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My local IT guy seems to have installed a cracked version of Windows 11 Pro. I am unable to activate the Windows key. I want genuine version of Microsoft. Of I buy a digital OEM license online, will I be able to activate windows using that key? Or will i need to reinstall windows 11 pro?
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Hi Bk783,
I'm an Independent Advisor and I'm happy to help you.
Did you have your Windows installation activated earlier? It may have been deactivated due to hardware change or a reinstallation.
Please open a Command Prompt (Win + R then type cmd, then press Enter) and run:
winver
slmgr /xpr
slmgr /dlv
Please paste the output of these commands or take a screenshot. This will help to isolate the issue.
Thank you,
Hi Bk783,
I'm an Independent Advisor and I'm happy to help you.
Did you have your Windows installation activated earlier? It may have been deactivated due to hardware change or a reinstallation.
Please open a Command Prompt (Win + R then type cmd, then press Enter) and run:
winver
slmgr /xpr
slmgr /dlvPlease paste the output of these commands or take a screenshot. This will help to isolate the issue.
Thank you,
thx Francisco for responding.
To respond to your question, a brief history - as my laptop was slow to boot, I had o/s installed in external hard drive, wherein this issue is coming. Note - the original version which came with laptop was not reinstalled
all images attached
winver - the email that shows below is mine
screengrab for both slmgr /xpr and slmgr /dlv come the same
Hi Bk783,
About the last two commands, I would need a screenshot of the dialog that shows up. This will be useful to determine any difference between your Windows licensing mode and the actual key's.
ah, here you go
Hi Bk783,
Thank you for the screenshots!
Based on them, your Windows is currently using a volume license key (GVLK) with a KMS client channel. This indicates that the installation was not a genuine retail or OEM copy.
While it is sometimes possible to change the product key in Settings (using Change Product Key under Activation) with a genuine key, in your case the underlying system files have been altered by using a cracked image.
To ensure that your system is genuinely licensed and fully compliant, the best solution is to reinstall Windows 11 Pro using official installation media downloaded directly from Microsoft.
After a clean install, you can then enter your new digital RETAIL (rather than OEM) product key during installation or afterward in the Activation settings to properly activate your Windows. Also, linking a Microsoft account will permanently attach the key to it, and never worry again about activating Windows. :)
Please refer to this answer in order to learn more about OEM vs RETAIL:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...
I hope this helps!