Thanks a lot for your help, Neil D. I will then go ahead and purchase a different Windows key.
Windows is not getting activated
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Neel Crasta
0
Reputation points
I have been using Windows for last 5 years. It was previously Windows 10 that got upgraded to Windows 11.
I knew that in coming months, I would upgrade my hardware to get new CPU, GPU, SSD, RAM and PSU, but keep the same Motherboard. So, back in March, I installed Linux on the SSD which had Windows 11 installed.
Fast forward to now, my hardware upgrade is complete. I have a new SSD on which I have installed Windows. But Windows is not getting activated.
I thought it would get activated automatically because in Settings it used to show "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account".
I went to Settings and it says "We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key"
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation
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Neil D 34,095 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2026-07-31T18:25:13.26+00:00 Did you buy the Windows 10 licence separate from the device.
Was it always previously Windows 10 and not an upgrade from Windows 7/8.
Was the licence provided by the original system seller.
Do you have a product key for the licence.
Open a Command prompt and enter slmgr /dlv [press return] and post a screenshot of the result.
If you use the Activation Troubleshooter and select I changed hardware does it list the previous configuration.
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Neel Crasta 0 Reputation points
2026-08-02T20:58:56.2533333+00:00 Did you buy the Windows 10 licence separate from the device. -> yes, separate from device.
Was it always previously Windows 10 and not an upgrade from Windows 7/8. -> It was windows 10 key, not upgraded from 7/8.
Was the licence provided by the original system seller. -> No, a different seller.
Do you have a product key for the licence. -> I don't have the key, I thought its attached to my email id.
slmgr /dlv -> This command result is attached.
If you use the Activation Troubleshooter and select I changed hardware does it list the previous configuration. -> No, it does not list previous configuration. I see the below message
"We can’t find any devices linked to your Microsoft account that can be used to reactivate the device that you’re using at the moment. Make sure that you’re signed in with the same Microsoft account that you linked to the Windows 10 digital licence on this device, or try again later."
In my account, I see 2 devices. One is the current one, and the other looks like the previous one. Attached screenshot for it.
I see the motherboard id below the PC name which is the same. When I open the first PC, I see RAM as 32 GB. In the second one, it does not have a section for RAM.
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Neil D 34,095 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-08-03T10:30:58.8166667+00:00 The Command line screenshot shows a generic key is in use for Home edition, this cannot be used to activate windows.
Are both the devices showing Windows Home edition. If it might have been Pro edition that might explain why a licence cannot be found because the troubleshooter is looking for a licence for the current edition installed.
If so it doesn't look like the licence is linked to your Microsoft account. If it did come with a product key then really you need the key. Having it linked for activation purposes is for a digital licence purchased from Microsoft.
As you have clean installed windows no other methods will show a product key. When the activation troubleshooter cannot find a valid licence there isn't much you can do.
If you were to contact Microsoft support you will need evidence of the licence you bought which usually means a product key so the agent can check the licence you purchased. Just as a note the activation troubleshooter looks at a different record for the licence so your second screenshot doesn't prove there is a valid licence.
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