14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has finally released a workaround for a bug introduced by the January 2021 non-security cumulative update preview and later.
The company explains that both Windows 10 version 2004 and version 20H2 are impacted by the glitch, adding in a support document that devices where the problem occurred could no longer run the Windows activation, as the process fails with error code 0xC004C003.
“Windows 10, version 2004 and 20H2 devices that have the January 2021 nonsecurity preview release, or a later version, installed might experience Windows activation failures containing error code 0xC004C003. Please note the January 2021 nonsecurity preview release, also known as the “C” release, was released February 2, 2021 and is separate from the January security release, also known as the “B” release, which was released January 12, 2021. This issue is not present on devices that are running the January security release or an earlier release,” Microsoft explains.
The fix
So what exactly is happening? When you try to activate the operating you get the following error:
“We can’t activate Windows on this device because you don’t have a valid digital license or product key. If you think you do have a valid license or key, select Troubleshoot below. Error code 0xc004c003.”
The workaround isn’t necessarily the most convenient but is pretty much the only way to bring things back to normal.
Given the glitch has been reported in the January 2021 non-security preview release, Microsoft says you should install the January 12 updates or the earlier cumulative updates. In other words, don’t install these new updates, and if you already did, just remove them.
The company claims it’s already working on a full fix that would be shipped to Windows 10 devices, but an ETA isn’t yet available at the time of writing.