Windows 11 not activated after BIOS reset

CntrlAltDel · Oct 13, 2023

Hi there, I've done a BIOS reset on the latest build on Windows 11 and all of a sudden my OS says not activated. I still have the key that I used and it doesn't work anymore. I've also tried selecting the "my hardware has changed" option where it prompts you to login to your MS account where I have 2 more Windows licenses and neither of them work. Does anyone know how to get around this? I've contacted support and they just haven't responded in over a week.

TM21 · Oct 13, 2023

Welcome to the not so Wonderful World of Microsoft.

I won't ask you, why you decided to reset the BIOS. On my own PC that would have made no difference, because my own Windows is not in any way tied to a key, or MS Account.
In fact, I can take my C: drive out of this PC and put it in a totally different PC, with little or no effect.
Oh, it'll take a few minutes to make itself at home, and then take off running like it was installed there.

A new and clean install of Windows would solve your problem, and if you were here, I would surely offer you that option.

Good Luck,
TM

CntrlAltDel · Oct 13, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
Welcome to the not so Wonderful World of Microsoft.

I won't ask you, why you decided to reset the BIOS. On my own PC that would have made no difference, because my own Windows is not in any way tied to a key, or MS Account.
In fact, I can take my C: drive out of this PC and put it in a totally different PC, with little or no effect.
Oh, it'll take a few minutes to make itself at home, and then take off running like it was installed there.

A new and clean install of Windows would solve your problem, and if you were here, I would surely offer you that option.

Good Luck,
TM

Thanks for your response. Yeh having to reinstall my OS is a really big deal for me, I have a ridiculous amount of configs in the OS itself to support my test environments amongst other things. Switching from Windows 10 to 11 I sunk a good 8 hours in to get everything where it needed to be. I was really hoping there was just some solution that was clear and obvious because I have a legit key that I paid for. I considered your option (Option B) but wanted to make sure there was no other obvious ways I could resolve this on my own first.

dacrone · Oct 13, 2023

dont reinstall windows. just "change your key" and use the same key and activate by phone automated system, not a person

bobkn · Oct 13, 2023

Did you use the "troubleshoot" button?

It has been quite a while since I've done that. I believe that I was able to transfer activation from different hardware.

I have read that whether the original key was OEM or retail does not matter when you transfer a digital license.

dacrone · Oct 13, 2023

To deactivate Windows by uninstalling the product key, you need to do the following:

Open an elevated command prompt.

Type or paste the following command:

slmgr /upk
Wait till the command finishes its work. At the end, you will see the following message:

Windows 10 will become deactivated. You can visit the Settings app and check out the "Activation" page and check the activation state. It will look like this:

Please keep in mind that if you reach the online activation limit, e.g. by activating many PCs with the same key, you may have to activate your copy of Windows by phone since the online activation will fail.

To install a new product key, you need to type the following command in the elevated command prompt:

slmgr -ipk your-new-product-key

Remove OLD Product Key From Registry:

Open an elevated command prompt.

In the elevated command prompt you just opened, type the following:

slmgr /cpky

Reboot
go to Settings > Activation > input product key

Win+R to open run box > type "SLUI 4" to activate by phone

TM21 · Oct 13, 2023

And the beat goes on!

Licenses, keys, accounts and memberships, it's a quagmire! One that I refuse to participate in.

I pity those who choose to go down that road.

TM

dacrone · Oct 13, 2023

lol ok. well once its activated its never a problem. and on that note, anyone that has read win 7/8 keys no longer work to install 11... thats bullsshhh. just install that OS, activate with the key and immediately update via win 11 iso. takes about 20min longer to complete the entire process. but the side convo is moot. just waiting for OP to test

CntrlAltDel · Oct 13, 2023

dacrone said:
dont reinstall windows. just "change your key" and use the same key and activate by phone automated system, not a person

I've done this. I don't even get to the prompt for phone activation it just says I should contact support.

bobkn said:
Did you use the "troubleshoot" button?

It has been quite a while since I've done that. I believe that I was able to transfer activation from different hardware.

I have read that whether the original key was OEM or retail does not matter when you transfer a digital license.

Yes, I've used the troubleshoot button. That is what takes me through the "my hardware has changed" process and promptly fails during that process.

dacrone said:
To deactivate Windows by uninstalling the product key, you need to do the following:

Open an elevated command prompt.

Type or paste the following command:

slmgr /upk
Wait till the command finishes its work. At the end, you will see the following message:

Windows 10 will become deactivated. You can visit the Settings app and check out the "Activation" page and check the activation state. It will look like this:

Please keep in mind that if you reach the online activation limit, e.g. by activating many PCs with the same key, you may have to activate your copy of Windows by phone since the online activation will fail.

To install a new product key, you need to type the following command in the elevated command prompt:

slmgr -ipk your-new-product-key

Remove OLD Product Key From Registry:

Open an elevated command prompt.

In the elevated command prompt you just opened, type the following:

slmgr /cpky

Reboot
go to Settings > Activation > input product key

Win+R to open run box > type "SLUI 4" to activate by phone

I've followed these exact instructions on a different post on the forum before making this post, the key is not accepted with an ambiguous message that the key won't activate Windows.

dacrone · Oct 13, 2023

cmd as admin > SLMGR /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

what is the output?

bobkn · Oct 13, 2023

This may be a "Let them eat cake!" sort of response, but, in your circumstances, I might be tempted to try a cheap key (from a non-piratical site).

There is supposed to be no functional difference between a Win10 and a Win 11 key.

You shouldn't need one, though. However, I have never lost activation due to clearing the CMOS. Something seems to be broken in your Windows installation.

Best of luck.

Megahertz · Oct 13, 2023

Is LAN enabled on BIOS?
If LAN is disabled, Windows cant retrieve the LAN MAC and won't activate.

kciN · Oct 14, 2023

Mine does it as well when I update bios. It looks like it makes a new device on a bios update/reset for some reason. But removing all related pc's, under my devices, in my ms account does the trick

BamaInArk · Oct 14, 2023

I've had a mysterious deactivation happen to me a couple of times. I did the whatever phone thing where your texting to the system and eventually it sent me a new activation key that worked fine. Sorry can't remember all the details. I just followed the troubleshooting guide in Windows itself. I just have to make a note of the new key for that motherboard/system.

I RMAd a motherboard several months ago and had to do similar to get the new hardware reactivated with the same key(I think).

I will say however that a bios reset shouldn't have tripped the digital license especially if all the hardware remained the same.

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