Windows 8 RTM - Enterprise Activation

I get an error message saying "Windows can't activate right now." Error Code: 0x8007232B

Anyone one else having problems activating.

Also, I can't see anywhere where I can change the key to the one I have claimed.

August 15th, 2012 10:06pm

Got it too!  Would really like this fixed.
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August 15th, 2012 10:28pm

I have tried it on 3 systems now and they are all the same. No way to put in my product key or change the key.
August 15th, 2012 10:37pm

Run an elevated CMD window and execute slmgr.vbs -ipk "YOUR_PRODUCT_KEY". Now you can use the activation wizard found in the control panel.
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August 15th, 2012 10:49pm

That worked for me thanks.
August 15th, 2012 11:04pm

Thank you :-)
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August 15th, 2012 11:52pm

Wondering why is this necessary?  I had to do it as well, and thank you for posting the answer, but want to know why there was a key already installed but could not activate and found no way to enter a new key.  Wondering why Microsoft did this on the TechNet version...
August 16th, 2012 2:35am

Probably defaults to a KMS key, and is looking for a KMS server, which there is not one on the internet.

Pretty standard for MS Enterprise OS clients.  Odd to not ask for one at all, or let you change it through control panel app pre-activation.

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August 16th, 2012 4:25am

Run an elevated CMD window and execute slmgr.vbs -ipk "YOUR_PRODUCT_KEY". Now you can use the activation wizard found in the control panel.

Good call. Same commands from back in the day when Win 7 and 08 R2 came out and we had to learn how to build KMS server.

What also works, if you would prefer to see the pretty GUI, use the -upk switch (uninstall product key) then go back to the GUI activator. It will prompt you to enter a new product key.

August 16th, 2012 5:26am

I get an error message saying "Windows can't activate right now." Error Code: 0x8007232B

Anyone one else having problems activating.

Also, I can't see anywhere where I can change the key to the one I have claimed.

Update: You can also open a CMD prompt and type:

  • Slui 3 {Change product key}
  • Slui 4 {Activate by phone}

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August 16th, 2012 5:36pm

Hi Bob, that slui command is slick.  Thanks for that!
August 16th, 2012 8:06pm

This worked for me but is the watermark permanent?
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August 16th, 2012 9:50pm

Hello

DO not use UPK, you can put your machine in a bad state, and there is no reason to use it.  It's completely un-needed for this scenario.

August 17th, 2012 2:19am

Run an elevated CMD window and execute slmgr.vbs -ipk "YOUR_PRODUCT_KEY". Now you can use the activation wizard found in the control panel.
Thank you very much. it worked :)
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August 17th, 2012 6:32pm

I get an error message saying "Windows can't activate right now." Error Code: 0x8007232B

Anyone one else having problems activating.

Also, I can't see anywhere where I can change the key to the one I have claimed.

Update: You can also open a CMD prompt and type:

  • Slui 3 {Change product key}
  • Slui 4 {Activate by phone}

Thank you, I called MS as well as ran the VB script and neither worked.

This solution did however.


August 18th, 2012 12:54am

Yep, "slui 3" ftw!

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August 18th, 2012 11:31am

Run an elevated CMD window and execute slmgr.vbs -ipk "YOUR_PRODUCT_KEY". Now you can use the activation wizard found in the control panel.
Awesome. Thank you!
August 18th, 2012 5:29pm

I have found this to be the same on the Volume Licensing Professional version as well. Maybe Microsoft needs to make build 9201. LOL

"Slui 3" is my new favorite friend!

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August 21st, 2012 7:17pm

I get an error message saying "Windows can't activate right now." Error Code: 0x8007232B

*** Easiest way to Activate Windows 8 ***

Perform the steps mentioned below to activate.

a: Right Click at the bottom left of the screen and select  Run.
b: Now type "Slui 3" in the Run dialog box and hit enter.
c: Enter your new key. (If valid you get: "Your product key works!")
d: Click <Activate>

That's it, quick and simple. (If not totally silly that we have to do it this way.)

August 21st, 2012 7:24pm

  You have to buy the product to get a pr
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August 22nd, 2012 3:30am

A small "tutorial" for this can be found here : 

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/timart/archive/2012/08/29/activate-windows-8-enterprise-without-slui-dns-name-does-not-exist.aspx

August 30th, 2012 9:23am

how do i get my key from msdn was helpful just wouldnt use key i used

thanks

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September 1st, 2012 9:12pm

For me didn't worked ... I typed that and says: Error 0xC004E016 On a computer running windows non-core edition, run: "smthn", I run it and says on details: code 0xC004E016 Description The software licesing service reported that product key is invalid.

Actually I downloaded an evaluation 90 day edition to test. WTF !

October 11th, 2012 3:47am

I get an error message saying "Windows can't activate right now." Error Code: 0x8007232B

Anyone one else having problems activating.

Also, I can't see anywhere where I can change the key to the one I have claimed.

Update: You can also open a CMD prompt and type:

  • Slui 3 {Change product key}
  • Slui 4 {Activate by phone}


I had this problem each time I tried to set up Windows 8.  It did however say it could not find a KMS server.  The slmgr.vbs did not work for me, however Slui 3 did allow me to enter my product key and activate successfuly.
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October 17th, 2012 8:42pm

Yeah this was the answer for me, I did a quick blog post for the visual learners - http://danblee.com/windows-cant-activate-right-now-error-message-when-trying-to-activate-windows-8/
October 31st, 2012 5:40pm

That's brilliant! Thanks a lot!
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November 5th, 2012 9:53pm

Thanks this worked for me - and I was refered here by http://bit.ly/SHinEq

WINDOWS 8 FORUMS

November 9th, 2012 11:10am

Windows key + R

type "slui 3" (a nice window will appear asking for your key)

type "<your key>"

It'll validate the key, then ask you to validate. When it is done it will tell you so.

I got this from another forum. This is the second time I have had to do this tonight due to a Hyper-V, Gigabyte Motherboard (GA-EX58-UD3R Rev. 1.0, BIOS F11) problem where Windows 8 keeps hanging after I enable Hyper-V on reboot. I have to hard reset, the boot sector gets clobbered, then I have to restore to the "System Restore Point" I set up (I am learning :-P).

(^^^ UPDATED ON NOVEMBER 29th IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 2012: Answer: Buy a 3rd Generation Core i7 computer/motherboard and, as Tony Soprano would say, FUGGEDDABOUDIT!)

If anybody has THAT answer please direct me to the proper authority. I am going to try this again now that it is activated to see if THAT is the cause. (probably not, but what the heck...)

Cheers!

HAL_2010 ("Dave? Take a stress pill and think this over..." - 2001 A Space Odyssey, 1968)


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November 25th, 2012 10:29am

thanks, it WORKS FOR ME...DEEPAK SINGH KUSHWAHA
January 13th, 2013 8:55am

 I tried it and i get an error massage saying "Error:0*c004f025 Acceess dinied the requested action requires elevated privileges"      i cant active window (please help)
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July 6th, 2013 6:27pm

 I tried it and i get an error massage saying "Error:0*c004f025 Acceess dinied the requested action requires elevated privileges"      i cant active window (please help)
Instead, you may try this:

Windows key + R

type "slui 3" <press enter>(a nice window will appear asking for your key)

type "<your key>" <press enter>

It'll validate the key, then ask you to activate. When it is done it will tell y

July 6th, 2013 8:44pm

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