how to fix windows activation

Question

I am using windows 11 that been upgraded from windows 10, the problem is after more or less a year now it asking me to activate it. What I supposed to do with this scenario, enter a product key from supplier (by the way I bought an already built Computer.) so I don't know where to get the product key, or I need to buy window 11 pro digital license key, or is there any other way that will not cost me a penny?

Answer 1

If the operating system key was embedded by the manufacturer, there are a few ways to get it.

You can try running Activate windows, then when it fails, let it run the troubleshooter, and reactive.

Sometimes this will pull the key and just work.

Failing that, you can get it from PowerShell and insert it into windows.

In the start menu, type PowerShell, then select "Run as admin" on PowerShell app.

Inside powershell, type the following.

(Get-WmiObject -Class SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKey

If this shows you the key, you can then run this to set the key into Windows and run the activation

$key = (Get-WmiObject -Class SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKey
if ($null -ne $key) {
    Invoke-Expression "cscript.exe /b C:\windows\System32\slmgr.vbs /upk"
    Invoke-Expression "cscript.exe /b C:\windows\System32\slmgr.vbs /ipk $key"
}
Invoke-Expression "cscript.exe /b C:\windows\System32\slmgr.vbs /ato"