Windows activation?

[Jayhp11]

I know this may not be the best place to ask, but I just built my pc and used the usb drive to get windows on it and signed into my old Microsoft account. I’ve never had a pc but I’ve had a laptop and it says windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed so I bought a new license and then it said unable to install a genuine version of windows. How do I get a product key they will activate windows on a new pc. 

[-rascal-]

7 minutes ago, Jayhp11 said:

I know this may not be the best place to ask, but I just built my pc and used the usb drive to get windows on it and signed into my old Microsoft account. I’ve never had a pc but I’ve had a laptop and it says windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed so I bought a new license and then it said unable to install a genuine version of windows. How do I get a product key they will activate windows on a new pc. 

 

Only license key can be tied to one computer at a time, so you can't use the same key for both your Laptop and Desktop.

 

Where did you buy your "new" license key?

It looks like Windows detected it as a fake / used key.

[Jayhp11]

4 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

 

Only license key can be tied to one computer at a time, so you can't use the same key for both your Laptop and Desktop.

 

Where did you buy your "new" license key?

It looks like Windows detected it as a fake / used key.

From the Microsoft store app

[-rascal-]

32 minutes ago, Jayhp11 said:

From the Microsoft store app

 

Oh WTF...then call Microsoft up and see why your license key isn't working.

Especially if you bought it through them directly...and not through some grey-market reseller.

[Jayhp11]

2 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

 

Oh WTF...then call Microsoft up and see why your license key isn't working.

Especially if you bought it through them directly...and not through some grey-market reseller.

Yea I did and the lady kept saying I need a product key and not a license so idk what to do anymore. I think she didn’t understand what was happening. 

[TheLANguy]

4 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

 

Oh WTF...then call Microsoft up and see why your license key isn't working.

Especially if you bought it through them directly...and not through some grey-market reseller.

From what I have written down the activation number is: (0) (800) 018 8352

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

2 minutes ago, Jayhp11 said:

Yea I did and the lady kept saying I need a product key and not a license so idk what to do anymore. I think she didn’t understand what was happening. 

Was your key initially a Windows 7/8 key? If so, it's a known issue since Microsoft stopped allowing activations with such keys. I have a ticket opened with Microsoft about it. Will be interesting to see if they will honour those who have already activated Windows 10/11 with those keys. 

 

I understand them blocking new activations, but blocking re-activating for existing users would be rather scummy. No one expects a simple hardware upgrade or in my case, a BIOS update, would then cost me a new Windows license. 

[SimplyGone]

1 hour ago, Jayhp11 said:

I know this may not be the best place to ask, but I just built my pc and used the usb drive to get windows on it and signed into my old Microsoft account. I’ve never had a pc but I’ve had a laptop and it says windows reported that the hardware of your device has changed so I bought a new license and then it said unable to install a genuine version of windows. How do I get a product key they will activate windows on a new pc. 

Specs?

[Jayhp11]

2 hours ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Was your key initially a Windows 7/8 key? If so, it's a known issue since Microsoft stopped allowing activations with such keys. I have a ticket opened with Microsoft about it. Will be interesting to see if they will honour those who have already activated Windows 10/11 with those keys. 

 

I understand them blocking new activations, but blocking re-activating for existing users would be rather scummy. No one expects a simple hardware upgrade or in my case, a BIOS update, would then cost me a new Windows license. 

It was I believe. How do I open a ticket with them? 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

38 minutes ago, Jayhp11 said:

It was I believe. How do I open a ticket with them? 

I went via the Get Help app within Windows. Search "Activate Windows" > Contact Support > select the relevant options, then you would be given the choice of providing a phone number and having one of their support staff call you. 

 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

Update: 

Microsoft Escalation confirmed to me this is intentional and they are no longer allowing re-activations using 7 or 8 keys for both Windows 10 or 11. Even if the upgrade process was done at the time. 

 

The only solution is to purchase a new license. I doubt this will be making any news headlines, one could hope. All their goodwill in providing these upgrades to extend the lives of older devices has just gone out the window considering 8.1 support just ended earlier this year. 

[Biohazard777]

1 hour ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Update: 

Microsoft Escalation confirmed to me this is intentional and they are no longer allowing re-activations using 7 or 8 keys for both Windows 10 or 11. Even if the upgrade process was done at the time. 

 

The only solution is to purchase a new license. I doubt this will be making any news headlines, one could hope. All their goodwill in providing these upgrades to extend the lives of older devices has just gone out the window considering 8.1 support just ended earlier this year. 

That is low, even for Microsoft 

Don't know about news headlines, but worth a mention on the WAN show.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

43 minutes ago, Biohazard777 said:

That is low, even for Microsoft 

Don't know about news headlines, but worth a mention on the WAN show.

Yea probably not like headlines headlines. But a few outlets have reported about new activations but never reported about re-activating existing devices. 

[SimplyGone]

that's why the grey market exists