Whatever is happening at Redmond?

I have been having problems with the MSDNAA licences for Windows 7 that I issue to students for a while now. Some of them aren't "Taking" as they should. The software seems to accept the code but after a couple of weeks, it starts throwing wobblys about the Specific product key could not be used and error code 0xC004C008. As this error code seems to be usually associated with volume keys and we are using retail keys, I was at a loss for a while. So far, I have only managed a sort of work around answer to the problem. Don't put the code in when you install, wait for the OS to nag you a few days later. Then, making sure you are on line, input the product code and it should go through the full checking routine and accept the code. In addition to our problems, I met a student today who had almost exactly the same problem installing on an Apple with a purchased code. He will be phoning MS and creating merry hell.
Yesterday, our combi boiler went awol on the radiators so we have had to call in British Gas and the Galaxy has finally gone to Vospers for it's service and new belt. Another month without money.....................