Jul 16 2021 05:23 PM
Greetings Everyone.
I using a MacBook Pro with the M1 chip and running Windows 11 ARM in a Parallels Desktop VM. I really like the new look of Windows 11. Since this version is an Insiders version why is it always asking me to activate it? How do I stop this version of Windows from doing that? I thought since it was an Insiders version it will not ask me to activate it because Windows 11 is not yet released to the public.
The attachment will show the activate windows reminder.
All help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Jul 17 2021 06:15 AM
Hello @Emad_Leiman,
You must activate Windows always, whether it is a Preview build or stable version. If you don't activate it, you won't be able to personalize the system and can't use all features.
Hope this helps!
Jul 17 2021 06:33 AM
Jul 17 2021 01:31 PM
The interesting thing is that W11 installed on a machine with an activated W10 will be activated. I witnessed that on my Surface Pro and my Intel Desktop PC I got updated to W11 insider preview by joining the Windows insider program and obtaining the upgrade through Windows Update.
My assumption is that Windows on Arm in general does not work with any Windows product key obtained through public available means, as Windows on Arm is only delivered to OEMs for production and meant to be sold with the device they produce. The keys you may obtain through MS Store ore other valid channels are meant for Windows on Intel.
Jul 17 2021 02:53 PM - edited Jul 17 2021 02:58 PM
Hi @tallinn1964,
Because there are many software apps that only are available in Windows, I hope they will change that in one of the updates because there are a lot of people who are using the new MacBooks with the M1 ARM chip in them. I also hope the next update of Windows 11 for ARM will allow users to enter a product key that will be accepted.
Jul 18 2021 02:30 AM - edited Jul 18 2021 02:31 AM
Well, never mind. I knew I had an unused W8.1 pro license lying around somewhere - and found it in my e-mail (luckily I keep those as an archive of already historic proportions) :) And that key, once obtained through the W8 promotion program, activated W11 pro in my Parallels M1 installation. Another W7 home premium key did not do the trick, an edition mismatch probably (wasn't it that W7 home premium could be upgraded to W10 pro?).
So the conclusion is that ordinary Windows license keys will work for activation. There is no architecture dependence as I thought.
Jul 18 2021 08:36 AM
Jul 18 2021 11:08 AM
HI @Reza_Ameri,
Before I signed up to the programme, I had an older MacBook and had Windows 10 intel version running under Parallels. When I purchased a newer MacBook with the M1 chip, I transferred my Parallels license to the new computer but found my Windows 10 would not run on that computer so the Parallels support rep gave me a link to get Windows 10 for ARM from the insiders programme. The Windows 10 beta version they gave me had a product key to use which was different than my Intel version of Windows 10. It looks like one of the updates had a problem with product keys because that's when it kept on asking me to activate windows even though I had a product key that Parallels support gave me and it work working perfectly. It was a long time ago. I think it was an ISO file they sent me. That's how I entered the product key they gave me. Maybe that key had a limited amount of time to preview the software.
Jul 19 2021 08:58 AM
Jul 19 2021 12:53 PM
Jul 20 2021 08:52 AM
Jul 20 2021 09:13 AM
Jul 21 2021 07:29 AM
SolutionJul 21 2021 07:39 AM
Aug 01 2021 07:24 AM
Aug 01 2021 07:57 PM
Hi @Deleted
I'm assuming you wanted me to type that into the command prompt. I tried it but Windows only responds "OA3xOriginalProductKey" as shown in my screen shot which is just text and not the product key.
Is there another way to get the product key?
Aug 02 2021 03:42 AM
Aug 02 2021 09:51 AM - edited Aug 02 2021 09:58 AM
Hi @tallinn1964
When I had my older MacBook I was running the Intel version of Windows 10 on a Parallels Desktop VM. My license key came from that install of Windows 10 which is many years old. When I purchased my current MacBook which is ARM based, I installed the ARM version of Windows 10 which I got from Microsoft Insiders onto the VM. That version never asked me to activate the install twice regardless of how many times the automatic updates for Windows 10 for ARM where installed. My problems only started when the automatic updates were for Windows 11 for ARM. Each of the Windows 11 updates worked for around 2 hours just like the previous Windows 10 for ARM did. While I was using each update, I got nagging reminders to activate Windows even though the software was activated. Some bug in one of the updates caused all new builds to keep nagging me to Activate windows, so I gave in and contacted Microsoft to purchase another license key. I tried to enter that key into the activate screen and it refused to accept that newly purchased product key so I got a refund. This is clearly some kink of bug if it doesn't accept any valid license key. I even called them and also sent feedback to Microsoft through the feedback process of Windows 11 but they won't get back to me which is very frustrating. They really need to fix that bug or do something that will stop those nagging reminders.
Aug 03 2021 06:06 PM
Aug 03 2021 06:12 PM
Jul 21 2021 07:29 AM
Solution