Windows 11 24H2 drops activation and then when re-activate with key it drops from Enterprise to Pro

Question

Windows 11 24H2 drops activation and then when re-activate with key it drops from Enterprise to Pro

Andrew King 0

Hello

I have dell laptops that when imaged with a custom 24H2 image built off an OEM Windows 11 Pro addition the laptop drops its activation if it's a new laptop and never joined to our domain. If I have a laptop that was joined to the domain with the custom 23H2 image and I re-image it with the custom 24H2 image it does not drop that activation.

My 23H2 custom image does not have this issue.

I can run this powershell command (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey it gives me a product key and I am able to activate windows but then it reverts from Enterprise back to Pro even though I am logged in with an account that has an M365 License.

I am noticing as well that based on the screenshots as well the custom image appears to be applying one product key and the command above is giving what appears to be the OEM Key.

Before pushing activation through

After pushing activation through

Darrell Gorter 2,401 Reputation points

2025-03-01T22:31:14.23+00:00

The key you grab from the WMI query is the OEM PRO key from the firmware which is why it's reverting to back to Pro.

How are you installing the Enterprise MAK key? In the image when captured ? Pulling the key via an Unattended Method? Other?
Andrew King 0 Reputation points

2025-03-02T17:31:32.89+00:00

I would have to go back and look but I want to say I just took the OEM image when I laptop came in, added what we needed to it. Once that was done I created and saved a base image and then sysprep'd to create the final image. I use the base image to apply all MS updates and then create a new final image after that.

Once we join the device to the domain and we log in with an account that has an M365 license it is supposed to convert it to pro.

Also re-image a laptop that has already been on our domain everything works fine however if I image a brand new laptop with this 24H2 image windows does not activate.
Darrell Gorter 2,401 Reputation points

2025-03-03T22:30:32.26+00:00

How are you adding the Enterprise key to the image? at what point during process and via what method?

Is the OEM image activated before you capture the image?

Is the Enterprise key added to the image or pushed out after the installation completes?

1 answer

Your answer

Darrell Gorter 2,401 Reputation points

2025-03-01T22:31:14.23+00:00

The key you grab from the WMI query is the OEM PRO key from the firmware which is why it's reverting to back to Pro.

How are you installing the Enterprise MAK key? In the image when captured ? Pulling the key via an Unattended Method? Other?
Andrew King 0 Reputation points

2025-03-02T17:31:32.89+00:00

I would have to go back and look but I want to say I just took the OEM image when I laptop came in, added what we needed to it. Once that was done I created and saved a base image and then sysprep'd to create the final image. I use the base image to apply all MS updates and then create a new final image after that.

Once we join the device to the domain and we log in with an account that has an M365 license it is supposed to convert it to pro.

Also re-image a laptop that has already been on our domain everything works fine however if I image a brand new laptop with this 24H2 image windows does not activate.
Darrell Gorter 2,401 Reputation points

2025-03-03T22:30:32.26+00:00

How are you adding the Enterprise key to the image? at what point during process and via what method?

Is the OEM image activated before you capture the image?

Is the Enterprise key added to the image or pushed out after the installation completes?

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Q&A.

Based on the description, I understand your question is related to activation.

according to the screenshot, the first page shows the machine is MAK activated. The second page is OEM activated.

The OEM key retrieved by the PowerShell command is tied to the hardware and should automatically activate Windows Pro. However, if your custom image is applying a different key, it might be causing conflicts.

Use the Windows Activation Troubleshooter to diagnose and fix activation issues. Go to Settings > System > Activation and run the troubleshooter.

When re-imaging, ensure that the process does not remove or alter the existing activation.

Have a nice day.

Best Regards,

Molly

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Windows 11 24H2 drops activation and then when re-activate with key it drops from Enterprise to Pro

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