The ActivationWS project includes a PowerShell script (Activate-Product.ps1) compatible with the steps below.
If you need to install ESU on isolated Windows 7 devices or have restricted internet access, the ActivationWs project supports activation of Windows 7 devices by using a proxy to communicate with the Microsoft BatchActivation Service.
Note: The Activate-ProductOnline.ps1 script mentioned below requires that Windows 7 devices have Internet access for online activation. The scenario outlined in this post assumes that these devices are part of an on-premises Active Directory domain.
- Delete the upper or lower filter keys for the device in the registry, see step 6 in the link below for details.If you are transitioning from Windows 7 Pro or Enterprise to Windows 10 and have purchased Windows 7 Extended Security Updates (ESUs), this post provides additional guidance on how to install and activate Windows 7 ESU keys on multiple devices using a multiple activation key (MAK).
- Delete the USB Devices – “WinUSB” for Windows phone, then Delete the “MTP USB” Device and reboot.
- If that doesn’t work try it again and reboot before reconnecting the USB device
- Delete the Device, unplug the device and re-connect.
- If a phone restart doesn’t work, these are the standard steps for any USB device and are often the solution for phones, cameras and similar devices. Of course that’s not what I tried first, because, well why would the device generate what appears to be a OS Device driver issue? I went through the normal steps which you may need to as well if a restart doesn’t work. Yes indeed that’s what’s solved my issue twice now. Code 10 is a generic error indicating an issue with a device. Sigh….I’ve been here before and know it can be quick and easy, or I’m about to loose an hour or two. When I check the properties of the device it lists the issue as – USB Error This device cannot start (Code 10). I check Device Manager and see a generic MTP USB Device icon in the Portable Devices group with a yellow exclamation mark.
Issue: I detached my phone from the cable in the morning and 10hrs later when reconnected nothing happened, for the second time in two weeks. Windows has come a long way from the days of Windows 95/98 “ plug and pray” but still occasionally struggles to recognize or support devices. Unfortunately I’ve been here before with multiple iPhones, Blackberries and even a Handspring Visor with various Windows OS’es and devices over the years. Twice within the first month of using the wonderful Nokia Lumia 1020 running Windows Phone 8 with the Black firmware update my computer has been unable to recognize the device using the standard Nokia USB cable connecting to Windows 7 on a desktop computer.