New computer, license won't activate new machine

Phantum 0 Reputation points
2026-10-24T10:28:31.1733333+00:00

Hello,

I bought win 7 pro way back, and upgraded to windows 10. Windows 11 does not support my old computer's CPU, so I built a new computer, and I installed windows 11 pro. Yet when I try to activate windows 11 pro (my old computer says it's a retail (NOT OEM), digital license activated with my microsoft account,) it fails to activate my new installation. Not sure why the retail license won't cross over for the upgrade.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Licensing and activation
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  1. Neil D 34,655 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-24T13:54:56.7966667+00:00

    Microsoft have closed the loophole using Windows 7/8 licences to activate Windows 10 and it was never intended to activate Windows 11.

    The free upgrade period 2015 to 2016 for the free upgrade from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 was for the life of the device making the Windows 10 upgraded licence effectively an OEM licence. (no transfer rights)

    To activate windows 11 on new hardware will require a new licence.

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  2. Horace Wiggins 625 Reputation points
    2026-10-24T12:38:30.4333333+00:00

    If you built a new computer, then why did you install Windows 11 Pro on the old computer knowing it would not work on it?

    Your said, "(my old computer says it's a retail (NOT OEM)". Where did you purchase Windows 11 Pro? What do you consider being a new computer?

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/activation/activate-windows

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