I'm setting up a new PC for my roommate, repurposing some old computer parts along with a brand new hard drive they just bought. Since a product key for Windows 11 costs about $100 and they can't afford it right now, I thought they could use the trial version until they can purchase a key.
I downloaded the Windows media creation tool and created a flash drive to install Windows 11. However, when I reach the point where it's asking for a product key and I select the "I don't have a product key" option, I immediately get an error that states, "Setup has failed to validate the product key." But I don't even have a key! I thought this option should allow the installation to proceed as a trial version. I've searched online but can't find anyone encountering this specific issue. What could be going wrong here? I'm also preparing another flash drive just in case there's an issue with the first one.
3 Answers
It sounds like the installer might not be able to verify anything because there’s no internet connection. Try bypassing the network requirement! When you're at the setup screen, press Shift + F10 to open Command Prompt. Then type "OOBE\BYPASSNRO" and hit enter. This should restart the setup and let you create a local account without needing to connect online.
Just a heads up, sometimes adjusting system BIOS settings or messing with disk partitions can cause data loss, so be super careful and always back up your data first!
If that doesn't work, check if maybe your flash drive setup is the issue. Sometimes, the media creation tool doesn’t properly create the installation files – so trying a different flash drive might help.
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