To be fair, I've upgraded hardware twice since going to Windows 11 and worked flawlessly the other two times, which is how I know how it should work and why the customer service agents were talking BS.

 

That's how I would have liked it too. But it didn't work out for me - is it because of Germany?

No, I didn't want to fall into Microsoft's trap when installing it, I don't want to be a long-term customer and be bombarded with emails either. I only had to log in to the Microsoft Store to buy Windows 11 as a USB stick.

Like you, I have a "local account" and Microsoft doesn't have access either. But I think there is a digital license on the USB stick I bought, but I can't find out because I don't know where to look and what to look for? Whatever...

When activating, Win 11 says: Windows was activated with a digital license

 

Same here, digital license, and I'm from Germany, too, so that's not the problem. If you didn't have to enter a product key while installing it has to be stored on the USB stick I think.

Several years ago I indeed had a problem with one of those keys, but that was Windows 10 Home and bought elsewhere. Error was something like "key is already registered", but the seller immediately sent a new key and that worked.

When I read about all the trouble Bunford has, I'm fine with the "shady" volume licenses and buy a new one for new hardware.

 

Thanks for letting me know that it's not a German problem, we got that sorted out.

Users cannot activate Windows: Microsoft rejects valid Windows keys 11/16/2023
https://www.chip.de/news/Nutzer-koe...lehnt-gueltige-Windows-Keys-ab_185030010.html

I plugged the Win 11 USB in again and looked at it, there is a folder called "Support" --> logging 421 KB small with 22 files including the "etwproviderinstall (VB Script)" and some setup *. dll's

A PC / computer like that can sometimes cause you a lot of grief and stress. When everything runs smoothly, you're happy too.

 

Last edited: Oct 16, 2024

But from my experience with Microsoft Office volume licenses, it's not just one for new hardware, but one for each install, which is why it will get expensive quickly if, for example, my new system crashes, need to resolve something and then reinstall, or I decided to try and OC and then need to reinstall etc, as every reinstall will cost.

 

Last edited: Oct 16, 2024

Haven't tried it yet, but a new install on the same hardware should be possible and activate without problems, just not on different hardware. If I should have to do this the next days, I'll reply.

 

You know how it is in the office, every single workstation has its own license! Some of these licenses (e.g. Dell) for example, when a company is dissolved, dealers in Germany buy up the CD ROMS or the licenses, Microsoft sued against this, but the EU ruled in favor of the German license buyers.

 

If you have a retail license, you can just use the key on the new hardware. If it's an OEM (i.e. preinstalled) license, it's not transferable according to Microsoft's EULA.
https://download.microsoft.com/down.../oemsoftwarelicensingrulesandrestrictions.pdf

 

It's retail, but upgraded from Win 7, to 8, to 10, to 11, all in the Pro tier of license. So I have no idea what the original key was and can't see it in my Microsoft account anywhere, as described in previous posts. My old motherboard with the licese should be in the Devices in my account to reactivate that license on my new motherboard, but it's not showing up, which is what's causing the issue.

 

would magical jellybean keyfinder show the old key even if it is not activated successfully yet given it used to be on that installation?

 

Maybe that's the problem. Imagine how hard it must be for a developer to take care of millions or even billions of people trying to fake an official Windows license with all these "activators" or ID generators over 15 years! That's how old Windows 7 is. So maybe your original product key has accidentally been flagged as pirated.

 

There is no reason to be using legit activations (or even semi-legit) with any windows version. Those bargain basement keys will get deactivated as soon as their servers finally figure out they are not legit because of all the telemetry mechanisms stuffed into win11. Unless you disable all the telemetry. There is no reason to be "registering hardware" on some microsoft corporate user espionage account either. Unless you like having microsofts' thumb implanted firmly in some orifice every time you turn on a device. The KMS_VL scripts are apt to be used successfully with any/all drone microsoft accounts that have no legit PII attached to them. Win update will work also, although why anyone would leave that thing running is beyond me... However, if you have an account that has your REAL personal information embedded in it I would abandon that account (close it, and any/all others you have with real PII attached) and create some truly rando account(s) to use with the script activations. That will work famously and keep you private as long as you get rid of all the garbage in win11 that will attempt to identify you. This goes for office as well.

 

Last edited: Oct 16, 2024

Win11 is as useable as any other previous version as long as due diligence is used to secure it before hand. IMO, OEM builds are too much work anymore and require too much reverse engineering to make them viably useful in any scenario. Building out a system with a streamlined install image is now the norm for win11 across the board.

 

I looked at around for a while and couldn't find any retail keys for win 11 so I bought one for 25 bucks. I have a feeling when I swap hardware it's going to act up causing me to need to call Microsoft and haggle them to accept the key even though it may be "tied" to the hardware it was first installed on.

What key are you guys using?

Is it OEM or retail? How much did you pay for it? Where did you buy it?

Do you know where they sell retail keys for cheap?

Is there still a OEM or retail option like before?

The whole point of a retail key is you can install unlimited times with no issue. The OEM key gets tied to the same hardware and no swapping is allowed.

Any info guys?

 

Hi, I recently installed Windows 10 and my purchased key was no longer accepted. I then bought Windows 11 including a USB stick for €145 in the Microsoft Store! Microsoft invalidated the license keys at some point, but this may vary from country to country.

 

last key I bought was from mcdkeys.com, they seem fine

 

If you change motherboard it will not activate on your new build... it is tied in bios to your old motherboard and hardware so if you installed with all your old hardware you wouldn't even need to type in your activation code as it just remembers even if you click I don't have activation code when you go online it will just activate (in later PCs)... I normally just buy Windows 10 Pro off eBay for around £30 to £40 and Upgrade to Windows 11 for Free or get Windows 11 Pro £40+ USB (make sure all legit)

 

Are you "signing in" with the os? Why would anyone do that? Anyway the mas scripts allow the use of ms accounts since the activation is registered on ms servers. Updates will work as well as all other "features/functions"... Although I have no idea why anyone would allow that.

You need to be able to disable that TPM as well. An optimized LITE install image should get around it easily.

Don't bother with buying keys from some dubious monkey on the internet. Nine times out of ten they will become blocked within a matter of weeks or months. Legit activating that stuff is a waste of $$ unless you like dealing with a monster corporate leech that will attempt to dictate your every move.

A word on "signing in" with the os...
You realize when you sign in to a ms account with the os you are giving them (ms) carte blanche to basically take over your machine. The ms corporate network is about the most insidious, nazi-esque, big-brother type operation I ever had the displeasure of having to deal with. When you are on their network they are literally up your ass with a microscope. They see everything you do and log it all. Granted you are not on the same corporate network as employees/staff, BUT it's still their network and they run it the same way. I would not recommend attempting "signing on" with the os itself unless you are confident that you have all the garbage-ware disabled and silenced to the max. This is mainly for the sake of privacy with/without legit activation. There is also the fact that unless you are 100% secure any/all measures you took to secure your machine from their prying eyes will be systematically unraveled just the same as when you allow the win-updater to complete a "update session"...

 

Last edited: Mar 7, 2025 at 10:05 PM

Many of those old ebay "windows pro" codes simply don't work past August 2024, I had one and it claimed it was a windows 10 pro code (with a retail-looking DVD). Showkey claimed it was a Win 8 Pro key (likely purchased for peanuts from a defunct business as mentioned above), and then when actually trying to activate it, Windows claimed it was a HOME version key. Except the windows installer would automatically install the pro version (the installer recognised it as a pro key). And you can't go from a pro install to a home install, you have to reinstall.

Ended up finding the old Win 8 home key I previously used on that mobo and it worked after finding out how to force the installer to install the home version.

On my music PC, I used Windows 10 education version - which is the best and cheapest version of Windows 10, it used to be the only retail version you could disable telemetry on too.

 

GhostSpectre Win11 Lite/Compact FTW! Never ever any problems.