Windows 11 Pro Activation been lost after 18 months of usage.

[DDttWW]

Last Jan 2024 I purchased my laptop at Amazon with preinstalled Win11 Pro and it worked perfectly till this Friday. Now Windows states that my Windows key is for 11 Home and cant reach KMS server, which is a weird situation.

MSFT tried some actions remotely and has sent me to HP support to resolve this question, HP Assistant doesn't have any clue on that.

Any ideas are truly appreciated

[NonSequitur777]

@DDttWW,

Welcome to our HP Community forum!

OK, this is indeed a very odd issue -something I've never come across yet. Since your laptop came preinstalled with Windows 11 Pro, it should have an OEM digital license embedded in its BIOS/UEFI -not one that relies on a KMS server.

So, if Windows is suddenly reporting a Home edition key or showing KMS-related messages, it may indicate one of the following:

• A corrupted activation configuration after an update or repair install.

• Someone inadvertently installed a Home edition image over your Pro version.

• The system was set up using a volume (KMS) license image instead of an OEM one, which would expire once disconnected from the KMS server.

Please try these steps:

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, right-click → Run as administrator.

2. Run this command:

   slmgr /dlv

   → This opens a little window with "Windows Script Host". Look under Description for "OEM_DM channel". If it says "KMS", your Windows was incorrectly activated with a volume license.

3. If it says "KMS", you can restore the original OEM key by copy/paste/Enter:

   wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

   Copy that key and then re-enter it via Settings → System → Activation → Change product key.

If that doesn't work, download the Windows 11 Pro ISO from Microsoft's site, back up your files, and perform a clean reinstall. Once connected to the internet, Windows should automatically reactivate using the BIOS-embedded OEM license.

Let me know how this went!

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777