Windows activation on new PC

Question

Windows activation on new PC

GARY BROWN 20

I have a retail Windows 8 Pro licence that I upgraded to Windows 11 Pro over time. I’ve moved to a new PC and I’m trying to transfer the licence.

Activation isn’t working on the new machine. The troubleshooter says it can’t find any devices linked to my Microsoft account, even though the old PC shows the licence is linked. I’m also getting errors:

0x803FA067
0xC004F069
I’ve already:
- Signed in with the same Microsoft account
- Run the Activation Troubleshooter
- Tried entering the product key (for original 8 Pro from the box and also what product key old machine gives using wmic)
- Tried command-line activation

Any advice?

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Answer 1

EmilyS726 271.4K Independent Advisor

Hello

While I believe you were able to upgrade from Windows 8 to 11 in the past, however, that upgrade path is no longer supported. It is meant to be upgraded from 7 or 8, to 10, not to 11. So if your license originated from Windows 8, this is no longer possible. Sorry.

GARY BROWN 20 Reputation points

2026-05-13T18:41:30.4066667+00:00

thanks. Not the news I wanted but that would explain all the issues I have been having.
GARY BROWN 20 Reputation points

2026-05-13T18:43:42.0133333+00:00

thanks. Not the news I wanted but that would explain all the issues I have been having. Believe last time I installed new v10 (as pc died) and used v8 license to activate, then v10 to v11. I assume this is no longer possible either v10 with v8 license? and then go from v10 to v11 ?
EmilyS726 271.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-05-13T18:49:43.1966667+00:00

You can still use it to activate Windows 10, but not with the actual 5x5 key for Windows 8. When you did the ugprade, it has turned into digital license, so the original 5x5 key usage path has been closed.

So say you install Windows 10, you can use the troubleshooter to transfer license. But no, you cannot use it to upgrade to 11 and then stay activated. Sorry.