How can I activate WIndows 11 from OEM disk after I partially erased product key

Question

After buying OEM copy of Win 11 Pro for my new PC build from online retailer (Newegg) I accidentally erased parts of the product key trying to remove it. I contacted the retailer and they declined my request to replace it. Can Microsoft activate it using only visible portions of the key?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, Microsoft cannot activate Windows using only the visible portions of a product key. The product key must be complete and match the Windows edition you are trying to activate. If parts of the product key are missing, you will need to retrieve the full key in order to activate Windows 11.

You might consider checking if the product key is available in your purchase confirmation email or on the packaging if you have it. If you are unable to recover the full key, contacting Microsoft Support may provide additional options, but they typically require the complete product key for activation.

Answer 2

Thanks. How does one contact Support by phone?