14 DAY TRIAL // The activation process for Windows 7 and Windows Vista can fail due to issues related to the ACPI_SLIC table some OEMs use in their computer’s BIOS. Microsoft has confirmed that problems exist in scenarios in which customers attempt to activate Windows 7 and Vista machines with Volume licensing keys. In order for the activation to fail, the process needs to be performed via a Key Management Service (KMS) and the PCs need to have the ACPI_SLIC table in the BIOS program. Original equipment manufacturers are leveraging the ACPI_SLIC table in Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)-compliant BIOS programs in order to store the Software Licensing description information, the Redmond company informed.
According to the software giant, there are three error messages that customers can come across:
“1. Error Code: Invalid Volume License Key
In order to activate, you need to change your product key to a valid Multiple Activation Key (MAK) or Retail key.
You must have a qualifying operating system license AND a Volume license Windows <operating system> upgrade license, or a full license for Windows <operating system> through an OEM or from a retail source .
ANY OTHER INSTALLATION OF THIS SOFTWARE IS IN VIOLATION OF YOUR AGREEMENT AND APPLICABLE COPYRIGHT LAW.
2. Error Code: 0xC004F059
Description: The Software Licensing Service reported that a license in the computer BIOS is invalid.
3. Error Code: 0xc004f035 The Software Licensing Service reported that the computer could not be activated with a Volume license product key. Volume licensed systems require upgrading from a qualified operating system. Please contact your system administrator or use a different type of key.”
All the error messages noted above are delivered by the KMS server. This will happen when the volume activation server is incapable of identifying a valid Windows marker in the ACPI_SLIC table. Microsoft explained that this can happen because of two reasons. First off, the Windows marker in the ACPI_SLIC table can become corrupted. And second, the marker can be missing altogether.
Microsoft has also pointed out that there are portable computers from Lenovo which have been identified as being affected by the problems mentioned above. Lenovo machines with the following BIOS versions: Lenovo X60 - BIOS : 2.00 (7BETB3BL) 2006-08-07 and Lenovo T60 - BIOS : 2.00 (79ETB3BL) can produce failed installations error messages when customers attempt to activate either Windows 7 or Vista via a KMS server.
“A computer that was obtained from an OEM and that has an ACPI_SLIC table in the system BIOS must have a valid Windows marker in that ACPI_SLIC table. This Windows marker is important for volume license customers who plan to use Windows Vista volume license media to re-image or upgrade an OEM system according to the re-imaging rights in the volume license agreement. A computer whose ACPI_SLIC table lacks a valid Windows marker generates an error when you install a volume edition of Windows Vista. You cannot activate such a system by using KMS. However, you can activate the system by using a multiple activation key (MAK) or a retail key. Alternatively, you can contact the OEM for a replacement motherboard that contains a valid Windows marker in the ACPI_SLIC table. Or, you can purchase a new computer that has an operating system and a valid BIOS installed,” Microsoft explained.
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