New Cloned Hard Drive - Windows 11 Pro Now Not Activated

I bought this PC a month ago as a refurbished unit from NewEgg. Windows 11 Pro was already installed and activated if memory serves. After I cloned the new SSD, all seemed well. This morning when I woke the PC from Sleep, the watermark indicating that Windows was not activated appeared. My computer is up and running fine and after restarting, the watermark went away but the System Information still indicates that Windows 11 Pro is not activated. Using ShowKeyPlus, I see that this version of Windows 11 Pro is an upgrade from Windows 10.



When I first got this new PC, I retrieved two Product Keys, one using the Command Line option and one from the Registry. I made note of them both and copied them to a file. The Product Key found in the Registry at that time did NOT match the one seen in System Information. If I try to activate using the Product Key from ShowKeyPlus, this happens without it even trying to Activate:



If I try to activate using the Product Key shown in the Registry, this happens AFTER it tries to Activate:



Interestingly, whenever I change the Product Key, it fails to Activate but changes in System Information to what I just entered except if I use the Product Key from ShowKeyPlus. The Product Key shown in ShowKeyPlus is the same one shown using the Command Line option.

Now this is really interesting: The Backup Product Key in the Registry is now different from the one I copied a month ago. Either of those Product Keys produces the second error seen above after trying to activate. Only the Product Key from the ShowKeyPlus doesn't even try to activate.

I tried to activate by phone but that did not work and no reason was provided.

I tried to activate by phone but that did not work and no reason was provided.

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Try speaking to an operator. Don't input anything ( except your phone number if it asks) an operator will pick up after a while.

All2kool said:

I see that this version of Windows 11 Pro is an upgrade from Windows 10.

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Actually, the computer originally came with 10 Home. The OEM key you blocked out is the OEM Home key from the BIOS.

SIW2 said:

Try speaking to an operator. Don't input anything ( except your phone number if it asks) an operator will pick up after a while.

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If I don't answer the automated questions after opening the Installation ID window, the system eventually hangs up on me.

Porthos said:

Actually, the computer originally came with 10 Home. The OEM key you blocked out is the OEM Home key from the BIOS.

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And it makes perfect sense that it doesn't even try to activate Windows 11 Pro with that Product Key.

All2kool said:

I bought this PC a month ago as a refurbished unit from NewEgg.

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Do you have the exact New Egg link of this computer you could post for us?

Porthos said:

Do you have the exact New Egg link of this computer you could post for us?

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Sure.

When I first got it, I had a hard time believing it was refurbished. I used to work for Dell as a tech and I've built 15 PC's over the last 25 years. This unit was spotless - almost as if it was an unused surplus unit. Not speck of dust on the inside. Looked to be new old stock to me. No Windows Product ID label anywhere on the unit or box.

I emailed NewEgg after I got it asking for the Product Key should I ever have to reinstall Windows 11 and they just referred me to to the web with links on how to find it.

All2kool said:

I bought this PC a month ago as a refurbished unit from NewEgg. Windows 11 Pro was already installed and activated if memory serves. After I cloned the new SSD, all seemed well. This morning when I woke the PC from Sleep, the watermark indicating that Windows was not activated appeared. My computer is up and running fine and after restarting, the watermark went away but the System Information still indicates that Windows 11 Pro is not activated. Using ShowKeyPlus, I see that this version of Windows 11 Pro is an upgrade from Windows 10....

When I first got this new PC, I retrieved two Product Keys, one using the Command Line option and one from the Registry. I made note of them both and copied them to a file. The Product Key found in the Registry at that time did NOT match the one seen in System Information. If I try to activate using the Product Key from ShowKeyPlus, this happens without it even trying to Activate:

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Welcome to Eleven Forum.

There is no difference between a Windows 10 key and a Windows 11 key, they are all valid for Windows 10/11.

Your PC was originally manufactured and supplied by the OEM with Windows 10 Core preinstalled (or maybe 11 Core, you cannot tell the difference just from the key). 'Core' means the Home edition.

The OEM key shown by ShowKeyPlus is embedded in the PC's firmware and is a key for Windows 10/11 Home. That OEM Home key cannot activate Pro. The Windows was upgraded to Pro (presumably by NewEgg) using a volume licensing multiple activation key (MAK). That should have obtained a digital licence for Pro for this PC. This digital licence is stored on Microsoft's activation servers and linked to the hardware ID of the PC. Changing the SSD is not a significant hardware change and shouldn't loose the activation, changing a motherboard would be.

If this PC has an existing digital licence for Pro, then you should be able to activate its installed Pro by changing the installed key to the generic Windows 10/11 Pro key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Bree said:

If this PC has an existing digital licence for Pro, then you should be able to activate its installed Pro by 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 Tutorial

This tutorial will provide you with a list of RTM (retail) and KMS generic keys (default keys) for all editions of Windows 11. Generic keys (aka: "default keys") for Windows 11 from Microsoft will allow you to install or upgrade to a specific Windows 11 edition you want, but will not activate...

www.elevenforum.com

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It will not activate using that key but it did try to.

New question: Should I downgrade to Windows 11 Home and then try my OEM Windows 10 Home key? Is downgrading even an option?

All2kool said:

When I first got it, I had a hard time believing it was refurbished....

...I emailed NewEgg after I got it asking for the Product ID should I ever have to reinstall Windows 11 and they just referred me to to the web with links on how to find it.

Refurbished: Dell Optiplex 3040 SFF i3-6100 3.70GHz | 8GB | 256GB | DVD | WIFI | Wired Mouse and Keyboard | WIndows 11 Pro - Newegg.com

Buy Refurbished: Dell Optiplex 3040 SFF i3-6100 3.70GHz | 8GB | 256GB | DVD | WIFI | Wired Mouse and Keyboard | WIndows 11 Pro with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

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From your link:

• Brand : Dell
• Model : Optiplex 3040
• Chassis Type : SFF
• Processor Type : i3-6100

That i3-6100 is a 6th generation Intel processor. That means this is an unsupported device for Windows 11, the minimum hardware requirement for Windows 11 is an 8th gen or newer Intel CPU.

Microsoft | Windows 11 Supported Intel Processors

Bree said:

From your link:

• Brand : Dell
• Model : Optiplex 3040
• Chassis Type : SFF
• Processor Type : i3-6100

That i3-6100 is a 6th generation Intel processor. That means this is an unsupported device for Windows 11, the minimum hardware requirement for Windows 11 is an 8th gen or newer Intel CPU.

Microsoft | Windows 11 Supported Intel Processors

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The BIOS clearly shows that I have TPM 2.0 and before I cloned to a new SSD, Windows 11 Pro was activated. I'm certain it would be still if I put the original SSD back in.

How can Windows 11 Pro get activated on a PC that doesn't meet the MHR?

All2kool said:

How can Windows 11 Pro get activated on a PC that doesn't meet the MHR?

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There are many 3rd party sellers using the workarounds available to install 11 un unsupported hardware. Buyer beware...

If a buyer does not know what is supported or not (sellers rely on that) they fall for it looking for the least expensive computer with Win 11.

They "saw you coming" so to speak.
The best thing you could do is install 10 home on it and move on. I do not recommend doing the workarounds for general users.

Big red flag for me is the price I found on it.

Porthos said:

There are many 3rd party sellers using the workarounds available to install 11 un unsupported hardware. Buyer beware...

If a buyer does not know what is supported or not (sellers rely on that) they fall for it looking for the least expensive computer with Win 11.

They "saw you coming" so to speak.
The best thing you could do is install 10 home on it and move on. I do not recommend doing the workarounds for general users.

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I get that but NewEgg is a reputable seller as is Sunset Micro, who shipped the PC. I can't see them allowing sellers on their platform to pawn off PC's like this. I've bought 5 refurbished PC's from NewEgg over the years and never had an issue.

All2kool said:

How can Windows 11 Pro get activated on a PC that doesn't meet the MHR?

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Very easily, there are many known workarounds to get 11 to install on an unsupported device. Once installed it usually works well. Although my main machines are all fully supported devices, I do run 11 of some unsupported devices too, just to see what happens. Look through the specs in 'My Computers' below. My System Two for example has been running Windows 11 on a 1st gen i5 since the launch in 2021.

Problem SOLVED.

I just activated using a Windows 10 Pro Product Key from an old dead unit I had in the closet.

All2kool said:

I get that but NewEgg is a reputable seller. I can't see them allowing sellers on their platform to pawn off PC's like this.

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It happens to many reputable platforms. In the US I have seen them on Amazon and Walmart so far.

All2kool said:

I just activated using a Windows 10 Home Product Key from an old dead unit I had in the closet.

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Windows 10 or 11?

Porthos said:

Windows 10 or 11?

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I activated Windows 11 Pro using a Windows 10 Pro Product Key as this PC was updated from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro.

See post #8 in this thread.

Porthos said:

Big red flag for me is the price I found on it.

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I don't see why the price would be a red flag. As I mentioned earlier, I doubt this PC was ever actually used. It was MINT when I opened the box. Not a spec of dust on the inside. It looks to have been an unused surplus unit.