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How do I lodge a complaint when none of your documentation works and there is no way to open a ticket?

Brandon Lambe 0 Reputation points
2025-12-18T18:20:36.43+00:00

All of this began because the phone activation method for windows was changed.

Previously, I would call a phone number, and be provided a link that I could use to activate my software.

Now, I enter slui 4 on windows and it provides me a phone number.

This phone number then provides me a link. https://aka.ms/aoh

This link "allows" me to activate my operating system. However, it does not actually work.

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If I enter any digits 1-9, I can enter 7 digits per section, which is what my product ID has

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however, the addition of 0s means I can only enter 6 digits per cell. This does not work if your product ID has any 0s in it, because by the end of the product ID you are missing more than one whole section of the number.

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additionally, there is no distinction between the activate if you say unspecified software and choose either 6 or 7 digits. Both will accept 7 digits, except for the inclusion of 0s.

I have attempted to go to through pretty much every possible selection and the only way to get a phone number call back is to select remote desktop services. There is no phone number to call, I have to open a new request for every activation that I need to do. This is unacceptable.

I attempted to go to https://support.serviceshub.microsoft.com/supportforbusiness/create to create a ticket.

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after exhausting the useless bot, it gave me a link on how to open a support request.

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which linked to a page that doesnt exist. This is not helpful. In fact, this is quite exactly diametrically opposed to helpful.

I was able to find another article on how to open a support ticket

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however

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your website does not allow you to sign in, in order to create a support ticket unless you have met some random requirement that is not specified, which is not very helpful for attempting to address functional shortcomings of a functionally broken website.

Hopefully this is specific enough to highlight how easily repeatable the shortcomings of the activation website are, as well as the shortfalls of the surrounding procedures for addressing the functional shortcomings of the activation website.

Windows for business | Windows Server | User experience | Other
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  1. Techfreak _ 350 Reputation points
    2026-05-02T19:57:01.8466667+00:00

    I did not notice this was an older question but I supplied the answer.

    You are conflating two separate things. You need to supply the installation ID, not the product ID. You are either providing the wrong installation ID or attempting to activate a different version.

    I suggest you perform the following to resolve your issue.

    Open an elevated command prompt. From this C:\Windows\System32 prompt or similar, execute:

    1. slmgr.vbs /ipk YourProductKey - Installs or updates your product key
    2. cscript slmgr.vbs /dti - provides your installation ID in the command line (making it easy to copy and paste).
    3. Provide this installation ID to the activation site. If the site is web-based, paste the key. If you receive the link by phone, I suggest you execute the temporary link on your desktop or send the key in email or Teams to allow you to easily paste it. You will obtain the confirmation ID from this action. You can then take similar steps to copy and paste the ID to your server.
    4. cscript slmgr.vbs /atp YourConfirmationID - Activates your Windows
    5. cscript slmgr.vbs /dlv - Displays your activation status in the command line. If done properly, the status will be licensed. Example from my Windows 10 machine: C:\Windows\System32>cscript slmgr.vbs /dlv Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Software licensing service version: 10.0.19041.7181 Name: Windows(R), Professional edition Description: Windows(R) Operating System, RETAIL channel Activation ID: Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f Extended PID: 03612-03308-000-000000-00-1033-19042.0000-3042020 Product Key Channel: Retail Installation ID: Use License URL: https://activation-v2.sls.microsoft.com/SLActivateProduct/SLActivateProduct.asmx?configextension=Retail Validation URL: https://validation-v2.sls.microsoft.com/SLWGA/slwga.asmx Partial Product Key: License Status: Licensed Remaining Windows rearm count: 1001 Remaining SKU rearm count: 1001 Trusted time: 5/2/2026 12:17:05
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