FIRST POINT - unlikely to work
Run a system file check
(16) Use System File Checker (SFC) to Repair System Files in Windows 11 Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum (elevenforum.com)
follow cmd prompt option ONE
as in yellow background
SYSTEM RESTORE will of course NOT WORK
if errors cannot be repaired.
and as below a repair install will not work in your case
=============================================================================================================
The problem is caused by corrupted files in your system
How these files relating to your digital licence activation became corrupted I do not know
The logs I asked for show the root of the problem
The Software Protection service failed to start. 0x80070005
10.0.22621.2428
Time Created: October 14, 2023 7:37:58 PM0
Although that is only one of them it is a regular event with dozens of entries dating back to the 7 October. - when of course you did your repair install
There is no problem in itself with the digital licence
------------ Clip Event log errors ------------
No Digital License errors found!
I attach a link which is heavy reading
but the base detail is that the software protection service not starting does not then allow the activation to find the licnesing files to activate windows.
The folder C:\Windows\System32\spp\store\2.0 contains the licensing data files.
I Got Windows 10 For Free When You Could, Now it's Deactivated Itself - Windows 10 Forums (tenforums.com)
I know the link talks about 10 but I can assure you the principle is the same.
I PERSONALLY doubt that Microsoft even on the real person activation problems telephone line will be able to activate it for you due to the problems mentioned.
YOU will note on the link that a repair install does NOT FIX the problem
An in-place upgrade repair does not normally fix this type of corruption but no harm in trying.
It has been tried and it does NOT FIX the problem.
A repair install does reinstall windows but NOT all of the registry and of course not the user accounts etc.
IN SUMMARY - a clean install will fix it.
The choice is of course yours - either
1. TRY the real person contact from MIcrosoft
You mentioned
I did talk to a Microsoft-type site and they advised that I just "wait it out" to see if it's something at their end...
I am unsure what you mean by A MIcrosoft type site
You want
To activate Windows 11 by phone:
- Select Start > Settings > System > Activation.
- Under Activate Windows Now section, select Activate by Phone.
telphone the number it will ask which country you are in
and then give you the number.
It will first connect you to help but ask to speak to a real person.
2.
CLEAN INSTALL Windows 11.
That is the easiest and most certain to be successful
Ensure you FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE carefully
(16) Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum (elevenforum.com)
Start by reading the text in the yellow backround at point 7
If this is an
OEM PC that has a valid product key embedded in its
UEFI firmware chip, then you will not be prompted to enter a product key. Windows 11 will automatically use the embedded product key if its valid for the edition being installed
Also see the item at 10
YOU CLICK ON CUSTOM INSTALL
Point 19 may be relevant.
There are TOO many points to cover individually
3. Make sure you read through it carefully
NOTE you are best deleting all partitions and starting with unallocated space
However if you wish to keep the dell recovery partition - IT IS NOT REALLY WORTHWHILE doing so see point 11 which shows OEM reserved.
AND ensure you see below for the keeping a windows old folder
IN WHICH case you do NOT delete ALL PARTITIONS
you select the partition show on which windows is installed it will be shown as PRIMARY
see point
- Delete all partitions on the Drive # (ex: Drive 0) you want to install Windows 11 until that Drive # shows only as one Unallocated Space, select the unallocated space, and click/tap on Next.
- OR
- Select a primary partition on a drive you want to install Windows 11,
4. IF YOU go down this route PLEASE ask if you encounter difficulties, although other than errors for some reason ALL points are covered in the link.
================================
5. DO NOT FORGET that a clean install WITH ALL PARTITIONS deleted will NOT save anything IN WINDOWS so you need to back up ALL personal files, data etc you want to keep
6. However see this link for a clean install on the primary partition
How to: Perform a Custom Installation of Windows 11 and Windows 10 or - Microsoft Community
where a windows old folder will be created.
YOU WILL NOT BE able to reinstall any apps, games etc for which you do not have the installation media or obtain from the store
You will be able to get your pics, docs etc, but I still recommend a backup first.
7. Sorry cannot make it any easier.
Any questions please ask.
The frequent cause of the problem you appear to have is attempting to tweak windows by various methods often found on a web search to - do what is often referred to as make it go faster by disabling this and that including attempts to disable windows updates and various services which are often suggested will make it run better. GAMING tweaks are often a cause.
I do NOT suggest you have, but some sites offer a method of changing reported hardware statistics to give you a better score in gaming.
That is without doubt a way of producing a failed activation, as that, in the case of a digital licence depends on ther hardware hash of the computer
