Trouble activating Windows using Parallels with activation key

[miamialley]

I'm running Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview Edition via Parallels on a 2021 M1 MBP. I purchased Windows 10 Home. I entered the activation key, but it does not accept it. Do I need to purchase Windows Pro? Is that the issue?

If I don't need Pro, what's the best step? Do I uninstall Parallels and make sure to install Windows Home? I wanted to avoid having to uninstall and reinstall.

 

[FarmerBob]

I have always found that communications from inside Parallels to the outside world has been shoddy at best. To the point that I have seen a lot of connection issues and file corruption. Is your connection good? All things M$ have to phone home to the Mothership or no go.

Just a thought.

 

[miamialley]

I have always found that communications from inside Parallels to the outside world has been shoddy at best. To the point that I have seen a lot of connection issues and file corruption. Is your connection good? All things M$ have to phone home to the Mothership or no go.

Just a thought.

Connection is solid.

 

[FarmerBob]

Connection is solid.

OK. Trouble Shooting Part 1 done.

 

[smithrh]

Parallels, ugh.

Windows activation, ugh.

Which entity is not accepting which key? Is it Parallels, or Microsoft for Windows?

 

[miamialley]

Parallels, ugh.

Windows activation, ugh.

Which entity is not accepting which key? Is it Parallels, or Microsoft for Windows?

Windows. When I enter the key this is what I get. Should the Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview Edition accept a Windows 10 Home activation key?

 

[smithrh]

I do think Windows keys are tied to product types (Home, Pro, etc), so you may have a mismatch there.

Or, you've been sold a bum key, which can happen if you get keys through resellers. If you got it from MS direct then you might try their support line.

 

[miamialley]

I do think Windows keys are tied to product types (Home, Pro, etc), so you may have a mismatch there.

Or, you've been sold a bum key, which can happen if you get keys through resellers. If you got it from MS direct then you might try their support line.

I did go direct through Microsoft to avoid any confusion. There was no option I saw with Parallels to download a non-pro Windows edition (as I recall), so I didn't think entering a Home version would matter.

I'm having trouble finding any support online on the Microsoft site.

 

[miamialley]

I do think Windows keys are tied to product types (Home, Pro, etc), so you may have a mismatch there.

Or, you've been sold a bum key, which can happen if you get keys through resellers. If you got it from MS direct then you might try their support line.

Using Windows 10 home key on non activated 10 pro. Is it possible?

Title. Is it possible? What would happen? For the record it's leggit. I want the home version, nothing more, but too lazy to re install.

forums.tomshardware.com

This suggests you are right and that is the issue.

 

[Jeff Kirvin]

I suspect that the issue is that the version of Windows 11 on ARM that you get through the Insider Program requires Pro or better keys. I use an Enterprise key and it works perfectly.

 

[miamialley]

I do think Windows keys are tied to product types (Home, Pro, etc), so you may have a mismatch there.

Or, you've been sold a bum key, which can happen if you get keys through resellers. If you got it from MS direct then you might try their support line.

So, if I have a Windows 10 Pro activation code

I suspect that the issue is that the version of Windows 11 on ARM that you get through the Insider Program requires Pro or better keys. I use an Enterprise key and it works perfectly.

I got a Pro activation key and it worked. So, it was that I was using a Home key vs the required Pro key.

 

[Bandaman]

You don't technically need to activate Windows at all to use it. I've purchased many copies of Windows in the past, but I refuse to give Microsoft any more when they openly said they won't support Windows ARM. I'm glad that Parallels is at least making it work, and it functions okay for the most part, but emulation definitely sucks compared to native.

 

[bobcomer]

Should the Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview Edition accept a Windows 10 Home activation key?

No. You would need a Pro key. Note that this really doesn't license your install, it just activates it so it doesn't nag you.

 

[miamialley]

No. You would need a Pro key. Note that this really doesn't license your install, it just activates it so it doesn't nag you.

How does it not license the install?

 

[bobcomer]

How does it not license the install?

All it does is activate it.

The EULA for Windows on Arm doesn't allow for individual retail purchasing, it states that it must be distributed with a Windows Arm PC and is non transferable.

 

[ascender]

I'm pretty sure I bought a Windows 10 Pro key for the ARM build, but I've also never downloaded Windows from within Parallels - I've always downloaded the build/version I want externally and then opened it from within Parallels when creating a new VM.

 

[bobcomer]

There's no way to buy a license for Windows on Arm, only OEM's can do it, not individuals. I'd really suggest googling Windows on Arm Licensing, and not take my word for it.

Most likely Microsoft wouldn't enforce it, but they could.