Activation fails when you try to activate Windows Vista or Windows Longhorn Server over the Internet

This article refers to any of the following Vista errors.

1. Activation fails with error code 0x8004FE33.

2. The following error events can be logged in the application log:

Record Name: Application

Source: Software Licensing Service

Event ID: 8198

Level: Error description: License activation (SLUI.exe) failed with the following error code: 0x80004005

Record Name: Application

Source: Software Licensing Service

Event ID: 1008

Level: Error Description: Acquisition of the secure processor certificate failed. Status code = hr = 0x8004FE33

3. Activation was unsuccessful and you will not be prompted for your credentials.

The reason for this can occur when you connect to the Internet through a proxy server that has Basic authentication enabled. When the proxy server is configured for basic authentication, the server requires you to enter a username and password. However, the activation user interface does not allow you to enter these credentials. Therefore, Basic authentication fails and activation is unsuccessful.

This is what you can try.

1. Just don’t use basic authentication on the proxy server or pick up that phone and wake it up over the phone. It is automatic and should only take about 7 minutes.

2. If you must use Basic authentication, exclude URLs from certificate revocation lists. Do this by unauthenticating CRLs from the proxy server

crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicrosoftRootAuthority.crl

crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicrosoftProductSecureCommunications.crl

microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicrosoftProductSecureCommunications.crl

crl.microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicrosoftProductSecureServer.crl

microsoft.com/pki/crl/products/MicrosoftProductSecureServer.crl