Trying to use my OEM key again after using an non activated windows 11 pro key

[davingarlick]

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

You can't use a W10 Home product key to activate W11.

You will have to use the HP cloud recovery tool to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will factory reset your PC's drive to its 'out of the box' condition.

Here's an info link for how to use the utility.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Customer Support

Make sure to back up any files you don't want to lose onto a portable hard drive, as this procedure will repartition, and format the hard drive and all data currently on the drive will be lost.

After you get W10 installed, you can upgrade to W11 Home for free by clicking on the blue Windows 11 installation assistant at the link below (1st option).

Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

Then if you want to upgrade from W11 Home to W11 Pro, you will need to pay Microsoft for a W11 Pro license.

There is only one way to upgrade from W11 Home to W11 Pro and you can read about how to do that at the link below.

Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro - Microsoft Support

[davingarlick]

Just wondering does it have to be a flash drive? I am not sure if I have a flash drive with 32 gbs.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, you must use a 32 GB USB flash drive with the cloud recovery tool software. 

[davingarlick]

Everything works now didn't have to install windows 11 just a few weird things were happening to the software but worked fine.