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How to Fix Error Code 0xC004C020

Error Code 0xC004C020 (Code 0xC004C020) – What is it?

Error code 0xC004C020 (Code 0xC004C020) is an error that occurs when you attempt to activate a copy of Windows 7 with a key, but the key has already been activated multiple times. When receiving this error code, it means that you are trying to exceed the number of times that the Windows 7 key is allowed to be activated.

Common symptoms include:

  • Attempting to install Windows 7 with a key and a dialog box with the code 0xC004C020 is displayed.
  • The computer is unable to install Windows 7 with the key.
  • Certain features will refrain from working until the correct key has been entered.

Solution

Restoro box imageError Causes

Error Code 0xC004C020 occurs when you are not able to install Windows 7 using a previously purchased key code that has been installed numerous times previously on the same computer.

  • You are not able to use your previously used key to install Windows 7.
  • You have used the Windows 7 key the maximum number of times allowed.

Error code 0xC004C020 simply means that the Windows 7 code that you are trying to use to install Windows 7 has already been used the maximum number of times allowed, even when installing it on the same computer that it was previously used on. This would indicate that the key is what is known as a volume key- meaning that there is a cap on the number of uses.

Further Information and Manual Repair

Many people encounter this problem when they are doing software development or testing and need to reinstall Windows 7. Some people might also encounter this error code when installing Windows 7 with a key that was used too many times previously. It should be noted that there are several ways to fix this problem, but if nothing is working, you should contact a computer repair technician.

Method One

Activate by phone- the long method.

  1. Click the start button, right-click Computer, click Properties, and then click Activate Windows.  This will open Windows Activation.
  2. Click on “Show me other ways to activate”.
  3. Find and enter the Windows 7 key, then click Next.
  4. Click on “Use the automated phone system”. If you are prompted for an administrator password or a confirmation, confirm or type the password now.
  5. Select the location nearest to you and then click the Next button.
  6. There will be a list of available phone numbers, choose one and call it. There will be an automated system that will guide the activation process.
  7. Enter the installation ID when prompted, it will be listed on your computer screen.
  8. The phone system will give you a confirmation ID, write this down.
  9. Type this confirmation ID into the space that is provided by step 3. This will be in the activation dialogue. Then, click NEXT and follow the instruction.
  10. If this is not successful, stay on the line and be transferred to a customer service representative that will assist you.

Method Two

Activate by phone- this is a much simpler method.

  1. Click on Start, type: slui.exe 4 into the Search box
  2. Press Enter on the keyboard.
  3. Pick your country.
  4. Choose the Phone Activation option; stay on hold to speak with a customer service representative.

Method Three

Error code 0xC004C020 occurs if you have used your Windows 7 activation key on multiple computers, or multiple times on the same computer. You are not allowed to exceed the uses of the key—you should consider purchasing a new key if this is the case. A Windows 7 key is available for purchase online through the Microsoft website, in the shop section. The new product key must then be activated within 30 days, or it becomes no longer valid. It can be activated online or through the telephone.

If it is not activated on time, features will stop working until the new key has been activated. This should be the last resort method, as you should not have to purchase a new Windows 7 key code if it is not necessary. If you wish to always have at your disposal a utility tool to fix these Windows 10 and other related issues when they do arise, download and install a powerful automated tool.

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Problem running preinstall.cmd scripts
Setting up the Windows operating system in a computer can be quite a complicated task since there are a couple of things that take place in the background to ensure a full and protected setup of the operating system which includes a number of programs, scripts, and so on. They work together in the background to guarantee the integrity of the Windows operating system. However, there are times when this piece of code could also go wrong. As a result, you might encounter errors like the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error. “Preinstall.cmd” is a type of CMD file associated with Applications & Drivers developed by Gateway for the Windows OS. To fix the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error, there are several things you can try. You can try to download a new Windows installation image or create a new bootable drive as well as uninstall conflicting or incompatible programs. In addition, you can also run the Windows Update troubleshooter or reset Windows 10.

Option 1 – Try to download a new Windows installation image

Your first option to fix the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error is to download a new Windows installation image. You can get the official ISO files for the latest release of Windows 10. After you’ve downloaded the ISO files, you can use them to upgrade to the latest Windows 10 version.

Option 2 – Try creating a new bootable drive

  • Insert your USB drive into your PC.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type in “cmd” and tap Enter to open the Command Prompt. Alternatively, you can also search for “cmd” in the Cortana search box to open Command Prompt.
  • Once you’ve opened CMD, type in this command to open the DISPART utility – diskpart
  • After that, you should see a new black and white window that would say, “DISKPART>”.
  • Next, type in “list disk” in the command line and tap Enter to see the list of all the Storage devices as well as your hard disk connected to your PC. Here, you have to identify your disk’s number.
  • Type in this command where “X” is the disk number you have identified and then tap Enter – disk X
  • Type in this command and hit Enter to clear the table records and all the visible data on the drive – clean
  • Now you have to recreate a new primary partition of the drive so you’ll have to type in this command and tap Enter right after – create part pri
  • A new primary partition has been created so you have to select it by typing this command and tapping Enter – select part 1
  • Now you have to format it to make it visible to normal users by typing – format fs=ntfs quick
Note: If your platform supports the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI, replace the “NTFS” with “FAT32” in the command on Step 10.
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Option 3 – Try to uninstall conflicting programs

If you are using a computer made by Dell and got Windows 10 preinstalled in it, then you can try to uninstall the programs listed below and see if it fixes the problem.
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Option 4 – Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the built-in Windows Update Troubleshooter in Windows that could help you in resolving the “There was a problem running preinstall.cmd scripts” error. All you have to do is go to Settings > Update& security > Troubleshoot > Windows Update. From there, click on the Run the troubleshooter button and follow the next one-screen instructions that appear. After that, restart your computer and check if the error is now fixed or not by trying to install the update once again.

Option 5 – Run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

Running Microsoft’s online troubleshooter might also help you fix the error. This online troubleshooter is known to help in fixing Windows Update errors, it scans your computer for issues that might be causing the problem and then fixes them automatically.

Option 6 – Try to reset Windows 10

  • Tap the Win key or click on the Start button located in the Taskbar.
  • Then click on the Power button at the bottom right portion of the screen.
  • Next, press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and then click on Restart. This will restart your Pc into the Advanced Startup options.
Note: Once you have access to the Advanced Startup options, you have to go to the setting which allows you to Reset your Windows 10 PC. All you have to do is select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to reach the following screen Afterward, select either the “Keep my files” option and then proceed to the next on-screen instructions that follow to reset your Windows 10 computer without losing your files.
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Option 1 – Try enabling all the supporting services for the firewall

The first thing you can do to resolve the error with the firewall is to check all of its supporting services by following these steps:
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Option 2 – Try to uninstall and reinstall the third-party firewall

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Format drive

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Option 1 – Try to rename the SoftwareDistribution folder

The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.
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net stop wuauserv net stop bits rename c:windowsSoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
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net start wuauserv net start bits
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Option 2 – Try to reset the Catroot2 folder

You can also try resetting the catroort2 folder as it is known to fix tons of Windows Update issues including the Windows Update error code 0x80d02002. Both the Catroot and catroot2 are Windows operating system folders that are required for the Windows update process.  So when you run the Windows Update, the catroort2 folders stores the signatures of the Windows Update package and helps it in the installation. It makes use of the “%windir%System32catroot2edb.log” file in the updating process. Afterward, the updates are stored in the SoftwareDistribution folder which is used then by the Automatic Updates in order to execute the updating process. Keep in mind that you must not rename or delete the Catroot folder. Although the Catroot2 folder is recreated automatically by Windows, the Catroot folder isn’t.

Option 3 – Try running the DISM tool to fix the broken Windows Update client

The Windows update/upgrade error 0x80d02002 might be caused by some issues in the Windows Update client so you need to run the DISM tool to repair it. Note that you have to use another computer or another Windows from a shared network to fix it.

Option 4 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the Windows Update error 0x80d02002. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.

Option 5 – Try to run Microsoft’s troubleshooter online

You also have the option to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter which could help you fix Windows Update errors.
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Option 1 – Try to repair BCD

As mentioned the error could be caused by a damaged BCD and so to fix the problem, you need to repair BCD by following these steps:
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Option 2 – Try assigning the drive letter to the EFI partition

  • Tap the Win + X keys or right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin) to open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • Then type the following command to start the Diskpart utility:
diskpart
  • After that, if you receive a UAC prompt, just click on Yes to proceed.
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list volume
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select volume number
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Note: Make sure to replace “<LETTER>” with the letter you want to allocate to that partition. Afterward, it will assign a letter to the selected volume.
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Option 3 – Try setting the System Partition to Active

Like the first given option, you also have to make sure that you have a bootable Windows 10 USB drive before you proceed to set the System Partition to Active. Once you have it covered, refer to these steps:
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diskpart
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Option 1 – Try installing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable

As pointed out earlier, the error pops up when the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable program is missing on your computer. Thus, you need to download it from the official website of Microsoft. Once you’ve downloaded the Microsoft Visual C++ Feature Pack Redistributable Package, install it and then check if the error is now fixed.

Option 2 – Try to install OpenSSL

If you encounter the same error message but it points out that the LIBEAY32.DLL file is missing, then you have to install OpenSSL. In such a case, you will see the following error message:
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Option 3 – Try to check Windows Updates

There are instances when Microsoft rolls out the framework and related updates via Windows Updates. It could be that an update related to DLL is still pending which is why you need to check Windows Updates. To do so, go to Settings > Update and Security and from there check if there is any pending update. If there is, you need to install that update and then restart your computer if needed.
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Option 1 – Try checking the status of DCOMLAUNCH Service or DCOM Server Process Launcher and its 3 dependencies

The DCOM Server Process Launcher service launches both COM and DCOM servers in response to object activation requests. This is why if this service is stopped or disabled, the programs that are using COM and DCOM won’t properly function. So you need to make sure that the DCOMLAUNCH service is running.
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  • Next, check the following services:
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  • Now click OK for each one of the services.

Option 2 – Troubleshoot the problem in a Clean Boot State

There are instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing DCOM error 1084. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
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  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.

Option 3 – Try to use the DISM tool

You might want to repair potentially corrupted files in your system as having them could also trigger the DCOM error 1084. To repair these corrupted system files, you can run the DISM commands:
  • Tap the Win + X keys and click on the “Command Prompt (Admin)” option.
  • After that, input each one of the commands listed below sequentially to execute them:
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    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  • Once you’ve executed the commands given above, restart your computer and check if the DCOM error is now fixed.

Option 4 – Reset your computer

  • Tap the Win key or click on the Start button located in the Taskbar.
  • Then click on the Power button at the bottom right portion of the screen.
  • Next, press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and then click on Restart. This will restart your Pc into the Advanced Startup options.
Note: Once you have access to the Advanced Startup options, you have to go to the setting which allows you to Reset your Windows 10 PC. All you have to do is select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC to reach the following screen Afterward, select either the “Keep my files” option and then proceed to the next on-screen instructions that follow to reset your Windows 10 computer without losing your files.
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To resolve the 0x8007002C-0x4001E, The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase error, here are some suggestions that might help.

Option 1 – Try flushing the SoftwareDistribution and Catroot2 folders

You have to stop a couple of services such as BITS, Cryptographic, MSI Installer, and Windows Update Services. And to do that, you need to flush the contents in the SoftwareDistribution folder. The Software Distribution folder in the Windows operating system is a folder that can be found in the Windows directory and is used to store files temporarily which might be required to install the Windows Update on your PC. Thus, it is required by the Windows Update and maintained by WUAgent. Aside from that, it also contains all the Windows Update History files and once you delete them, you will most likely lose the Update history. As a result, the next time you run the Windows Update, it may result in a longer detection time.
  • Open the WinX Menu.
  • From there, open Command Prompt as admin.
  • Then type in the following command – don’t forget to hit Enter right after typing each one of them.
net stop wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After entering these commands, it will stop the Windows Update Service, Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS), Cryptographic, and the MSI Installer
  • Next, go to the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and get rid of all the folders and files thereby tapping the Ctrl + A keys to select them all and then click on Delete. Note that if the files are in use, you won’t be able to delete them.
After flushing the SoftwareDistribution folder, you need to reset the Catroot2 folder to restart the services you just stopped. To do that, follow these steps:
  • Type each one of the following commands.
net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
  • After that, exit Command Prompt and restart your computer, and then try to run Windows Update once more.

Option 2 – Select the Keep your files option

You can also select the option to perform an in-place upgrade and opt for the “Keep my files” option during an installation as it might make the process a lot smoother and if you need to perform a clean install, you can do so once the setup is completed.

Option 3 – Try to run the Windows Update Troubleshooter

Running the built-in Windows Update troubleshooter could also help you resolve the 0x8007002C-0x4001E, The installation failed in the SECOND_BOOT phase error. To run it, go to Settings and then select Troubleshoot from the options. From there, click on Windows Update and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button.

Option 4 – Try to run Microsoft’s online troubleshooter

Aside from the Windows Update Troubleshooter, you can also run the online troubleshooter of Microsoft as it can help you with Windows 10 upgrade errors.

Option 5 – Perform a clean install

If none of the options worked, you can try to clean install Windows 10. Just make sure that you have the ISO from the official Microsoft Website and then a bootable USB drive to install Windows 10 again. Take note that this will delete all the data from your drive where Windows 10 was installed previously.
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It is a fact that Blue Screen of Death errors can give you a headache for you will have a hard time fixing it as it is one of the most difficult errors you can encounter on your Windows computer. One of these BSOD errors is the UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP error. If you receive this kind of error then it means that the operating system was not able to catch a trap or an exception generated by the CPU. This BSOD error has an error code 0x00000007F and indicates that the Intel CPU generated a trap that the kernel failed to catch. One of the most likely causes is hardware failure due to faulty memory. Aside from this cause, you also have to track down other probable causes for this problem like corrupted system files, incompatible drivers or programs, faulty hardware, and even dusty components, and so on. To fix the UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP BSOD error, here are some suggestions that might help.

Option 1 – Uninstall the programs you installed recently

Chances are, some programs that you just installed might be the one that’s causing the BSOD error. Thus, you need to uninstall the program to resolve the problem.
  • In the search box, type in “control” and then click on Control Panel (desktop app) among the search results.
  • After that, select Programs and Features from the list which will give you a list of all the programs installed on your computer.
  • From there, look for the concerned program and select it and then uninstall it.
Note: If you have downloaded the app from the Windows Store, you can simply right-click on it from the application list and then uninstall it. In addition, you might also want to check the hardware components of your computer that might not support the operating system itself. You can disconnect all the external devices like USB drives, scanners, printers, etc., and then reboot your PC. After that, add the devices again one after the other and check if the BSOD error is now fixed or not. Moreover, you can also perform a clean boot to make things easier for you.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)

Option 2 – Update your device drivers

  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. Look for the device driver you and then select either “Update driver” or “Uninstall device”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
  • Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
  • If you have chosen to uninstall the driver, follow the screen options to complete the process and then restart your PC.
  • Connect the device and Scan for hardware changes – you can see this option under Device Manager > Action.

Option 3 – Use the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

The Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP. It can be found on the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + I keys to open the Settings panel.
  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • From there, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Option 4 – Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool

You can use the Memory Diagnostic tool in Windows to check RAM. Before you use this tool, make sure you save all your important work.
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Next, type in “mdsched.exe” in the field and hit Enter to open Memory Diagnostic.
  • After that, the Windows Memory Diagnostic will give out two options such as:
  1. Restart now and check for problems (recommended)
  2. Check for problems the next time I start my computer
  • Select any of the given options. After that, your computer will restart and check for memory-based issues upon the restart. If there are any issues, it will automatically them.

Option 5 – Disable Memory caching in the BIOS

You can also disable memory caching in the BIOS to fix the UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP error.
  • Open the BIOS Setup screen.
  • Next, go to Advanced > Cache Memory and then disable it.
  • Tap the F10 key to save the changes made and restart your computer.

Option 6 – Run System File Checker

  • Tap Win + R to launch Run.
  • Type in cmd in the field and tap Enter.
  • After opening Command Prompt, type in sfc /scannow
  • Restart your computer once the scan is completed.

Option 7 – Clean your hardware components for dust

Cleaning your computer’s hardware components for dust might also help in resolving the UNEXPECTED KERNEL MODE TRAP error. Make sure to use a soft cloth in cleaning the hardware as well as a small blower. Moreover, ensure that you do not damage any parts with moisture or cause harm to any circuits while you’re at it.
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Customize Lock Screen in Windows 11
Same as in Windows 10, Windows 11 also features a lock screen. IN this lock screen by default, you will see a clock and date above the standard Windows 11 background. Not all users will be happy with this choice but do not worry, you can choose and customize your lock screen to better suit your idea of it.

Lock Screen in Windows 11To personalize the lock screen do:

  1. Right-click on Desktop and select Personalize
  2. Click on the lock screen
  3. Choose one of three options and customize it
    • Personalize Your Lock Screen

      this option will let you set a custom image or slideshow for your lock screen. Choose either one that best suits you. Under selecting picture or pictures for the slide show you can uncheck the option to see tips, tricks, and facts on your lock screen.
    • Lock screen status

      when clicking on this option you can select the application widget that you wish to be shown on the lock screen like weather, mail, calendar, etc. Choose if you would like one by clicking on it.
    • Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen

      as self-explanatory this switch will enable or disable chosen lock screen wallpaper on your login credentials screen.
  4. Close settings
All settings will be automatically saved and applied and when you wish to lock the screen easiest way is to press ⊞ WINDOWS + L shortcut on your keyboard.
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