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Solution: Factory Reset and Upgrade to Windows Pro Bought in the Microsoft Store

Anonymous
2024-05-30T18:00:31+00:00

PROBLEM

I had reset my Dell XPS laptop that came with Windows 10 Home to factory settings. I couldn't get the license key for Windows Pro 11 Upgrade that I bought through the Microsoft Store.

The first time, I installed Windows 10, upgraded to 11, and it didn't work. I didn't have an active license. I assumed that's because the new license for this machine is now Windows 11 Pro, not the version that it came from Dell with.

The second time, I installed Windows 11 Home from the start. The third time, Windows 11 Pro. Both were downloads from Microsoft, Create installation media for Windows - Microsoft Support

MICROSOFT SUPPORT IS THE WORST

I called Microsoft support, spoke to two different people for over an hour, including holding while they check on my problem. I couldn't get a license key for the product I purchased and I would have to buy a new license. I couldn't even get the machine authenticated for the Windows 10 Home license that it came with. Oh, you'll have to buy a full Windows Pro license, then. $199.

No matter what or how I asked, I was told that they couldn't help me. I must have heard, "We can't do that", a dozen times. Well, what can you do for me? Silence., That meant, "Nothing". That was unacceptable. They could see that I had paid for the license. They could see the machine that it was activated on. Nice. $3.2 trillion company and they can't help me with a $99 purchase I had made two months ago, deactivating the old license and providing me a new one.

It was Memorial Day, I wasted my whole morning on that, and I was displeased! I decided to take care of the yard work, take a shower, a nap, then come back to later. When I woke up, I had the solution.

THE SOLUTION!

  1. Run the factory reset with the original operating system. For me, that was Windows 10 Home Edition.

Be going any further, be sure that you're logged into the machine with the Windows credentials that you used for the Microsoft Store when you bought Windows 11 Pro upgrade.

  1. Activate the original, factory license before you do anything else. Don't even install any apps until you're fully up and running with 11 Pro.

Windows should activate the license on its own during the installation of OS factory image. Sometimes it doesn't.

One problem with that is that the factory image didn't include the network card driver. I believe that may be the reason it couldn't get online to get updates and activate the license key during installation. I installed that driver and it still wouldn't activate Windows 10 Home. Here's how to do it.

2b. Go get the original license key. It's encoded on the mother board! To get that:

  • Open Command Prompt (Win or Windows PowerShell with administrator rights. (Windows key + R > cmd > right click > Run as administrator)
  • Copy and paste this command: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey and press Enter.
  • Copy and paste that into Settings > System > Activation > Update Product Key.
  • Boom! You should have an authenticated license for your copy of Windows 10 Home Edition
  1. Run all the updates for Windows 10.
  2. Install Windows 11 Home Edition using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant
  3. Run Windows Update until is shows, "You're up to date".
  4. Reboot, and like magic, the Windows 11 Pro upgrade window showed up on its own. Install that and you're good to go!

BOTTOM LINE

Follow the same exact sequence that you followed from when you first bought your machine to date. That should work for you.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-06-07T08:45:19+00:00

    Hi Thomas Scott - Oviedo FL.

    Thank you for your reply and also for correcting me, your behavior will help others with the same issue.

    If you have any other questions, please continue to contact me and thank you for your support and understanding.

    Best regards,

    Zev - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-06-05T16:24:59+00:00

    Hi Zev,

    Thanks for that,

    One correction on your statement. This is for activation of Windows 11 Pro upgrade purchased from the Microsoft Store when the machine came from the factory with Windows 10 and the user is doing a factory reset.

    I had already included the Windows 11 Installation Assistant link.

    I did this procedure again with my Dell XPS desktop. It worked perfectly! I'd like to add two more minor steps.

    Before you can use the Windows 11 Installation Assistant, you need to run the Windows PC Health Check.

    The Windows 11 Pro Upgrade screen came up immediately after the Windows 11 started up for the first time. Not necessary to run all the updates first, from my experience. (There was a lot to remember and I got that part incorrect above.

    If you're installing an older version of Windows 11, you might need to run the updates.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-05-31T09:52:14+00:00

    Hi Tom Oviedo,

    Thanks for your post in Microsoft Community.

    You shared a solution for activation issues after upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11. You find the activation key on the motherboard via command prompt and then use it in the settings, activate it and then upgrade to Windows 11 via the upgrade assistant.

    We can download the Windows 11 Installation Assistant from the link below.

    Download Windows 11 (microsoft.com)

    This will help other users, thanks again for sharing and if you have any other questions, please continue to contact me. Thank you for your support and understanding.

    Best regards,

    Zev - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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