Windows 10: Can't Activate Windows 10 VM from Digital License

I recently deleted a licensed Windows 10 VM because of some hardware upgrades I made. I now have a fresh instance of Windows installed on the new hardware but am unable to use the digital license I was using for the original instance. I've tried using the troubleshoot feature on the Activation menu, but I keep getting errors. Why isn't there a number I can call to speak with a Microsoft rep to get this resolved? There must be a better process for transferring a legitimately purchased license to a new machine.

:)

 

Digital license

Thats how licensing works with Windows 10, the digital license is attached to your Microsoft Account and makes it easy to reactivate Windows 10 in the event you reinstall it.

Learn more:

• Use a Digital
  License to Manage and Activate Windows 10

 

Problem activating Windows 11 after switching VMs

Hi there,

I purchased Windows 11 Home a couple of months ago and installed it on a VirtualBox VM. But VirtualBox was crashing quite a bit so I deactivated Windows 11 using the following commands:

• slmgr /upk
  
• slmgr /cpky
  

(as suggested on Redirecting ) and then installed it on a VMWare VM. Problem is, I can't activate Windows on the new VM even though it was deactivated on the old VM. I tried the recommended Troubleshooting Wizard solutions to no available and I couldn't find a Microsoft email address or support number, so I am posting here. Can anyone suggest how to contact Microsoft about this activation issue?

Thanks,

Darryl

PS: I have already deleted the old VM so I can't log back onto it.

 

Transfer Windows 10/11 Digital License from VM to another

Hello Everyone,

I'm a Mac user with a need to virtualize a Windows instance.

On Jan 8th, I installed Parallels on my MacBook Air 13-inch M1. During Parallels installation, it was suggested to install a copy of Windows that I only realised later that is was copy of Windows 11 for ARM based systems. Right after Windows 11 installation, I acquired a Digital License through the Microsoft Store. So far, all good... Windows 11 is gorgeous by the way

Since I will be mostly on road, I quickly realised that I should host this VM on my other bigger MacBook Pro 16-inch due to his larger screen and more RAM. First thing that I learned is that, in Parallels, I cannot move a Windows VM created on a Mac M1 to an Intel based Mac.

My only option now, before expending another USD 100+, is to migrate the Windows 11 Digital License to a new VM created on Intel based Mac as Windows 10 and then upgraded to Windows 11.

Can this be done?

I tried capturing the product key [with help of external tool] from the initial VM, removed the license using slmgr tool and tried insert the product key on the new VM without success; also tried to start activation on the new VM and then use troubleshoot/hardware change with no success.

What else can I do?