Windows 10: Windows 11 Pro not activating on new PC build

Discus and support Windows 11 Pro not activating on new PC build in Windows 10 Software and Apps to solve the problem; I am having issues with my windows not activating after buying it from the store. New PC build, loaded windows 11 from a USB I made with another PC.... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Software and Apps' started by bob bobson1, May 19, 2024.

  1. Windows 11 Pro not activating on new PC build


    I am having issues with my windows not activating after buying it from the store. New PC build, loaded windows 11 from a USB I made with another PC. Bought Windows 11 Pro from the store but it never activated on this device. I can see the device in my profile when I look at my account online in a web browser but I don't see it when going through the troubleshooting steps for activation which does not work. I tried to talk to phone support late last night but when asked for a "case number" by a second support person which I never received and have no idea what that means he hung up on me af

    :)
     
    bob bobson1, May 19, 2024
    #1

  2. Activating a brand new PC build with Windows 11

    I currently have windows 10 installed on my pc. I will be upgrading my motherboard, cpu, gpu, psu etc. I want to install windows 11 on the new pc build. Can I use my windows 10 key to activate windows 11 on the new build even though I never upgraded the current windows 10 to 11?
     
    Justin Reese1, May 19, 2024
    #2
  3. Can't activate Windows 11 pro on my new PC

    My activation code that I used on my previous PC for Windows 11 pro was working fine, but after I bought a new PC and tried to activate Windows 11 pro on my new PC with the same activation code, it didn't work out. It tells me you don't have a valid digital key.
     
    Frank Smith_086, May 19, 2024
    #3
  4. br0shambo Win User

    Windows 11 Pro not activating on new PC build

    How to activate Win 10 Home retail that was upgraded to Win 10/11 Pro on new PC

    I built a new PC and would like to transfer my retail licensing from my old PC to my new one.

    Timeline:

    • Old Custom PC was built.
    • Windows 10 Home edition was purchased from Microsoft Store 10/2020 for $139.00. I was provided a product key.
    • Windows 10 Home edition installed to Old PC.
    • Upgrade to Windows 10/11 Pro was purchased 08/2023.
    • Old PC was upgraded to Windows 10 pro. Activation status shows as linked to my Microsoft account. Using CMD to produce product key does not work. Using slmgr /dlv command produces information stating I have retail licensing.
    • New PC is built. Windows 11 Pro clean install and no previous information restored to this PC. Sign into Microsoft account during Windows setup.
    • Reset old PC and wipe storage the secure and slow way in preparation to sell to a friend.
    • New PC check activation status - NOT ACTIVE

    Troubleshooting Steps Taken:

    • Troubleshoot button
    • I changed hardware on this device recently:

      • Windows 11 Pro not activating on new PC build y%2FAWo3FLgfl3RwC7VLqW2JYOX63YMKd9dm0lsQ0lEgzBFWHNYwvZcQq%2Bs8f0TXx6TKgRcFVVlK4mRJOa7STUnIVv8%3D.png

      • Old PC was removed from my account, but at one point showed up here prior to removal and when attempting to use it it also failed.
      • The other linked devices are old PC's or my other handheld PC.
    • Change product key > Entered my original Windows 10 Home product key from 10/2020 purchase and it does not work.

    Next Steps?

    • At this point I am trying to determine if my original license key was upgrade to be a 10/11 pro key or if it retains its Win 10 Home status and is only valid for a Win 10 Home installation. If this is the case and I were to install windows 10 home I do not see how I would be able to update to Windows 11 Pro again.
    • I contact support.... Multiple times to no avail.
      • First call - confirmed all the same basic steps as above then transferred me to installation support. Installation support answered then hung up the phone at the end of my explanation.
        • I gave up for the night as this was ~11:30 PM
      • Today I have gone through all the same steps again with another agent before being transferred to technical support. Tech support remotes into my device and goes the the slmgr array of commands in attempt to resolve and when I get a "core error" tells my my installation of Windows 11 Pro is corrupt and provides an email with a set of instructions for a "custom installation". Steps are followed to go through the normal procedure of doing essentially a Windows 11 clean install via downloading the Windows 11 Pro ISO and navigating to setup. I opted to reinstall Windows 11 Pro and keep no files.
        • Clean install I opted to not restore any previous backups and setup as a new PC. After logging into my Microsoft account during setup I again navigate to Activation to arrive at the same result. Not Active.
        • Basic troubleshooting steps again leaves me in the same boat.
        • Support hung up as soon as I got past the initial robo voice questions.
        • Support will no longer even give me a callback when going through the "Get Help" options where I provide my phone number.
      • For context... at no point was I even slightly rude or impatient and opted to record every call.

    Apologies for the novel, but would rather provide all the information up front. At this point I do not know where I am at in the support process and feel after spending nearly $250, after tax, on retail licensing I am being pressured with lack of support difficulties to spend another $200 on new licensing as I am many hours deep into this now with 0 resolution.
     
    br0shambo, May 19, 2024
    #4
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Windows 11 Pro not activating on new PC build

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