Windows 7 activation error: 0xC004C756

[bigsnyder]

Update: Error resolved, problem on Microsoft's end

Was running Windows 7 Home Premium x86, then purchased a copy of Windows 7 Professional Upgrade. Instead of a clean install, chose the "Anytime Upgrade" option. Entered new Professional key when prompted during the upgrade process. Installation successful. Now after a week, windows reports it needs to activate. Online activation reports the following error: 0xC004C756 "The activation server reported that it failed to insert product key binding." I have not changed any hardware and I can confirm the key is valid (it does accept key when changing it inside the command prompt with administrative rights). Searching google and bing has turned up ZERO on this error code. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[eastcoastguy]

Hey there. I am getting the same error onmy machone after a rebuild tonight... Anyone have any ideas???

 

[Albaby348]

I am having the same problem as you two. Built my machine yesterday and trying to activate for the 1st time tonight. The same error: 0xC004C756

 

[alexf187]

Another one, just finished building a new system, installed a new copy of windows 7 sp1 went to activate it and got the same error: 0xC004C756

 

[Harvey]

If you know your copy of Win 7 and your key are legit, you may end up having to phone Microsoft for support. Meanwhile, from Microsoft's support site:

Windows 7 activation error: invalid product key

If you receive an error indicating that your product key is not valid when installing Windows 7, it could be for the following reasons:

• You might have mistyped your product key. Try retyping it.
  
  
• You might be using a product key that doesn't match the version of Windows 7 that's installed on your computer. Check the product key to make sure it is for the version that you are trying to activate. You can't use a product key for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1) to activate a copy of Windows 7 without SP1.
  
  
• The product key is for an upgrade version of Windows 7 and a previous version of Windows wasn't on your computer when Windows 7 was installed. To install an upgrade version of Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP must be installed on your computer. If you formatted the drive before starting the installation process, you won't be able to use the upgrade product key to activate Windows 7. To activate Windows 7, you'll need to install your previous version of Windows, and then reinstall Windows 7. For help with the activation process, go to the Microsoft Support website.
  
  For more information about Windows 7 activation errors, see Windows 7 activation error: 0xC004F061.

We recommend that you install Windows 7 with your current version of Windows running. If you want to format the hard drive, and you are using an upgrade version of Windows 7, you'll need to start your computer using the Windows 7 installation disc or a USB flash drive, click Custom (advanced), and then click Drive options (advanced).

To verify your product key, look for the product key sticker on your computer or inside the Windows package—or in a confirmation e‑mail if you purchased and downloaded Windows 7 online. Go to the Microsoft website to see examples of product key stickers.

If you still can't find your product key, you might need to buy a new one to activate Windows. You can purchase an additional copy of the same edition of Windows 7, which contains a product key that you can use. For more information, see Get a new Windows 7 product key.

If you're unable to enter a product key without getting an error message, you can leave the box empty and click Next, or you can click Skip. This will allow you to finish setup, but your copy of Windows 7 won't be activated. You must activate Windows within 30 days of installation. For information about activating Windows 7 after setup, see Activate Windows 7 on this computer and Activating Windows 7: frequently asked questions.

The product key won't be valid if you're running a non-genuine copy of Windows. For more information, see What is genuine Windows?

Article ID: MSW700002

Hope that helps.

 

[wumann84]

Yet another one, finally got to the point where I have the OS stable, tried to activate, and recieved the same error:
windows activation error 0xC004C756
Full retail of ultimate, direct from Micro$oft.
I just love the circular logic, click the link to:
"You can also contact Microsoft by phone to help resolve this problem."
Which takes you to More suport options, like ask a friend, ask other users, or, Contact technical support, click the link to Micro$oft Cu$tomer $upport
Go through the Solution Center wizard for activation issues, get to the point to call, or chat with tech support, and the wizard directs you to use the phone number supplied in the dialog for Windows Activation, which is where this all started.

I am really conviced that the only diference between a computer virus and Window$,
is that a computer virus actually works.

Grumpf!!!!

 

[cyberia]

Yet another one, finally got to the point where I have the OS stable, tried to activate, and recieved the same error:
windows activation error 0xC004C756

I just ran into the same error number activating Win 7 Ultimate on new hardware (bare metal restore from a Windows backup). Did a search for the error number and virtually all of 10 (yes, only ten) search results from Google are forum discussions from the last couple of hours. Phone activation is reported being down too.

Looks like an activation server problem on Microsoft's end. Hopefully, they will get it straightened out by the morning. Good night.

 

[wumann84]

Check out the thread:
titled: Windows 7 activation error code 0xC004C756
smells like the latest 'updates' are causing havoc with many of the MS products

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/05fe3d8e-d8c5-4a8b-9904-fbfad9ef003f

 

[Emulex]

hmm i updated all to sp1 and all patches and all my oem SLIC2.1 machines are flawless. maybe this is a feature of retail licensing?

 

[cyberia]

Check out the thread:
titled: Windows 7 activation error code 0xC004C756
smells like the latest 'updates' are causing havoc with many of the MS products

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/05fe3d8e-d8c5-4a8b-9904-fbfad9ef003f

If you read the last few responses there, you will see that it was almost certainly a server issue on Microsoft's end. Mine activated withing seconds this morning.

 

[bigsnyder]

I will try again later today. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Nothinman]

Yet another one, finally got to the point where I have the OS stable, tried to activate, and recieved the same error:
windows activation error 0xC004C756
Full retail of ultimate, direct from Micro$oft.
I just love the circular logic, click the link to:
"You can also contact Microsoft by phone to help resolve this problem."
Which takes you to More suport options, like ask a friend, ask other users, or, Contact technical support, click the link to Micro$oft Cu$tomer $upport
Go through the Solution Center wizard for activation issues, get to the point to call, or chat with tech support, and the wizard directs you to use the phone number supplied in the dialog for Windows Activation, which is where this all started.

I am really conviced that the only diference between a computer virus and Window$,
is that a computer virus actually works.

Grumpf!!!!

You might want to stop by BestBuy and get a new keyboard too, your current one seems to be randomly spewing dollar signs whenever you hit the s key...

 

[wumann84]

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy, Windows successfully activated.
Now to finish up the taxes.
And Nothinman, I took your advice, I got the MS wireless keyboard & Mouse, it was cheaper at Staples then at Best Buy.
I used your post to justify the expense to the spousal unit for why I needed it, THANX!!!!

 

[bankster55]

Wow, so many posters.

First guess is buying a copy from non trad source and got a blacklisted Technet or MSDN key.

If any of you guys still stuck, you can download the MGA Diag tool, run it and click copy and post output report here with forum quote tags

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012

After reading hundreds of these on social.technet forum, I'm getting pretty savvy at reading them - that is unless it was a server down prob for everyone.

 

[airdata]

I don't know what activation error I had a week or 2 ago, but it was because my time was wrong. My date/time was showing some date in 2010.

As soon as I updated it, activation worked. dunno if this is the same or not.

 

[alexf187]

Back to normal, I was able to activate my copy in seconds. I reckon there was something wrong with the activation server as bankster55 says above, why is Microsoft so cryptic when it comes to errors? couldn't they just give an error stating that the activation server is down try again later.

 

[bigsnyder]

Activation worked this morning without any problem. Obviously on Microsoft's side. Speaking of cryptic, error code 0xC004C756 was not even on the list of possible codes on Microsoft's site (the list I saw anyway).