Windows activation can be sometimes get hiccups in the form of Error Code 0xc004f069. This issue can occur, especially on older systems running Windows Server. If you’re facing this error, follow these steps to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
1. Activate from the Command Prompt
Step 1: Check Your Windows Server Edition
- Open Settings by pressing Win+I.
- Go to the “About” section to identify your Windows Server Edition. It could be Standard, Evaluation, or Datacenter.
Step 2: Activate Your Standard Windows Server
- Click the Start button.
- Here, type “cmd.exe” and locate “Command Prompt.”
- Now, right-click and select “Run as administrator.”
In the Command Prompt, enter the following code (replace “product_key” with your actual key) and press Enter:
slmgr /ipk product_key
You will see a “Product successfully registered” message.
Next, activate the license key by entering this code and pressing Enter:
slmgr /ato
Your Server edition should now be activated. Restart your system to complete the process.
2: Activate Windows Server Evaluation Edition
- Use the Start button to open the search box and type “cmd.”
- Right-click “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.”
In the terminal, enter this code (replace the example product key with your own) and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:12345-12345-12345-12345-12345 /AcceptEula
When prompted, press ‘Y’ to reboot the system directly from the terminal. This action will update the product key.
3: Activate Windows DataCenter Edition
If you have a Windows Server DataCenter edition, you need to convert it to Standard before activation.
- Press Win+S and type “command.”
- Right-click “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.”
Enter the following code (replace the example product key with your own) and press Enter:
DISM /Online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter /ProductKey:12345-12345-12345-12345-12345 /AcceptEula
Press ‘Y’ when prompted for a system restart. Your system will reboot, and you can check the activation status afterward.
4: Change the VLC MAK License
If you have a VLC MAK license, follow these steps:
Sign in to the server.
Open Command Prompt as the system administrator.
In the terminal, enter this code (replace “abcde-abcde-abcde-abcde-abcde” with your actual product key) and press Enter:
slmgr /ipk abcde-abcde-abcde-abcde-abcde
Now, enter this code.
slmgr /ato
Restart your system to complete the process.
5: Try Another Product Key
If none of the above solutions work, consider using a different product key. It’s possible that the issue lies with the key itself. If you purchased Windows from the Microsoft Store or their website, contact Microsoft for assistance.
By following these steps, you can tackle Windows Activation Error Code 0xc004f069 and successfully activate your Windows Server edition.