Windows 10: How can I activate Windows when it says my product key is invalid?

Am trying to activate Windows 11 on my new Lenovo PC. Came preinstalled with it, but keeps saying my product key is invalid or no longer valid. I found it using the Powershell method and manually typed it in under "change product key", but it still says "cannot install Windows on this device" and keeps prompting me to purchase a new "genuine" version. Is this a new moneymaking scheme, Microsoft? Anyone else found a solution to this?

:)

 

windows says product key is invalid

I put a new hard drive in a win7 computer and used a jump drive copy of win10... I knew I'd need a new product key (I don't even know what the win7 key was). I bought a key from my wife's college (cuz it was free with her edu email).. Now windows says
it's an invalid product key? The key is for win10 student...

 

Activation license vs. product key

Regedit shows a key under BackupProductKeyDefault. Are you saying if I try to use that to reinstall, it won't work?

"But do not attempt to insert any product key other than the generic version key present when you install without a key, or it will never activate."

I'm not sure what this means. If I try to use a product key, my copy will forever be invalid?

Sort of off topic, but how do I download a copy to make an install disk out of? My order history lists my purchase but the store link is listed as invalid and I'm not seeing a way to download.

 

ACTIVATION KEY INVALID

win 10 stopped working after restart - all the steps and possibilities but continued saying there was a problem - had to reinstall from usb but now have the invalid activation key message - (using the key from system 7)

Tried command prompt solutions from forum - nothing works

please help