Can't activate Windows 11 Enterprise upgrade just purchased from Microsoft. No product key in confirmation email

imkeri · Jun 7, 2024

Purchased new PC, running Home version of Win 11. Called IT for one of my vendors to make this new machine the server for their software (old server machine is old). IT guy says can't do it because it's running Home version (client machines are all running Home, current server running Windows 10Pro). He helps me with purchasing the upgrade from Microsoft. Purchase goes through, machine is restarted (several times now), getting this error:

Got my email confirmation of the purchase about an hour later, there is no product key. Troubleshoot button results:

Order 'details' from Microsoft:

I am logged in (only user on the machine) as admin...going insane. Please help!

jimbo45 · Jun 7, 2024

imkeri said:
Purchased new PC, running Home version of Win 11. Called IT for one of my vendors to make this new machine the server for their software (old server machine is old). IT guy says can't do it because it's running Home version (client machines are all running Home, current server running Windows 10Pro). He helps me with purchasing the upgrade from Microsoft. Purchase goes through, machine is restarted (several times now), getting this error:

View attachment 98649

Got my email confirmation of the purchase about an hour later, there is no product key. Troubleshoot button results:
View attachment 98650

Order 'details' from Microsoft:

View attachment 98651

I am logged in (only user on the machine) as admin...going insane. Please help!

If he's any sort of "proper I.T guy" who helped you with the purchase he should have installed or done the upgrade for you. I should go back to him to fix it for you or get your money back.

Cheers
jimbo

idgat · Jun 7, 2024

In an upgrade I did (Home > Pro), IIRC, in a subsequent clean re- install the activation to Pro was after I signed in with the user account I bought the upgrade. Still haven't seen, or needed, an actual license key

"Enterprise" installed?? Order details image above says you bought "Pro"

Back to your "I.T. guy", methinks ( ... or maybe another one?)

imkeri · Jun 7, 2024

idgat said:
In an upgrade I did (Home > Pro), IIRC, in a subsequent clean re- install the activation to Pro was after I signed in with the user account I bought the upgrade. Still haven't seen, or needed, an actual license key

That's what I was expecting to happen as well :/

idgat said:
"Enterprise" installed?? Order details image above says you bought "Pro"

I noticed that disparity, not sure what it means...

idgat said:
Back to your "I.T. guy", methinks ( ... or maybe another one

Yeah, he's not my IT guy per se, just IT for the software I needed to install. But I have a call in to a guy I've used in the past. So frustrating.

Thank you!

Tester · Jun 7, 2024

imkeri said:
I noticed that disparity, not sure what it means...

That would mean you need to downgrade you current installed Enterprise win11 version down to Windows 11 Pro. So you can use the bought Pro version.
And i have the feeling you don't need the enterprise version anyway?

How to: How to downgrade Windows 11/10 Enterprise to Pro edition (max 5min work)

And in your email, view or manage your order, does that show the product bought, and the product key?

Bree · Jun 7, 2024

idgat said:
"Enterprise" installed?? Order details image above says you bought "Pro"

imkeri said:
I noticed that disparity, not sure what it means...

I've heard before of an upgrade to Pro erroneously upgrading to Enterprise instead, both for W11 and W11. The simplest solution would be to downgrade Enterprise to Pro, then your Pro key should activate it. The process is the same in 11 or 10.

Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro

How to Downgrade from Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro

www.tenforums.com

imkeri said:
Got my email confirmation of the purchase about an hour later, there is no product key.

Your purchased key wouldn't have been emailed to you, it should be in your Microsoft account.

Before downgrading, you should find out what the currently installed key is using ShowKeyPlus.
https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html

NormanF · Jun 7, 2024

I pity the buyer who didn't notice he bought the wrong version!

Was he expecting to activate Enterprise with a Pro key? LOL

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 7, 2024

This from Microsoft re upgrade paths for Windows 11.

From:

Windows upgrade paths

Upgrade to current versions of Windows from a previous version of Windows

learn.microsoft.com

Also this from MS. The answer is that Enterprise has to be clean installed when the computer has Windows Home. See first reply.

Redirecting

imkeri · Jun 7, 2024

Tester said:
That would mean you need to downgrade you current installed Enterprise win11 version down to Windows 11 Pro. So you can use the bought Pro version.
And i have the feeling you don't need the enterprise version anyway?

How to: How to downgrade Windows 11/10 Enterprise to Pro edition (max 5min work)

And in your email, view or manage your order, does that show the product bought, and the product key?

I didn't install the Enterprise version, it just appeared there upon restart after the purchase of Pro.
I'll look into downgrading now, fingers crossed!
My email /view or manage order doe NOT show the product key.

imkeri · Jun 7, 2024

Bree said:
I've heard before of an upgrade to Pro erroneously upgrading to Enterprise instead, both for W11 and W11. The simplest solution would be to downgrade Enterprise to Pro, then your Pro key should activate it. The process is the same in 11 or 10.

Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro

How to Downgrade from Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro

www.tenforums.com

This seems pormising....

Bree said:
Your purchased key wouldn't have been emailed to you, it should be in your Microsoft account.

I would LOVE to know where to look for this ^

Bree said:
Before downgrading, you should find out what the currently installed key is using ShowKeyPlus.
https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html

thank you!

imkeri · Jun 7, 2024

Marcus Vinicus said:
This from Microsoft re upgrade paths for Windows 11.

View attachment 98655

From:

Windows upgrade paths

Upgrade to current versions of Windows from a previous version of Windows

learn.microsoft.com

Also this from MS. The answer is that Enterprise has to be clean installed when the computer has Windows Home. See first reply.

Redirecting

which is odd...because I didn't buy Enterprise (see confirmation email), and I didn't install anything, it happened behind the scenes, as it were.

imkeri · Jun 7, 2024

Bree said:
I've heard before of an upgrade to Pro erroneously upgrading to Enterprise instead, both for W11 and W11. The simplest solution would be to downgrade Enterprise to Pro, then your Pro key should activate it. The process is the same in 11 or 10.

Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro

How to Downgrade from Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 10 Pro

www.tenforums.com

Your purchased key wouldn't have been emailed to you, it should be in your Microsoft account.

Before downgrading, you should find out what the currently installed key is using ShowKeyPlus.
https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html

FIXED!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!

Marcus Vinicus · Jun 7, 2024

Great you got it all sorted. Remember to mark the issue as solved in this thread.

Bree · Jun 7, 2024

imkeri said:
FIXED!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!!!!

pparks1 · Jun 8, 2024

imkeri said:
which is odd...because I didn't buy Enterprise (see confirmation email), and I didn't install anything, it happened behind the scenes, as it were.

And you cannot even purchase enterprise without an enterprise agreement with Microsoft. They don't just sell single copies of enterprise to somebody who walks up with a fistfull of cash.