Windows activation after bios update

I updated BIOS today, ran into booting issues afterwards, lost my Windows pin after it booted on the second restart, and Windows was deactivated. I was activated through a digital license linked to my account, and now I cannot relink it to that PC. BIOS update was the culprit. Troubleshooting told me there was a hardware change, which there was not

28 pages after the initial June 2022 post. And apparently no response from Microsoft.

Same issue for me. I've been using PCs for over 40 years; building them for about 25.

I well know that changing hardware can bollix the match between a PC and a Windows digital license. But it never occurred to me that updating the BIOS could be a problem.

I paid well over $200 for my Windows 11 Pro license. First a retail CD for Windows 10 home (about $100). I usually buy the OEM keys, but I had heard that retail keys were more robust, so I thought I would try one.

Then, I upgraded at a premium price (not sure, but over $100) for a Pro Upgrade directly from the prompt on the Windows System/activation screen. It was more expensive, but the transaction was convenient.

SLMGR still showed this as a retail key. But did not reveal any actual Pro key - just a generic one - which is not uncommon.

This was about two years ago. At the time, I made the mistake of not keeping a record of the upgrade transaction - never knew that I would ever need it.

I try to keep my PCs' BIOSes (UEFI these days) updated to get the latest security patches. A few days ago, in October 2024, I update the Bios on the ASRock Z590 Motherboard in my self-built system.

A few days later, I get the dread Windows is not activated watermark. The activation screen indicated that maybe I had changed hardware, but I had not done so. I tried everything I could think of based on years of experience - e.g., logging into and out of My Microsoft account, entering the default key from the BIOS, entering the original Windows 10 Home key, etc. (I don't think I ever got a separate key for the direct Pro Upgrade.)

I managed to get a MS support person on the phone. To her credit, she was polite and clear. We went through all the routine stuff. Did not work. And, after at least a half hour on the phone, she would not or could not reactivate my PC. She explained I needed to have kept the order number for the Pro upgrade a I bought about 2 years ago. And I just don't have it. So, from Microsoft's view, nothing would be done for me.

I need this machine every day, and I cannot mess around. I bought a new Pro key yesterday.

Today, I found this thread - because it just hit me that maybe the BIOS update caused the activation issue. Certainly, the MS tech support person never suggested it. Maybe, If I had thought of this earlier, I would have rolled back the BIOS and tried to re-activate. But probably not. Every BIOS re-write carries a little risk, and I do want the most secure BIOS possible.

Anyway, I am very unhappy about all this. I guess my take-away is never again to buy a retail key directly from Microsoft. Sure, OEM keys can fail too. But they cost less.

YEP!

I always make sure all my devices are in my Microsoft account online and delete the ones that are not needed.

Print out all activation codes and hang them on the wall

Other than that, it is a **** shoot!

Bios issues

No Notice security upgrades (be sure you have all the unlock codes printed out for each device)

Sometimes you can get a free one and only one by logging a hardware change

Other random issues

Hi, i had the same problem after i updated my bios, just solved it by disabling TPM from the BIOS, now “activate windows” doesn’t appear anymore