[German]Since a few days it is somehow clear that no more product keys from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 can be used to reactivate Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft has now confirmed this. In addition, I came across a case where there were problems using Office KMS keys for activation.
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No more upgrade with Windows 7/8.1 keys
At the end of September 2023, I had reported in the blog post Windows 10/11: Upgrade path with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 keys no longer works (Sept. 2023), that the license keys for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 can no longer be used to upgrade to Windows 10 or Windows 11 for free. Officially the free upgrade offer from these operating systems to Windows 10 was only valid for one year, until July 29, 2016.
But the product keys could be used to activate Windows 10 and Windows 11 until the end of September 2023. When my above post appeared at the end of September 2023, users could still activate some keys while others were already rejected. Comments on the blog post indicated that this was now final.
Thos was announced as early as September 20, 2023 by Microsoft in this post for device partners. Apparently, Microsoft has implemented the whole thing step by step. Martin Geuß had tested it again the days and came to the conclusion, according to this German article from October 12, 2023, that the keys for the upgrade are burned.
Office KMS key activation problems
German reader Mark Heitbrink had emailed me the days because he ran into activation problems with Office KMS keys at a customer (thanks for that, but couldn't respond due to vacation). Mark said in his mail: I have used 2 different Office KMS Keys at the client, both with no function in KMS, one now running for about 3 years. The MAK at the client from the same contract works immediately. He asked if I had heard anything about Office Pro Plus 2019 no longer activating via KMS. Because at his client the error occurred "overnight". It comes an error on the client when you call it via "ospp.vbs /act".
Of course, the passage about KMS keys from my article Windows 10/11: Upgrade path with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 keys no longer works (Sept. 2023) immediately popped into my mind. There I had mentioned that Windows activations of volume keys via KMS are rejected from now on and only work via MAS (Microsoft Activation Scripts).
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But in this specific case it was Microsoft Office, which Mark also mentioned in a reply. In the meantime, Mark assumed that this Office problem, for systems that are installed on-prem and are to be activated via KMS, was due to a license change, and that the customer now has to log in with the online account.
In the meantime, however, there is a solution in this case, as Mark told me in another mail. He has installed the Office Volume License (VL) Pack again. After that the existing Office KMS key was found and accepted. Office was activated and now works again. Always funny the volte-face administrators have to take to activate stuff. Does anyone have similar experiences or an explanation for the circumstances?
Similar articles
Windows 10/11: Upgrade path with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 keys no longer works (Sept. 2023)
Microsoft 365: Activation issues with Windows Pro Enterprise (May 31, 2022)
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