact the Microsoft Activation Call
Center.
0xC004C020
The activation server reported
that the Multiple Activation
Key has exceeded its limit.
MAK The MAK has
exceeded the
activation limit.
MAKs by design have a limited number of
activations. Contact the Microsoft Activation Call
Center to obtain a new MAK or increase the limit on
0xC004C021
The activation server reported
that the Multiple Activation
Key extension limit has been
exceeded.
MAK The MAK has
exceeded the
activation limit.
MAKs by design have a limited number of
activations. Contact the Microsoft Activation Call
Center to obtain a new MAK or increase the limit on
the existing MAK.
0xC004F009
The software Licensing
Service reported that the
grace period expired.
MAK Grace period
expired before
system was
activated, now
system is in
RFM mode.
Follow the Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM)
recovery guidelines in the Volume Activation 2.0
Operations Guide.
0xC004F00F
The Software Licensing
Server reported that the
MAK/KMS
client/KMS
The hardware
has changed or
MAK - Reactivate the system during the Out of
Tolerance grace period using either online or phone
