Windows 11 no longer activated after bios upgrade

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Feb 27, 2022
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Alan J T
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A Fix has been provided
Please watch this Video


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I updated my bios 3 days ago hoping it would fix some usb issues I was having. Now my windows install is no longer activated (OEM key). Any one else got this problem?
How do you fix it?
Trouble shoot windows activations does not help.
entering the same key also does not work.

So any idea how to fix this and is this a f**-up from MSI bios update?
 
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Solution
Yesterday, I had the same problem. MEG Z690 UNIFY updated from 1.90 to 1.B0, and the activation was gone and couldn't be reactivated. I told people about that problem on the official MS Forum, and people couldn't believe the loss of activation. Luckily, after reentering the Windows key, Windows was activated.
Please see Video
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I had the same problem. I am including allot of detail - - -
I have dual boot to Windows 11 - not by choice. I installed a SSD (SSD 1) when I upgraded my CPU/MB/RAM.
I Installed windows 10 and then upgraded to windows 11 on SSD 1.
Added another SSD (SSD 2) and did a clean install of Windows 11. When I start up the PC it is now dual boot - I can select windows11 on volume 1 or windows 11 to volume 3.
"volume 1 " is the clean install on SSD 2 and "volume 3 " is the upgrade from windows 10 to windows 11 on SSD 1.
I updated the bios when the latest beta bios came out.
I used the bios button because I was not able to update the bios via M Flash or MCI center.
Last Friday I noted a message on the desktop that Windows 11 was not activated - this is SSD 2 - "windows 11 on volume 1".
I ran the activation troubleshooter and indeed windows was not activated. Activation status is checked via Start - settings - search activation. I Rebooted to "Windows 11 on volume 3" (SSD 1) and it showed windows was activated and I used regedit to view the activation code (25 characters).
So next - I used the Microsoft on-line help to have the clean install of windows on SSD 2 (windows 11on volume 1) activated - this requiring the help desk person taking remote access of my PC - took about 5 minutes to correct the issue.
I needed to booted to windows on volume 3 (SSD 1) for the help desk person to correct the activation problem. Now windows on SSD 1 and SSD 2 is activated - they have the same activation code too.
Also - in my Microsoft account it lists 4 devices - a lap top (windows 10) and my PC as 3 different desk tops (I think windows 10 on SSD 1, Windows 11 upgrade on SSD 1 and windows 11 clean install on SSD 2, They are listed as DESKTOP-I1A64MU and DESKTOP-J11NGVS. DESKTOP-J11NGVS is the one I installed windows 10 on and then upgraded to Windows 11 (SSD 1).
DESKTOP-I1A64MU is the one I did a clean install of windows 11 on SSD 2. So my guess what started this issue - I had to update the bios via the "bios button".
When "windows starts" after the bios update via the bios button it requires me to establish a new password to log into windows.
This requires access to my Microsoft account. A Code is sent to my e-mail (which I can access via my laptop). I enter the code, establish a new password and then log into windows 11. For some reason updating the bios via the button is different from updating in the M Flash while "in the bios" or using MSI Center. Hope this helps some of you with the same issue.
 
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MSI have looked into this problem and so far can not replicate the reported Issue.
Thank you for Assistance and Details provided.

If you have this problem please contact MS support for assistance.
 
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It is indeed frustrating, and presumably related to how MSI clears all settings during BIOS flash (including settings related to Secure Boot until the very latest BIOS which has Secure Boot enabled by default). I've never experienced such problem while flashing Intel "NUC" BIOS which keeps settings at their previous values.
As far as whether you can re-activate using your license linked to Microsoft Account without further tech assistance, my guess is that works okay if your Windows was true "retail" especially if you haven't lost track of the product key. If instead the previous activation came from some key which is somewhat removed from true retail, the license for such key probably doesn't allow for "hardware changes" (and therefore we get stuck if something about MSI's settings for Secure Boot got changed as part of the flash process or when trying to reconfigure your settings after flash).
 
Got the same issue with the Edge WIFI Z690 DDR4 - real bloody amateur hour. Updated bios from 1.2 to 1.4 because I've had 6 months of boot issues (yes there is a workaround)
 
I updated my bios 3 days ago hoping it would fix some usb issues I was having. Now my windows install is no longer activated (OEM key). Any one else got this problem?
How do you fix it?
Trouble shoot windows activations does not help.
entering the same key also does not work.

So any idea how to fix this and is this a f**-up from MSI bios update?

If it helps the latest OEM code that had a digital license linked to it didn't work for me either, I had to go back and use my original Windows 7 OEM code that I originally upgraded to Windows 10 and then to Windows 11
 
If it helps the latest OEM code that had a digital license linked to it didn't work for me either, I had to go back and use my original Windows 7 OEM code that I originally upgraded to Windows 10 and then to Windows 11
Have had a look in to this and it is some what wide spared and been happenings for many years amongst several venders and yes MS has not done much to fix it.

MS support is full of complaint about it
 
Have had a look in to this and it is some what wide spared and been happenings for many years amongst several venders and yes MS has not done much to fix it.

MS support is full of complaint about it

To be fair there's an equal amount of finger-pointing in both directions but given I keep seeing MSI pop up it's not a good look.
 
My windows also got deactivated and after contacting microsoft support they said they can't do anything because it was an OEM version and seems like I have to buy new Windows license. Thanks MSI.
 
Do your self a favor and grab a retail Key I have had one since windows 8 and that key has been used on over 6 different builds and several upgrades.
You can only transfer a OEM once or twice if that
A retail key belongs to you not the Computer System it was sold with.
Just look online for a New Retail Key they be cheap
 
Do your self a favor and grab a retail Key I have had one since windows 8 and that key has been used on over 6 different builds and several upgrades.
You can only transfer a OEM once or twice if that
A retail key belongs to you not the Computer System it was sold with.
Just look online for a New Retail Key they be cheap


Just maybe why mine eventually activates cause its old retail key '10 pro
 
If it helps the latest OEM code that had a digital license linked to it didn't work for me either, I had to go back and use my original Windows 7 OEM code that I originally upgraded to Windows 10 and then to Windows 11
For some reason my original windows 7 oem code doesn't work.
 
I did the newest bios on my
PRO Z690-P DDR4
when it came out and no issues whatsoever

watch the cheap keys as they may taken off extra brand name units?
 
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