Problem activating Win 11 after clean upgrade from 10

Hello and thank you in advance for your help.

Here's my situation:

• Had Windows 10 pro, activated on local account (i.e. I did not and never will attach it to a Microsoft account)
• Made upgrade to Windows 11 Pro through Windows update. Kinda worked but lots of stuff crashes.
• So decided to make a clean install through USB key.
• Installation worked fine; installed as local account (i.e. NOT attached to a Microsoft account)
• Now I cannot activate Windows 11 despite the fact that I owe a license of Windows 10 pro because I made clean install instead of using Windows update.
• I actually have the little license sticker thing (Windows 10 PRO FOR OEM SOFTWARE) with the key.
• Windows 11 refuse to activate with that key (We can't activate windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key etc etc etc.)

Googling this I ended with with a lot of people saying that its easy to do if your Windows 10 license was registered to your Microsoft account and that you have set your Microsoft account with Windows 11. I did not do that for Windows 10 nor 11 and, anyway, its kinda too late to do it for my Windows 10 since I'm now on 11. I have fully updated Windows 11 after installation

I'm starting to feel desperate here, I don't want to dish out a few $100 to get a new license that I have already paid for. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

Note about the computer; its a homemade desktop computer. No hardware change has been made recently (well... ever, now that I think about it) so this is not an hardware change issue.



Thank you.

I am guessing your original oem licence was a dodgy oem gross volume licence key.

Unscrupulous vendors often sell these key multiple times and eventually MS detect them and block them for further use.

Check the key using showkeyplus and post image (hiding your key).

I'm not clear on the issues with OEM licenses. Supposedly they are no different than retail licenses if you get an online digital license with an MS account, but as you didn't do that...

In the let-them-eat-cake line, you could try one of those cheap OEM licenses available online. This site usually has a link:


(It's not a site for piracy.)

bobkn said:

I'm not clear on the issues with OEM licenses. Supposedly they are no different than retail licenses if you get an online digital license with an MS account, but as you didn't do that...

In the let-them-eat-cake line, you could try one of those cheap OEM licenses available online. This site usually has a link:

www.guru3d.com

Guru3D.com - Your go-to source for tech news, reviews, and in-depth analysis of graphics cards, processors, motherboards, gaming hardware, and software from companies like AMD (Radeon) Intel (Core) and NVIDIA (GeForce). Stay updated with the latest trends and innovations in the world of technology .

www.guru3d.com

(It's not a site for piracy.)

Click to expand...

I am confused about this. I have always used local accounts. Non of my Windows 10 or 11 Product Keys are linked to my Microsoft Account. The only time I use my Microsoft account is:

• Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2021 (occasionally)
• Microsoft Store (for purchasing apps)
• Microsoft Sticky Notes (to sync with other computers)

In 2022 I bought a laptop that came with Windows 11 Home. I bought a Windows 11 Pro key online from one of the many keys that sell them. I successfully upgraded that laptop to Windows 11 Pro. Last year the laptop was replaced with a new identical one. It also came with Windows 11 Home. I moved the SSDs from the old laptop to it. I had no problem reactivating Windows 11 Pro on it using the purchased Windows 11 Pro product key.

FYI, linking Windows Product Keys to your Microsoft Account was discussed on the Microsoft support forums. The moderator even gave links to tutorials on this forum.
Linking my Microsoft Account to My product key
How do I view on microsoft all the product keys linked to my account?

ShowKeyPlus on old laptop showing OEM Windows 11 Home key and Windows 11 Pro key



ShowKeyPlus on new laptop showing OEM Windows 11 Home key and Windows 11 Pro key



ShowKeyPlus on new laptop checking edition of Windows 11 Pro key

Do you have a backup/image of the Win10 OS load? If so you can try restoring that and see if the Win10 load remains licensed. I will say I have ran into these little glitches with license keys myself. Where did you get your Win10 OEM license key from? Is it an official DVD?

deck1701 said:

Here's my situation:

• Had Windows 10 pro, activated on local account (i.e. I did not and never will attach it to a Microsoft account)
• Made upgrade to Windows 11 Pro through Windows update. Kinda worked but lots of stuff crashes.
• So decided to make a clean install through USB key.
• Installation worked fine; installed as local account (i.e. NOT attached to a Microsoft account)
• Now I cannot activate Windows 11 despite the fact that I owe a license of Windows 10 pro because I made clean install instead of using Windows update.

Click to expand...

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

Your PC got a digital licence for Win10 Pro when it was first installed on your PC. This digital licence is linked to the unique hardware ID of you PC and stored on Microsoft's activation servers. Linking this digital licence to a Microsoft account is optional, but not necessary. You can (and I have) clean install and activate without ever having a Microsoft account.

An existing digital licence can activate a clean install or Windows 10 or Windows 11, the digital licence is valid for both.

Have you tried running the Activation Troubleshooter? See Option Four here:

deck1701 said:

Windows 11 refuse to activate with that key (We can't activate windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key etc etc etc.)

Click to expand...

Try changing the installed key to the generic Windows 10/11 Pro key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
It should then activate from the existing digital licence.

Here's why I believe you have this problem.
1. Had Windows 10 pro, homemade desktop computer but you somehow managed to activate 10 using an OEM key FROM ANOTHER COMPUTER (which is a no-no)
2. You upgraded to 11 successfully (but at this point we do not know if 11 was actually activated or not, I am assuming so but it was not tied to your MS account)
3. Had problems so you clean installed 11 trying to use the same OEM key again without success

Actually the install in step 1 was illegal, notwithstanding that MS servers activated it. Since you did not register that installation to your MS account, maybe those servers had flagged it but allowed the install of 10 anyway. I think now the servers recognize the fact that it is an OEM key that does not belong to your computer and is illegal, and preventing you from using that key to activate the clean install.

I do know that MS changed their activation servers drastically some time ago when they clamped down on users using keys for 7 to install 10 and 11. The fact that you have a "sticker" tells me you are probably using an OEM key assigned to another old Windows 7 machine. (Manufacturers did not put stickers on their computers after that)

Some cheap windows license keys are volume keys or fake keys but many here have had success (me included) purchasing Pro license keys from StackSocial. Mine activated just fine as a retail license. $12.72 after discount currently. I can not guarantee what will happen using these keys right now.

not sure if you have tried this but its worth a try.
open
settings > system > activation

in this window click
upgrade your edition of Windows

on this drop down menu click
change product key

put in the product key you have and see if it activates
it worked for me when i had to do a clean install of Windows 11 after a failed upgrade.

best of luck, Steve ..