After investigating this particular issue thoroughly, it turns out that there are several different underlying causes that might be responsible for the apparition of this error code. Here’s a list of potential culprits: Now that you are aware of every potential cause that might trigger this activation error on Windows 10 and Windows 7, here’s a list of methods that other affected users have successfully used to get to the bottom of this issue:
Method 1: Running the Activation Troubleshooter
Before you move on to more technical fixes, you should start by ensuring that the issue is not server-related. More often than not, you can attribute the apparition of this issue to a licensing inconsistency that’s affecting your computer’s ability to communicate with the activation servers. In this scenario, you should start this troubleshooting guide by running the Activation Troubleshooter and applying the recommended fix. Note: Most user reports flagging this issue have reported that the problem only started occurring after they made a major hardware change (most commonly replacing the motherboard). If this scenario is applicable in your particular scenario, follow the instructions below to run the Activation Troubleshooter and apply the recommended fix: If you still end up seeing the same 0xc004f200 error is still occurring during the activation process, move down to the next potential fix below.
Method 2: Uninstalling the Problematic Update
Although Microsoft never acknowledged this issue, the apparition of the 0xc004f200 error coincides with the deployment of the KB4480970 security patch. This patch affected both Windows 7 and Windows 10 and has triggered a ‘Non-Genuine‘ error on volume-licensed Windows clients that already had the KB 971033 update installed. If the scenario described above is perfectly applicable to your situation, the instructions below will allow you to uninstall the problematic KB4480970 update and ensure that you resolve the 0xc004f200 error code. Keep in mind that we’ve put together 2 separate guides to accommodate both Windows versions (Windows 7 and Windows 10) – Follow the sub-guide that is applicable to the operating system that you’re currently encountering the issue on:
A. Uninstalling the Security Patch KB4480970 on Windows 10
B. Uninstalling the Security Patch on Windows 7
Method 3: Refreshing every Windows Component
If none of the methods above have worked in your particular scenario that’s causing the 0xc004f200, the next thing you should investigate is some type of underlying system file corruption that is affecting your OS’s ability to check the integrity of your license and activate it if necessary. In this case, the best thing you can do is refresh every Windows component that might be causing this problem with a procedure like clean installing or repair installing:
Repair installing – In case you have important information on your Windows drive, go for a repair install procedure since it will allow you to keep all your personal data. You will be able to keep your personal media, apps, games, and even some user preferences associated with your current OS installation. The main issue is that you will need to insert or plug in a compatible installation media in order to trigger a repair install procedure.Clean installing – If you don’t have any important data on your OS drive, the quickest and painless procedure is to go for a clean install. This operation will erase any personal data on the OS drive, but you will be able to trigger this procedure directly from the GUI menu of Windows without having to plug in a compatible installation media.
Method 4: Contacting Microsoft’s Support
If none of the methods above didn’t allow you to re-activate your Windows build and you’re still encountering the 0xc004f200 error, the best course of action is to get in contact with Microsoft’s support team and ask them to activate your operating system. There are a couple of different ways that will allow you to do this, but the most convenient way of getting this sorted is to get in touch with a Microsoft Agent via the toll-free number that’s specific to the region where you are located. Here’s a list of country-specific phone numbers – Depending on your region and the number of support agents that are active in that time frame, you might need to wait a couple of hours before you get in contact with a live agent. Once you manage to speak to a human, you will be asked a number of security questions to confirm that you actually own the license key that you’re trying to activate. If everything checks out, they will activate your Windows build remotely.
How to Fix ‘An Error Occurred During Activation. Try Again’ Error during…[FIX] Windows Activation Error 0XC004F213 on Windows 10Fix: Windows Activation Error 0x55601 or 0x44578How to Fix Error 0xc004f014 During Activation on Windows 10
