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Accidentally Removed Device from Microsoft Account that had my Windows 11 Pro digital license linked to it; Now I cannot activate new Windows installation

Anonymous
2022-08-10T23:17:08+00:00

Short Version:

Need one or more of the following:

  • Instructions as to how to restore a Windows machine to the Device list in my Microsoft Account that was erroneously deleted
  • Telephone number to Activate Windows By Telephone (if it still exists for a home user)
  • Instructions as to how I can get my bought and paid for Retail license from an old Windows install after using the slmgr command to uninstall it
  • A way to actually get a Microsoft support person to respond in the chat window after opening Contact Support.

Long Version:

Seven months ago I installed Windows 11 Pro in a VM on my MacBook Pro using Parallels. I bought a digital license from the Microsoft Store (I have the receipt) and used it to Activate Windows. This week Windows became incredibly sluggish, so I decided to create a new Windows VM and transfer my current digital license over to the new copy of Windows.

I don't have a background in IT, but I'm fairly adept at tech stuff. I had never attempted to transfer a license before, but I had double checked that it was definitely possible for the type of license I had, and it seemed like a fairly straightforward procedure. Plus I had a receipt, and a message on the Activation screen in System settings which reassured me that my "Windows digital license is linked to my Microsoft Account" (see the graphic below). What could go wrong?

So I knew from previous reading that I was supposed to deactivate the license from the old Windows installation. I read a few articles about the process and then followed the instructions in this article for removing the license from the existing Windows installation:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-transfer-windows-10-license-new-computer-or-hard-drive#:~:text=Also%2C%20if%20you%20upgraded%20to%20Windows%2010%20Pro,a%20digital%20license%20linked%20to%20your%20Microsoft%20account.

I used the slmgr /upk and slmgr/cpky commands to uninstall the product key and remove it from the registry. Then, thinking (erroneously it turns out) that I needed to remove the old installation from the Device list of my Microsoft Account, I opened a separate browser on my Mac, logged in to my Microsoft Account, and unlinked and removed the Windows machine from Devices.

I then created a new VM and installed a new copy of Windows 11 Pro. I went to the Activation window which said that no Product Key was found (as expected), and used the Activation Troubleshooter to indicate that I had recently changed hardware. But it returned with this message:

So, this message saying that Activation is looking for a license linked to a Device in my Microsoft Account IS VERY DIFFERENT than the other message saying that the digital license was linked TO my Microsoft Account (implying that it is linked to the Account itself).

So here I am stuck. I can't find anything in the Help files about undeleting the deleted Device in my Microsoft Account. Apparently Activation By Telephone doesn't exist anymore. When I attempt to Contact Support via webchat, no one answers.

I did manage to fish my old slow original Windows VM out of the Trash and run it. It says that it is still Activated, and that the digital license is linked to my Microsoft Account, but this Windows machine does NOT appear in the Devices listed in my Microsoft Account (most likely because of the slmgr commands I ran on it earlier).

If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them. I have a valid license that is transferrable (with a receipt as well). All attempts to contact Microsoft Support have failed. This shouldn't be so hard. Thanks.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-08-11T05:36:59+00:00

    Greg, thank you for getting back to me so quickly with your suggestions! I worked through each one of them but sadly none of them bore fruit. I never was able to make it past the Virtual Assistant with MS Support. The NIRSoft Utility was able to show me my Product Key, but I was not able to insert that into the new installation for activation. And as for the Microsoft Store Order History, that was one of the first places I looked earlier today (as well as the confirmation email from the day of purchase), and it is as you described it: a keyless Digital License associated with the Account (or as I have most painfully learned, one specific Device linked to my Account).

    I did some further reading, and tried using the slui 04 command while offline to initiate the Telephone Activation process, but it just produced an error msg saying I needed to connect to the internet to Activate Windows. I also dug a little deeper on the various slmgr commands and may have succeeded in reinstalling the license files on the old Windows VM (maybe?) because after that the old machine began appearing on the Devices page again. But when I booted up the new VM again and tried to Activate, the licensed VM would not come up as an option that I could use to Activate.

    Finally, I tried using Reset Windows in the Recovery section of System Settings to reinstall the old version Windows in its original VM. That seems to have been successful in that it retained its Activation. I'm not sure if that install method is a clean install or if it's just reinstalling over top of the old one (like an upgrade) or if its something in between, but it is running much faster now. However, I'm still concerned about the portability of my Retail license. Later this fall I am planning to upgrade to a Mac Mini with an M1 chip for home machine, and that will involve another reinstall of Windows.

    I must admit I am somewhat surprised and disappointed that Microsoft Support was so inaccessible on this issue. I understand there must be a gazillion Windows users out there clamoring for software support, but I would think assisting users to get Windows installed and Activated would be a very high priority. I think I may be sticking to purchasing boxed versions of Windows with Product Keys instead of online virtual Digital Licenses from now on.

    But I do appreciate your help with this problem! Thank you for taking the time to look into this issue for me, and for pointing me in a few good directions in my troubleshooting.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-11T17:18:06+00:00

    MS Support is swamped with over 1.2 billion users of WIndows 10, more than anything else on earth except Facebook which has no human Support. It would take a city the size of Dallas to provide human Support to that many users.

    If you could not contact Support by the exact method I gave then it's likely because call back or chat was not then available, so you should try again to Contact Microsoft Support at https://support.microsoft.com/contactus. Explain the problem to the Virtual Assistant and keep asking for an agent, to get chat or a call back on week days.

    I notice you said you bought a digital License, so why is there any discussion of a Product key when a Digital License is keyless. It only requires that the Generic Version key (the key present when you install WIndows without inserting a key) is present at all times. If you change the Generic key it will never activate. So assure that now:

    https://winaero.com/windows-11-generic-keys-for...

    Then sign into Windows with your MS account and it should activate, or run the Activation troubleshooter and post back what it says.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-08-10T23:57:23+00:00

    Hi DMS. I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

    The only way to add a device back is to sign into it with the same account and it should add it to the device list. Then if it has converted to a Digital License you should be able to move it to another license using the Activation Troubleshooter if it detects the old license and offers to move it to the new hardware.

    If it's too late to add the device the you'll need the retail key to Contact Microsoft Support at https://support.microsoft.com/contactus. Explain the problem to the Virtual Assistant and keep asking for an agent, to get chat or a call back on week days.

    If you removed the key with slmgr it most likely won't show up but you can try again using ProducKey: https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_vi...

    It will the key which is NOT the OEM-BIOS key used for factory preinstalled, and not the Generic Version key used for Digital Licenses here:

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/95922-gener.... The remaining 25 digit key is likely the retail key.

    If you bought the key from Microsoft it should be in your Account Order History here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/402731.... More often these are keyless Digital Licenses associated with the account.

    Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

    ______________________________________________

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