Lost product key

Question

I have lost my product and can not complete activation. Machine has been running Windows 11 for 18 months.

wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey returns blank

I have an invoice from Amazon

Answer 1

Hello

The command you ran is for OEM license embedded in motherboard, since yours is retail, it will not return the key.

Since you have purchase proof, you can chat with Microsoft support and see if they would honor it with a replacement key. No one in the forum can grant such and it is entirely at support's discretion.

Although, before you reach out to support, Can you please type cmd in the search on the taskbar and hit enter to launch command prompt, then run the following command:

slmgr /dlv

Then share a screenshot please. Want to make sure it is indeed a retail key.

Answer 2

Answer 3

Yikes.. you don't have the retail license, but the OEM-COA license. This type of license is sold to builders or refurbishes. They are not meant for end users. This is why buying from third party always carry this type of risk. Licenses can work, but not the right type and can cause you to lose support. I am not sure if Microsoft support will honor that. You can certainly try still, but I just want to prepare you that they may not grant it.

Answer 4

You have given me SOME useful information. Not enough to solve my problem.

The issue now is I have spent hours, using the Window 11 System Troubleshooter (there is not Troubleshooter that I can find for Activation), reading Microsoft Web pages and even "talking" to their phone AI ! All of them send me around and around in a loop !

It would certainly be nice if I could actually SPEAK TO A HUMAN BEING !

(Purchased through Amazon. They say go to the Microsoft web site or call them. They will not issue a refund because it has been too long since I have purchased the key.)

Answer 5

Sorry, the troubleshooter is NOT for this type of license. Troubleshooter only works for digital license. Yours is not.

Sorry, I realized I didn't give you the path to chat with support.

Open the "Get Help" app on your computer (just search for it in the Start menu). or go to https://support.microsoft.com/contactus, Type "Billing" and press Enter. On the next screen, click "Contact support" at the bottom of the page, then choose "Windows" > "Manage my subscription". You’ll then see the option to chat with a Microsoft support agent.