Microsoft Upgraded me from Windows 10 to Windows 11 - now I can't Activate Windows.

[kendomixes]

Microsoft requested I upgrade to Windows 11 - I did this and now it says not Activated. I've tried activation troubleshooter, I've tried using my windows key - nothing seems to work. Has anyone else resolved this? 

[BeemerBiker]

What does "showkeypuus" display?  Possibly you had win10 home and somehow upgraded too win11 pro (just guessing)

Use show key plus to get the product key
https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9pkvzcprx9nv?amp%3Bgl=US


Windows 11 and Windows 10: In most cases, Windows 11 and Windows 10 activates automatically using a digital license and doesn’t require you to enter a product key. Read about this here.

If you tried a windows restore / install and are asked for a key then possibly you are restoring window's "home" using the window's "pro" version. The product key will tell you what version is required.

Please provide the Product ID or Model name for better assistance. Preferably the full product ID including the characters after the # symbol. This code may be needed to find cloud recovery files. If your system is less than 5 years old you should be able to go here and install factory OS.

Example of Omen 30L motherboard that never had an OS. Note that there is no OEM key in the firmware and the license is retail. The motherboard was replaced and had to be reactivated with the purchased key (the installed one)

Note that currently the Microsoft policy for Windows 10 and 11 is that it can be used indefinitely but you will have to put up with a nag screen that reminds you to activate.

Let me know what you find out.

[kendomixes]

I thought it was a home vs. pro issue but my OEM key says that it is Win 10 RTM Professional Retail. And it upgraded to Win 11 Pro. When I try that OEM key to activate through windows settings it says "The key didn't work"

[kendomixes]

And what product ID are you looking for --- is it the model of laptop that I get form the bottom of it, or are you referring to product ID that is listed in Showkeyplus?

Thanks

[BeemerBiker]

Is it an HP OEM license or just a generic "release to manufacturing".

AFAIK the RTM keys are genuine and if they are "retail" then they will work.  BUT if they are OEM and not HP then there is a problem.

You will have to contact Microsoft to get it activated.   Possibly there is a problem with the RTM.  I have bought CPU's that are marked RTM and they usually have problems such as only 4 cores instead of 8 or only good for 1 channel of memory instead of 2.  

Does it say "HP RTM" or just RTM and no name of the PC it is supposed to be installed in?

[kendomixes]

The laptop was purchased from HP with windows pre installed. So I don't know if that makes it OEM or not. I've been trying to get support from either Microsoft or HO and can't seem to find any way to get it

[BeemerBiker]

When activating windows, there should be an option to contact Microsoft.  It usually involves using a smartphone and explaining what the problem is.  The phone number depends on your region and the PC needs to be online.

Sorry.