GUIDE: How to backup and restore Windows 8 activation

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by JaguarXJ12, Aug 8, 2012.

  1. Josh Cell

    Josh Cell MDL Developer

    Jan 8, 2011
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  2. freevista

    freevista MDL Member

    Jan 14, 2009
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    Latest Windows 8 updates don't install after restored activation!

    I just got seven of these errors after rebooting, Windows rolled back the updates in question and I'm still activated:

    Source: Microsoft-Windows-Security-SPP
    Update Windows license and product key tokens failed with 0xC004F012.
    %windir%\system32\spp\tokens\ppdlic\authui-ppdlic.xrm-ms

    I have another pretty much identical Windows 8 installation on another partition, except that has been activated without any trickery and the updates installed there without problems. But this installation has a restored activation with Advanced Tokens Manager v3.5 BETA 3. I'm just guessing, but could it be the reason..?
     
  3. freevista

    freevista MDL Member

    Jan 14, 2009
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    Tried again, same result. First phase is ok, but after reboot failure and rollback.

    View attachment 19120

    The System log has also this error about the updates:

    Source: Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient
    Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x800F0922

    I guess it's reinstallation time..

    Edit: more info about the "original activation", the partition where the updates installed ok: It was a KMS activated x64 Pro, converted to Pro WMC with Microsoft's free code. I guess the activation restore tool doesn't handle all necessary bits to the "cloned" activation..
     
  4. damianfox

    damianfox MDL Senior Member

    Jan 23, 2011
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    That is really weird, For future reference I'd be interested in finding out whats causing that
     
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  5. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
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    No proper proof so far. Could be caused by a lot of things :D. Easiest way to solve, is reinstalling Win 8 Pro Retail and activate against KMS-Host. Afterwards install proper WMC-Retail-Key in this machine...Voilâ.
     
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  6. freevista

    freevista MDL Member

    Jan 14, 2009
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    I did that and now the patches installed ok after activation. I hope someone else also reports this problem, so it isn't just a glitch in my machine, or "user error" :rolleyes: I doubt the tool does the restoration correctly, at least in the Pro-WMC case. I ran it two or three times, it failed but after reboot Windows was suddenly activated and Security-SPP was happy about the license state. I might test it later with a virtual machine..
     
  7. jigo

    jigo MDL Novice

    Nov 6, 2012
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    when i try to back up the spp folder of windows 8 i found out that there is no file data.dat... by d way i was upgrading my windows 8 from pro to pro with WMC with the key i acquired from microsot promo. what is the problem? where is the data.dat gone?
     
  8. ddianxing

    ddianxing MDL Novice

    Nov 23, 2012
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    That's very helpful. Thanks guy! :biggrin:
     
  9. shuvonabil

    shuvonabil MDL Novice

    Oct 22, 2009
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    data.dat is hidden. To see it you have to go to folder option and check the hidden file box
     
  10. darkhell666

    darkhell666 MDL Member

    May 17, 2012
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    Hello, i have a question:

    If i had installed w8 pro in my pc and then upgraded to wmc with my promotional key, however i installed in an old laptop hdd because i originally installed for testing porpuses; i want to know:

    1- if i want to install w8 in the main hdd, can i backup my w8 partition and restore in the other hdd and preserve my activation?
    2- if i use an AIO to do a clean install of W8+WMC can i activate with my W8 upgraded to wmc (with promotional key) activation backup or i need to first activate with W8pro key and after that restore the wmc activation?

    The reason i ask is because as far as i know, on W8 a serial can't be used to activate more than 3 times even if i'm activating in the same machine and for me it's normal to reinstall windows one or two times in the year, so, i think that the right way in w8 case is restoring the activation backup, but i don't know if in the case of w8 upgraded to wmc (using two serials, or in other words, 2 steps instalation/activation) the restoration of the activation will work in these W8+WMC AIO installations.

    Excuse me for the horrible english.
     
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  11. asalih

    asalih MDL Novice

    Nov 30, 2012
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    Thanks .........
     
  12. rrohela

    rrohela MDL Expert

    Sep 1, 2009
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    Only testing can confirm how windows 8 will behave on HDD change..
    To be safe install do not touch your old installation & install windows 8 with WMC from your AIO on new hdd & restore tokens. Don't forgot to disconnect internet before.
     
  13. Rodster

    Rodster MDL Novice

    Nov 11, 2009
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    Has the 3 activation limit been confirmed? I ask because someone on another tech forum gave me a link that hinted it's essentially unlimited on the same hardware with no drastic changes. :confused:

    When I activated my copy of Windows 8 Upgrade Pro I made sure to backup the activation key. So whenever I need to do a restore I just restore the activation on the same machine. If it's unlimited I may not have to worry about how many times I reactivate.
     
  14. skynet01dns

    skynet01dns MDL Novice

    Mar 16, 2011
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    Dear JaguarXJ12 or Everybody!

    I reinstalled my win 8 pro retail (previously activated by phone) this way:
    1. reinstalled win 8 pro retail with this key: -CRYQH
    2. with the slmgr.vbs /upk command I removed the product key
    3. I boot up with puppy linux, and overwrite the store folder with the backup
    4. start windows normally it is activated - that's okay, but there is no product key shown - won't this cause any activation problem in the future?

    Thanks...
     
  15. its

    its MDL Junior Member

    Sep 13, 2007
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    Quick question..

    I had installed Windows 8 Pro.. activated via KMS servers.. then upgraded to WMC with Official Key.. And then backedup the folder (all done in VM)

    Now How do i restore?

    1) Install WIndows 8 pro and restore the folder?

    OR

    2) Install Windows8 Pro with WMC and restore the folder? (this didn't work for me)

    OR another way??

    I am doing all of this in VM.. same hardware setup as what the original one was...

    Thanks..
     
  16. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
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  17. unloved

    unloved MDL Novice

    Dec 20, 2012
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    @echo off
    TAKEOWN /F %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\cmd.exe
    TAKEOWN /F %SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms
    TAKEOWN /F %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\tokens.dat
    TAKEOWN /F %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\data.dat
    net stop sppsvc
    icacls "%SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F
    icacls "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\tokens.dat" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F
    icacls "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\data.dat" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F
    icacls "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\cache\cache.dat" /grant *S-1-5-32-544:F
    DEL /Q "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\tokens.dat"
    DEL /Q "%SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms"
    DEL /Q /A "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\data.dat"
    DEL /Q "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\cache\cache.dat"
    COPY /Y "%~dp0tokens.dat" "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\"
    COPY /Y "%~dp0pkeyconfig.xrm-ms" "%SystemDrive%\Windows\SysWOW64\spp\tokens\pkeyconfig\pkeyconfig.xrm-ms"
    COPY /Y "%~dp0data.dat" "%SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\spp\store\"
    net start sppsvc
    cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -ipk Your Key
    cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -dli
    cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -xpr
    cscript %systemroot%\System32\slmgr.vbs -dlv
    pause>nul
    EXIT