Incorrect product keys often cause this error code
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Passionate about technology, Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world. Coming… read more
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- The Windows activation error 0xc004d302 is mostly triggered by corrupt license files.
- Running a System File Checker scan could help in identifying the corrupt files as well as fixing them.
- Some users also claim they solved the issue by reverting their System to a previous restore point.
Some of our readers have recently reported that they received one of the windows activation errors, such as the 0xC004D302 error code on their Windows PC and as a result, some functions stopped working.
This error appears on a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition. It can be triggered when the trusted data memory is reactivated. You can work your way through this article to fix the issue.
What causes the 0xc004d302 error?
Below are some of the potential reasons behind the 0xC004d302 windows activation error code:
- Fake or incorrect product key – One of the most common reasons you are receiving the 0xC004d302 error code is because the product key you entered is not valid or is incorrect.
- Issues with RSA MachineKeys – This error can be triggered during activation if there are changes in the default permissions of RSA MachineKeys.
- License files (Token.dat) are corrupt – The Windows activation files are stored in the Token dat file of the operating system. If these files get damaged, this error may occur after activation.
- Using different commands for activation – If you have executed the Slmgr. vbs/rearm command, and you try to run another command for activation, such as /dlv or /dli, before restarting your PC; the error will appear.
Now that you know some of the potential reasons for the 0xC004d302 activation error code, you can explore the solutions in the next section to help you fix the issue.
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How can I fix the 0xC004d302 error code?
Before engaging in the advanced troubleshooting fixes provided in this article, you should consider performing the following preliminary checks, which can help you prevent the error next time:
- Buy a valid activation code.
- If you’re sure that you entered a valid activation code, wait for a few hours, then try again.
- Check your Internet connection and try again.
- Run the Windows Activation troubleshooter.
Having confirmed the above checks and you still require further assistance, you can explore the dedicated fixes on how to fix the 0xC004d302 error.
1. Run an SFC scan
- Press the Windows key, type cmd in the Search box, and select Run as administrator.
- In the CMD window, type the following command in the text field and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
- The scanning process may take some time, so wait till the verification reaches 100%.
Running the System File Checker scan could help fix the error since one of the underlying causes is the presence of corrupt license files (Token.dat).
2. Edit the Windows Registry
- Press the Start button and type Registry in the Search box, and open the Registry Editor application.
- Navigate to the following location:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sppsvc
- Go to the right panel and right-click on SkipRearm. Select the Modify option, and a dialog box with Edit DWORD 32-bit folder should appear.
- Set the Value Data to 1 and click the OK button.
- Restart your PC.
- Now, go to the Start menu, search for Command Prompt, and select the option to Run as an Administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter:
slmgr –rearm
- Now check if the issue is resolved.
If the Registry Editor is not working well, check out this guide dedicated to solving errors while accessing the Registry to get it working.
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3. Perform a System Restore
- Press the Windows key + R key to open the Run box, type rstrui in the text box and press Enter.
- Click on choose a different restore point and then press the Next button.
- Now, select Restore my computer to an earlier time option and then click Next. when the error didn’t happen.
- Click the Next button, and then click on Finish.
- Check to see if the problem is fixed.
The System Restore tool can revert your system to a previous point. By this, you should be able to fix the issue.
4. Use a specialized tool
Not scanning your PC for corrupt, malfunctioning, or missing files can lead to multiple system errors that can be hard to tackle.
Thus, using dedicated third-party software can be a great solution because it is a program designed to scan and repair system components automatically.
And that’s it on how to fix the 0xC004d302 activation error code. You can work your way through any of the solutions provided above.
In the case where CMD is not working in Windows 11, here is an easy fix to apply. Additionally, if the Windows product key is not working, you can explore our dedicated guide on how to fix it.
If you have any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to use the comments section below.
Error code 0xC004D302 error appears on a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition. It triggers when the trusted data memory is reactivated; license files are a corrupt, issue in the Machinekeys folder, or a user tries to execute different commands after executing slmgr. Vbs /rearm without restarting the Computer.
Here are some possible reasons why error code 0xC004D302 appears during windows activation;
- Corrupt License files (Token.dat): Token dat file in Windows OS stores the windows activation files. These Toke.dat files have assigned digital signatures, which they cannot replace on any other system or activate windows anywhere else.
But once these files corrupt, they can cause activation issues, and an error appears. In this case, you can clean your windows registry or perform a system restore. - Issues in RSA Machine Keys: This folder saves the IIS certificate keys. When any problem appears in activation, this folder can fill with several or even thousands of files when an activation error occurs. In this case, scan the system and check if the error appears. You can also scan the Drive to check if there is any error.
- You are using different Commands for Activation: When you execute Slmgr. vbs/rearm and try to run some other command for activation, such as /dlv or /dli, before restarting your PC; the error will appear. It is essential to restart the PC and then try to execute another command. Your Microsoft applications will stop launching, and the PC’s performance will effect as well.
After analyzing all the possible causes of this issue, here are some methods you can follow to fix this error,
1. Run SFC Scan
The error will appear if your system files that support the windows activation are corrupt or missing. In this case, you can run an SFC scan to identify the possible issue in the windows system files and repair it. So, follow the below steps to proceed;
- Click on the Start Menu and search for CMD.
- Press the Run as an Administrator option. Then type the following command on the command line and press Enter key;
SFC/Scannow.
- This process will take some time to scan the system files. Once the scanning is complete, restart your system and check whether the error appears.
Run SFC Scanning Command
2. Edit Windows Registry
The windows registry controls the low-level settings of Microsoft windows OS. When there is an issue with the activation keys, you can edit the Windows registry and check whether the error fixes or not. Here are some steps to edit the windows registry;
Note: Editing the windows registry is risky if you do not know about it. It can affect your computer OS and stops launching several programs. So, if you want to make changes to it, consult an experienced person.
- Go to the start menu and type Registry.
- Now open the Registry Editor application. Navigate to the following location;
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
- Go to the right panel and right-click on SkipRearm. Select the Modify option. A dialogue box “Edit DWORD 32-bit folder” will appear.
Edit Windows Registry - Here set the Value Data to 1 and click the Ok option. Then restart your Computer.
Set the Data Value - Now go to the start menu, and search for Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt and select the “run as an Administration” option.
- Now type the following command and press enter from the keyboard;
slmgr –rearm
- Hopefully, the error will fix, but if not, switch to the following method.
Run slmgr rearm Command
3. Perform Diagnostic Tests of Drive with Error Checking Tool
If the error still appears, you can perform a diagnostic test of Drive by using the error-checking Tool. It will scan the corrupt system files, identify the hard disk’s faulty sectors, and fix the errors. So, follow the below steps;
- Open File Explorer and click on My PC.
- Right-click on your c: / drive and select the properties.
Check the Properties of Hard Drive - Then select Tool from its menu bar, and press the Check option to scan the Drive to detect the system file errors.
- Click the Scan Drive. This Scanning process will take a few minutes to complete.
Scan Hard Drive - Now recover the defective part by clicking on Check Defective Sectors option just below the Check Disk Option. Once it is complete, check if the error appears or not.
4. Restore Your Windows
If you still face an issue, you can restore a window system. In this case, you will select the date and time when this error did not appear. But remember that you can lose data you have stored after the selected restoring date and time. So, follow the below steps and fix the issue;
- Press the Window key + R and open the Run Dialogue Box.
- Type rstrui and hit the enter key.
- Select “choose a different restore” and then press the Next option.
Run Windows Restore - Now select the option to your required time and date when the error didn’t appear.
- Then press the Next option and then click on Finish. Before applying this step, please remember that you will lose the data you saved after the date you selected for windows restore. Once the restore is complete, check if the error appears or not.
Windows Restore
Saleha Rashid
I’m Saleha Rashid, an Environmental Engineer by profession. I have graduated from the University of Engineering and Technology, (U.E.T Lahore) I have had a passion for Technology since early childhood. I enjoy writing about technology and fixing issues related to Android and Windows. I am a Hardware geek with a passion for android gaming. I love to write articles to help people solve their problems regarding software and hardware.
Question
Issue: How to fix Windows activation error 0xC004D302?
Hello. Today I received an activation error 0xC004D302 on my Windows computer. Some functions stopped working. What should I do?
Solved Answer
Windows requires an activation key to work properly. If for some reason the license files become corrupted, users can encounter activation errors. We previously wrote about 0x8007232B, 0x87e107f9, 0XC004F009, and many other activation errors.
When Windows is not activated, users cannot change the wallpaper, customize the lock screen, change icons, etc. The most worrying thing is that such a device is not eligible to receive the latest security patches and feature updates which can make the system vulnerable.[1]
Usually, they can be fixed by using the Windows activation troubleshooter, installing Windows updates, or using the phone activation option. Recently, some people encountered a 0xC004D302 Windows activation error. This error appears on computers running Microsoft Windows non-core edition. The full message reads as follows:
Software licensing service version: 10.0.16299.15
Error: 0xC004D302 On a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition, run ‘slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004D302’ to display the error text.
Most of the time, the error is triggered by issues in the Machinekeys folder, reactivation of trusted data memory, or attempts at executing different commands after executing slmgr. Vbs /rearm without restarting the computer. In this guide, you will find 4 steps that should help you fix Windows activation error 0xC004D302.
However, manual troubleshooting can be a lengthy process. You can try using a maintenance tool like FortectMac Washing Machine X9. This powerful software can fix most system errors, BSODs,[2] corrupted files, and registry[3] issues. Otherwise, follow the step-by-step instructions below.
Solution 1. Fix Corrupted System Files
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Use Command Prompt commands to repair system file corruption:
- Open Command Prompt as administrator
- Use the following command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
- Reboot your system
- If SFC returned an error, then use the following command lines, pressing Enter after each:
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Solution 2. Edit Windows Registry
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- Go to the Start menu and type Registry
- Now open the Registry Editor and navigate to the following location:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform
- Go to the right panel and right-click on SkipRearm
- Select the Modify option and a dialogue box Edit DWORD 32-bit folder should appear
- Here set the Value Data to 1 and click the Ok option
- Restart your computer
- Now go to the Start menu, and search for Command Prompt
- Select the run as an Administrator option
- Type the following command and press Enter:
slmgr –rearm
- Check if the error is fixed
Solution 3. Check Drive
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The activation error might have been caused by a corrupted drive. Perform a scan to make sure it is working properly:
- Open File Explorer and click on My PC
- Right-click on your c: / drive and select Properties
- Then select Tool from its menu bar, and press the Check option to scan the Drive to detect the system file errors
- Click Scan Drive
- Click on Check Defective Sectors option just below the Check Disk Option
- Once it is complete, check if the error appears or not
Solution 4. Use System Restore
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To repair damaged system, you have to purchase the licensed version of Fortect Mac Washing Machine X9.
You can use the System Restore tool to revert your system to a previous point. Keep in mind that this can result in software loss if it was installed after the restore point:
- Press the Window key + R to open the Run dialogue box
- Type rstrui and hit Enter
- Select choose a different restore point and then press the Next option
- Now select the option to your required time and date when the error didn’t appear
- Then press the Next option and then click on Finish
- Once the restore is complete, check if the issue is fixed
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Windows activation error code 0xC004D302 indicates that the security chip reported that the trusted data store has been reactivated.
Error 0xC004D302 can be very big and each number has its own problem. It takes a thorough investigation to use these “codes” to fix the wrong thing.
There are several possible reasons for this error:
- Changes to standard permissions “C: ProgramDataMicrosoftCryptoRSAMachineKeys”.
- Damage to license files. (Tokens.dat)
- If you ran slmgr.vbs / erectm and tried to run another activation command (such as / dlv or / dli) before restarting, this error occurs. You must restart slmgr.vbs / erectm after using the command before attempting activation.
If you are always missing error code 0xc004d302 on your Windows system, then there could be much more serious problems on your system that will ultimately seriously affect your computer. However, error 0xC004D302 should not be ignored, as the possible result could be a slowdown or complete failure of the computer if left untreated.
Contents
Run SFC / scannow command
This command takes time. When scanning is complete, the scan results are displayed. Windows Resource Protection might not have detected any integrity violations. You can turn it off and fix the problem with the system in other ways.
Step 1. Open an elevated command prompt or Windows PowerShell.
Step 2. At the command prompt or Windows PowerShell, type the following command and press Enter.
sfc / scannow
This command takes time to complete. When the scan is complete, the scan results are displayed. Windows Resource Protection might not have detected any integrity violations. You can turn it off and fix the problem with the system in other ways.
Updated: October 2023
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Stop the software protection service.
Move C: \ Windows \ ServiceProfiles \ NetworkService \ AppData \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ SoftwareProtectionPlatform \ tokens.dat to your desktop.
Move the two hidden files from C: \ Windows \ System32 \ with the extension .C7483456-A289-439d-8115-601632D005A0 to the desktop.
Start the software protection service.
- Run slmgr / dlv
- Stop the software protection service.
- Return tokens.dat and the two hidden files to their original locations.
- Install the product key by running slmgr / ipk
- Start the software protection service.
- Activate windows.
Run diagnostic tests with the error checking tool
You can use an error checking tool to check for file system errors and bad sectors on your hard drive.
- Open My Computer and select the local hard drive that you want to scan.
- From the File menu, choose Properties.
- Click the Tools tab.
- In the Error Checking section, click Check Now.
- In the “Check disk options” section, select “Check for bad sectors” and try to repair it.
Run System Restore
1) Start your computer and log in as an administrator.
2) Click the “Start” button, select “All Programs”, “Accessories”, “System Tools”, and then click “System Restore”.
3) In the new window, select the option “Restore my computer to an earlier state”, then click “Next”.
4) Select the latest system restore point from the “Click a restore point in this list” list, then click “Next””.
5) Click Next on the confirmation window.
6) After the recovery is complete, restart your computer.
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On a computer running Microsoft Windows non-core edition, the error code 0xC004D302 shows up. It happens when the trusted data memory is turned back on, when license files in the Machine keys folder are corrupt, or when a user tries to run different commands after running slmgr.vbs /rearm without restarting the computer.
In Windows OS, the windows activation files are kept in the token.dat file. These Toke.dat files have digital signatures that they can’t change on any other system or use anywhere else to start Windows. But if these files get corrupted, they can make it hard to activate, and an error will show up.
You can clean your Windows registry or do a system restore in this case. The certificate keys for IIS are kept in this folder. When there is a problem with activation, this folder can get filled with hundreds or even thousands of files. In this case, you’ll need to scan the system to see if the error shows up. You can also scan the Drive to see if it has any problems. we’ll show you how to try different ways to fix Windows Activation Error 0xC004D302
(Fixed): Windows Activation Error 0xC004D302
Run System Restore
- Start up your computer and log in as an administrator.
- Click “Start,” then choose “All Programs,” “Accessories,” “System Tools,” and “System Restore.”
- In the new window, click “Next” next to “Restore my computer to a previous state.”
- Choose the most recent system restore point from the “Click a restore point in this list” list, then click “Next”.
- Click Next on the window that asks if you’re sure.
- Once the recovery is done, turn your computer back on.
Start the software protection service
- Run slmgr / dlv
- Put an end to the service that protects software.
- Bring tokens.dat and the two hidden files back to where they were before.
- Run slmgr / ipk to put in the product key.
- Start the service to protect software.
- Turn on windows.
Run SFC / scannow command
It takes time to do this. When the scan is finished, the scan results are shown. It’s possible that Windows Resource Protection didn’t find any integrity problems. You can turn it off and find another way to fix the problem with the system.
- Open a command prompt with administrative privileges or Windows PowerShell.
- Type the following command into the command prompt or Windows PowerShell and press Enter.
Edit Windows Registry
- Type Registry into the Start menu.
- Now, open the Registry Editor and go to the location below:
- Software.Microsoft.Windows.NT.CurrentVersion.SoftwareProtectionPlatform.HKEY LOCAL MACHINE.
- Right-click on SkipRearm in the right pane.
- If you choose “Modify,” a dialogue box will appear. Here, you should see the DWORD 32-bit folder. Set the Value Data to 1 and click the Ok button.
- Restart your computer
- Now, click on the Start button and look for Command Prompt.
- Choose the option to run as an administrator.
- Type this command and hit the Enter key:
- See if the mistake has been fixed.
Run Windows Activation troubleshooter
Running the Windows Activation Troubleshooter is another way to fix the error. Most of the time, it is able to find and fix problems with the way Windows is activated. So, running this troubleshooter might help you get rid of the error. For the Activation troubleshooter to work, your Microsoft Account must be linked to a digital license. The type of Windows 8.1/10/11 license for your device also affects how you activate Windows.
If Windows 8.1/10/11 came pre-installed on your PC, it has an OEM license, which means it can’t be given to someone else. So, in that case, you would have to get a new license. But if you bought the license from the Microsoft Store, it is a Retail license that gives you the right to transfer it.To open the Settings app, press the Windows key + I.
- Go to the System > Activation menu.
- Click the “Troubleshoot” link and then follow the instructions on the screen.
Use System Restore
- Press the Window key and the R key together to open the Run box.
- Type rstrui and press Enter. Choose a different restore point and then press the Next button.
- Now, choose the time and date when the error didn’t happen. Click the Next button, and then click the Finish button.
- Check to see if the problem is fixed once the restore is done.
Final Words
The Windows activation error code 0xC004D302 means that the trusted data store has been reactivated. This was reported by the security chip. Error 0xC004D302 can be very large, and each number has its own problem. To fix the wrong thing with these “codes,” you have to do a lot of research. We hope our article on “ How to Fix Windows activation error 0xC004D302” will surely help you to do so. you can visit Microsoft support center for further help.
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Thomas Mohr is a self-described «enthusiastic technical writer» who comes from a background in technology. He enjoys learning about new Apple devices and accessories, conducting research on them, and assisting readers in making sense of complex technology. His weekend plans include studying and watching a tonne of anime all at once.