Activation troubles - please explain and help is needed

davidhsherman1 · Aug 15, 2023

I got a windows 8 digital key from Microsoft back in 11/2012. I then upgraded to Windows 10 pro and then Windows 11 pro. Earlier this year, I got and activation error and was able to resolve this error but copy and pasting from a file from Belarc advisor. Today, I got error message that my machine couldn't activate my copy of windows. I called 888-234-6020 was told that my Windows key that was on my Windows 10 and Windows 11 was a stolen key from the internet. Windows 10 was installed on 07/29/2015 and windows 11 was installed 10/05/2021. Error message from Microsoft is 0x803F700F.
How can I fix this? thanks

Bree · Aug 15, 2023

davidhsherman1 said:
I then upgraded to Windows 10 pro and then Windows 11 pro. Earlier this year, I got and activation error and was able to resolve this error but copy and pasting from a file from Belarc advisor. Today, I got error message that my machine couldn't activate my copy of windows.

Instead of using your key, try changing the installed key to the generic Windows 10/11 Pro key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Generic Product Keys to Install or Upgrade Windows 11 Editions

This tutorial will provide you with a list of RTM (retail) and KMS generic keys (default keys) for all editions of Windows 10 and Windows 11. Generic keys (aka: "default keys") for Windows 10/11 from Microsoft will allow you to install or upgrade to a specific Windows 10/11 edition you want...

www.elevenforum.com

A generic key cannot activate Windows on its own, Windows will only activate if your PC already has an existing digital licence stored on Microsoft's activation servers. Your PC should have gained a digital licence for Pro back when you upgraded to 10 Pro.

davidhsherman1 · Aug 15, 2023

I went from Windows 8 pro to Windows 10 pro and then Windows 11.
I noticed that the license number for Windows 11 was the same key for Windows 10.
The digital license came from Windows 8 pro was changed to the generic windows 10 key and then to the windows 11 generic key which now can't get acticated.

The Windows 8 pro key was purchased from Microsoft in 2012. ( I still have the original email from Microsoft).

Bree · Aug 15, 2023

davidhsherman1 said:
The digital license came from Windows 8 pro was changed to the generic windows 10 key and then to the windows 11 generic key which now can't get activated.

The Windows 8 pro key was purchased from Microsoft in 2012. ( I still have the original email from Microsoft).

A valid W8 Pro key should activate Windows 10 Pro or 11 Pro. It should activate if you change the installed key to the W8 Pro one that Microsoft supplied you with.

zbook · Aug 15, 2023

Open administrative Power Shell and copy and paste:

Code:

$OSUpgradeHistory = $(gci "HKLM:\System\Setup" | ? {$_.Name -match "\\Source\s"}) | % { $_ | Select @{n="UpdateTime";e={if ($_.Name -match "Updated\son\s(\d{1,2}\/\d{1,2}\/\d{4}\s\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2})\)$") {[dateTime]::Parse($Matches[1],([Globalization.CultureInfo]::CreateSpecificCulture('en-US')))}}}, @{n="ReleaseID";e={$_.GetValue("ReleaseID")}},@{n="Branch";e={$_.GetValue("BuildBranch")}},@{n="Build";e={$_.GetValue("CurrentBuild")}},@{n="ProductName";e={$_.GetValue("ProductName")}},@{n="InstallTime";e={[datetime]::FromFileTime($_.GetValue("InstallTime"))}} };

Then copy and paste:

Code:

$OSUpgradeHistory | Sort UpdateTime | ft UpdateTime, ReleaseID, Branch, Build, ProductName

Copy the commands with results:
ctrl + a
ctrl + c

Paste into this thread:
ctrl+ v

The commands may not work in Windows 11.

This is the tutorial for Windows 10:

View Windows Upgrade History in Windows 10

How to View Windows Upgrade History in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

davidhsherman1 · Aug 15, 2023

Powershell script only shows windows 11 from 10/22

zbook · Aug 15, 2023

Please run each:

KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install windows from your registry.

www.magicaljellybean.com

Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool

We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Wi…

neosmart.net

https://github.com/Superfly-Inc/Windows-Diagnostic-Tool/releases/download/1.0.6101/Activation.Diagnostic.Tool.zip

https://github.com/Superfly-Inc/Windows-Diagnostic-Tool/releases/download/1.0.6101/LicensingDiag.ps1

https://github.com/Superfly-Inc/Windows-Diagnostic-Tool/releases/download/1.0.6101/Get-SlmgrError.ps1

davidhsherman1 · Aug 16, 2023

I ended up buying a new key of Windows 10. It has been activated.

thanks for all the help.

TM21 · Aug 18, 2023

In some circles, that's called Throwing Money at the problem. Never my own solution.
There are always less expensive alternatives.

TM

cereberus · Aug 19, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
In some circles, that's called Throwing Money at the problem. Never my own solution.
There are always less expensive alternatives.

TM

Bully for you.

antspants · Aug 19, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
In some circles, that's called Throwing Money at the problem. Never my own solution.
There are always less expensive alternatives.

TM

cereberus said:
Bully for you.

Exactly.

TechnoMage2021 said:
TM

EDIT: removed. Not worth it.

Winuser · Aug 19, 2023

If your key was purchased from Microsoft then it's not a stolen key. It sounds to me like the tech just wanted to finish their 8 hours and didn't want to go through the effort to solve your problem. I would have called again and talked to a different tech.

PenPusher · Aug 20, 2023

I had my Win 8Pro key exchanged for a new one by MS, when I had similar problem to you.
It's still a valid key! As I purchased mine through MS as part of their promotion drive (Bought 3 of them).

antspants · Aug 20, 2023

.

PenPusher said:
I had my Win 8Pro key exchanged for a new one by MS, when I had similar problem to you.
It's still a valid key! As I purchased mine through MS as part of their promotion drive (Bought 3 of them).

I just tried one of my old spare 8 Pro keys on the new Lenovo Yoga (win 11 home) MS said it wasn’t valid. At least for my attempt. Actually it was a spare previously unused 8.1 Pro key.

Bree · Aug 20, 2023

antspants said:
I just tried one of my old spare 8 Pro keys, MS said it wasn’t valid. At least for my attempt. Actually it was a spare 8.1 Pro key.

What were you attempting? In my experience a W7/8 key will be rejected if you try to use it when asked for a key during a clean install. However, if you skip entering a key for the install, then change the installed default key to that same Win7/8 one it will then activate.

antspants · Aug 20, 2023

Bree said:
What were you attempting? In my experience a W7/8 key will be rejected if you try to use it when asked for a key during a clean install. However, if you skip entering a key for the install, then change the installed default key to that same Win7/8 one it will then activate.

I was simply curious and tried adding it as an upgrade key in windows home. No particular reason. I already have an 11 pro upgrade key for if I decide to upgrade my wifes home version. Wasn’t a clean install, new laptop with home installed.

Bree said:
A valid W8 Pro key should activate Windows 10 Pro or 11 Pro.

Activation troubles - please explain and help is needed

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