When I installed Win 8 Enterprise last night it never asked for a product key.  so when I tried to activate it was using the wrong product key.  Unlike win 7 there doesn't seem to be anywhere in the user interface to change the key before activation.  I eventually found this blog post that describes how to do it from a command line.  Here's the article I used:

• Proposed as answer by graphtech Thursday, January 10, 2013 3:06 PM

• Proposed as answer by graphtech Thursday, January 10, 2013 3:06 PM

• Proposed as answer by graphtech Thursday, January 10, 2013 3:06 PM

I had an issue when I downloaded the Enterprise version, but I am not sure what the error code was. I had to do the following:

• open CMD as admin
• type slmgr /upk
• then type slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

My Windows 8 Enterprise did ask for a Product Key During Install, but I getting the same error:

"Windows couldn't be activated right now."

Error Code: 0x8007007B, The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

Could it be the Windows 8 Activation System is not ready for activa

Thanks Frank, I've got it working with your above code.

I just substitute the correct serial number again, because the serial showing in

"Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Action Center\Windows Activation"

different from what I was entered.

I had the same issue and found this fix on a blog:

I came across the following error message when activating Windows 8 Enterprise x64 RTM en-gb, downloaded from MSDN:

Error 0x8007007B  The File name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

The Solution

Using the key provided to you (MSDN etc.) you will need to run the following in an elevated command prompt
if you are new to Windows 8, click Start > type cmd > right-click on a command prompt and select Run as administrator in the bottom of the page:

Next type the following commands:

slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

slmgr.vbs /ato

The first command will update the key.

The second command will activate Windows.

Replace the "XXXX" bits with your Windows 8 Key (you do need to enter the dashes and you don't need to surround it with double quotes).

Siv

Frank,

Interestingly on my machine it was showing there was an existing key (it showed the last 5 characters of a different key to the MSDN one I wanted to use). I didn't run the command with the /upk switch (I was following the piece on the blog as not familiar with this command previously) and it did change the key and activate it.  The question that raises is that changing the key maybe doesn't require you to remove the old one first?  I am saying that as a question based on my experience not from me knowing whether that is right or wrong? I would be interested to know what you think about that?

Siv

Khalil,

Glad to hear it did the trick!

All the best,

Siv

 м windows 8  

м м м :

slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

slmgr.vbs /ato

 XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX windows

м.

This worked flawlessly for me as well.  Thanks for passing this along!

Regards,

Shawn

first command was successfully 

the second give me the same message  error code 0x8007007B

You got it. I had the same problem (Error Code 0x8007007B)

slmgr /upk

(uninstall product code)

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

(install product code) I got messages to that effect seconds after entering the commands.

I don't think it maters if it is the 32bit or 64bit My system has the x86 version.

Thanks

theborg1of3

• Proposed as answer by Theborg1of3 Thursday, November 01, 2012 7:58 PM
• Edited by Theborg1of3 Thursday, November 01, 2012 8:15 PM

You got it. I had the same problem (Error Code 0x8007007B)

slmgr /upk

(uninstall product code)

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

(install product code) I got messages to that effect seconds after entering the commands.

I don't think it maters if it is the 32bit or 64bit My system has the x86 version.

Thanks

theborg1of3

• Proposed as answer by Theborg1of3 Thursday, November 01, 2012 7:58 PM
• Edited by Theborg1of3 Thursday, November 01, 2012 8:15 PM

first command was successfully 

the second give me the same message  error code 0x8007007B

You got it. I had the same problem (Error Code 0x8007007B)

slmgr /upk

(uninstall product code)

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

(install product code) I got messages to that effect seconds after entering the commands.

I don't think it maters if it is the 32bit or 64bit My system has the x86 version.

Thanks

theborg1of3

• Proposed as answer by Theborg1of3 Thursday, November 01, 2012 7:58 PM
• Edited by Theborg1of3 Thursday, November 01, 2012 8:15 PM

Dear Siv-

Thank you! Thank you! from the bottom of my heart.  I am not a computer guru by any stretch of the word, however, I was able to follow this to the letter and it worked!

You are my new hero.

marna

Dear Siv-

Thank you! Thank you! from the bottom of my heart.  I am not a computer guru by any stretch of the word, however, I was able to follow this to the letter and it worked!

You are my new hero.

marna

Marna,

I am glad the procedure worked for you.

All the best,

Siv

Thanks Siv It works :-)

• Proposed as answer by REX-G Sunday, December 02, 2012 10:41 AM

Thanks Siv It works :-)

• Proposed as answer by REX-G Sunday, December 02, 2012 10:41 AM

Thanks Siv It works :-)

• Proposed as answer by REX-G Sunday, December 02, 2012 10:41 AM

My Windows 8 Enterprise did ask for a Product Key During Install, but I getting the same error:

"Windows couldn't be activated right now."

Error Code: 0x8007007B, The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

Could it be the Windows 8 Activation System is not ready for activa

Hi

thanks it worked, and It works on windows 8 pro also

Had the same problem. using SLMGR in elevated mode worked fine.

Thanks

Worked great. Thanks Siv. Seems Enterprise comes pre serialized with some number, since I was never prompted for it. Substituting with the actual license key using ipk made the trick. It then activated fine the normal way.

Geir :)

  What windows script?

 If you mean slmgr, it is not a script. It is a command line utility. If you used that, when and where did you get the error message.

Mats,

Don't worry, my original post is marked as an answer here as it appears in Green (assuming you are viewing it from social.technet.microsoft.com) but thanks for letting me/everyone know it worked for you too as it helps others to know that it has worked for people like you and I.

Siv

first command worked well but the second shows same error

can u help me

first command worked well but the second shows same error

can u help me

vamsipatcha,

You may need to give us a bit more detail.  Which commands did you run and what were the error messages that you got as a result.  With that I may be able to figure out what caused the problem.

first command worked well but the second shows same error

can u help me

vamsipatcha,

You may need to give us a bit more detail.  Which commands did you run and what were the error messages that you got as a result.  With that I may be able to figure out what caused the pr

You might want to check out this page on TechNet.  It may help you identify what is wrong:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793433.aspx

Particularly have a look at this section:

"

As long as you're running with Admin privileges and you are sure you have got the 5 sets of 5 digits 100% correct in the previous step then it should work.

Siv

thanks so much :)

this works for me. Win 8 Ent.

using elevated command prompt, run the below commands:

slmgr.vbs -ipk XXXX.XXXX.........

slmgr.vbs /ato

still getting this error

Try this one to change the product key without first activating Windows. Use one of the following methods:

Method 1

1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. Or, if you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click Search.
2. In the search box, type Slui.exe 0x3.
3. Tap or click the Slui.exe 0x3 icon.
4. Type your product key in the Windows Activation window, and then click Activate.

Method 2

This helped perfectly for my needs.

Thanks!

after typing slmgr.vbs /ato I'm still getting error code and the file name , directory name, or volume label is incorrect. (SWbemObjextEx) this message. please help. 

I had the same issue and found this fix on a blog:

I came across the following error message when activating Windows 8 Enterprise x64 RTM en-gb, downloaded from MSDN:

Error 0x8007007B  The File name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

The Solution

Using the key provided to you (MSDN etc.) you will need to run the following in an elevated command prompt
if you are new to Windows 8, click Start > type cmd > right-click on a command prompt and select Run as administrator in the bottom of the page:

Next type the following commands:

slmgr.vbs /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

slmgr.vbs /ato

The first command will update the key.

The second command will activate Windows.

Replace the "XXXX" bits with your Windows 8 Key (you do need to enter the dashes and you don't need to surround it with double quotes).

Siv

Thank you very much.

It worked for me.

i did what you said but iam still getting the error

"Error 0x8007007B  The File name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect"

after following the above instruction ,i still getting same error: Error 0x8007007B  The File name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.kindly provide me some solution in order to fix my error please.thank u