Same issue here. I migrated from my 2020 MBP (Intel) to my 2021 MBP (M1max). Parallels 17 migrated along with Windows 11 but of course would not work so I downloaded and installed Windows 11 ARM from the link for the insider program. Now it wants an activation code. Not paying for that! The former installs of Windows 10 and 11 (intel) were activated. I guess my biggest mistake was not getting the activation code from my previous Windows 11 (intel) version before wiping my 2020 MBP and returning it.
Any other ideas?
Were your Windows X86 licenses linked to your MS account?
Mine were and I have activated Windows 10 and 11 ARM by signing in to my MS account.
As you probably know the whole licensing situation of Windows ARM seems to be in a sort of tolerated limbo, while Parallels, MS and Apple work out their positions. There is no way to buy an ARM license for 10 or 11. The Windows ARM EULA only allows Windows ARM on OEM machines, which is preventing some business users from putting Windows ARM on M1 Macs because it would fail an audit. I am told
in this thread that contravening the EULA doesnt make it illegal
per se, but MS could in theory sue. I am not losing any sleep over this because MS know very well what processor I am using and activated both 10 and 11 with my X86 licenses.
My Windows 11 ARM was a fresh new VM of the release version VM using an ISO from uupdump.net. (using
this). Before that I used 10 and 11 from the Insider. As said above you can get Windows 10 from uupdump.net. As I understand it uupdump.net is not a dodgy alternative source, as I first thought, but a way of downloading ISOs from the MS servers.