It sounds like you're encountering an issue with Windows activation due to it trying to connect to an organization's activation server, which is common when a Windows installation was originally activated using a Volume License Key (VLK) intended for organizational use. Since you mentioned that you have a product key, you can try the following steps to resolve the activation issue without reinstalling Windows:
- Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that your PC is connected to the internet as this is necessary for activation.
- Use the Command Prompt:
- Open the Start menu, search for Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator.
- In the Command Prompt, type the following command to change the product key:
Replaceslmgr.vbs -ipk YOUR-PRODUCT-KEYYOUR-PRODUCT-KEYwith the actual product key you have. - After that, type the following command to attempt activation:
slmgr.vbs -ato
- Check DNS Settings: The error code 0x8007007B can also indicate issues with DNS settings. Make sure your DNS server settings are correctly configured. You can check this by running
ipconfig /allin the Command Prompt and verifying that the DNS server addresses are correctly set. - Use a MAK (Multiple Activation Key): If you are unable to activate using your current key, consider using a MAK if you have one available. You can change the product key to the MAK using the same command as above, replacing it with the MAK.
- Contact Microsoft Support: If the above steps do not resolve the issue, consider contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance. They may be able to help you activate your Windows without needing to reinstall it.
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the activation issue without losing your data or having to reinstall Windows.
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