When trying to activate you get 0xC004F074 with description "The Key Management Server (KMS) is unavailable"

When trying to activate Windows 8 you may get this error message:

0xC004F074 with description "The Key Management Server (KMS) is unavailable"


This is one of the early reported problems is the issues related to activation error 0xC004F074. After installing, you are supposed to activate windows. But some users have reported an error code 0xC004F074 during the time of activation.

This error code appears only during the time of activation when the Software Licensing Service reports that it cannot activate the product key since the Key Management Service cannot be contacted.

First method
Open cmd with administrator rights

Type slmgr.vbs –ipk xxxxxx (x should be replaced by your 25 digit product key)

Hit enter

Type slmgr.vbs –ato (This will change the product key)

Hit enter

Second Method
Start -> Run ->Type Slui 3 (Slui 4 for activating by phone)

Enter Product key

Click Activate

First method work for me.