Windows activation after bios update

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.

Same here, Windows 11 Pro activated, updated BIOS on Z970 Gigabyte MB, after restarting I needed a new pin and Windows is not activated :(

Yes, they need to discuss with motherboard suppliers to enforce guidelines for BIOS update... it's a real mess

No workarround. The bios update created the exact same machine in my MS account (duplicate). But cannot reactivate with hardware change option from my machine before BIOS update... Tried to remove the old machine, not working.

It is really a mess.

I don't care if I need to pay for something, but in this case it is simply bad => I paid for a new key when I don't need it. I will always always fear to update a BIOS again.

If I will change a machine, I will begin with BIOS update before activation.... for sure.

Hello.

There was the same situation, after updating the BIOS, the activation failed. After a rollback, it was restored.

But now Windows is activated, with the latest bios.

Perhaps I had a confusion with licenses, since there is a laptop and a desktop with Windows 10, plus a third license.

Now the desktop is activated with a license for Windows 8, and the laptop is most likely from the Microsoft store.

Although it should be the other way around.

In general, it would be interesting to know how many licenses I have?

But that's all, does not cancel the main question to Microsoft, why does the activation disappear?

With respect, Roman.