Z790 bios updates break Windows Activation

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Jota

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Hello,

I got a MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4, and the last time I updated the bios ( from 7D91v12 to 7D91v14 ), it disabled windows 11 activation and I couldn't re-activate it. After a long time spent with windows support and multiple searches on the net, I found that I was not the only one having this problem but that there was no solution. So I had to buy a new windows 11 license.

Now I see a new version available ( 7D91v16 ), can I updating the bios to this version without risking losing my w11 license again, or the same issue will happen again ?

Thank you.
 
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mencarelli.floria155502db said:
Now I see a new version available ( 7D91v16 ), can I updating the bios to this version without risking losing my w11 license again, or the same issue will happen again ?
Click to expand...
Try this:
1. Disable TPM in BIOS, save changes and exit. Settings\Security\Trusted Computing\Security Device Support
2. Boot to OS and press WIN+R to open RUN, type tpm.msc and make sure TPM is disabled.
3. Update BIOS.
4. Performing above steps once, and Windows activation should not be disabled from now on.
 
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mencarelli.floria155502db said:
Hello,

I got a MSI MAG Z790 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4, and the last time I updated the bios ( from 7D91v12 to 7D91v14 ), it disabled windows 11 activation and I couldn't re-activate it. After a long time spent with windows support and multiple searches on the net, I found that I was not the only one having this problem but that there was no solution. So I had to buy a new windows 11 license.

Now I see a new version available ( 7D91v16 ), can I updating the bios to this version without risking losing my w11 license again, or the same issue will happen again ?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
You might also make sure that your activation is tied to your Windows account, that should prevent having to buy any new copies.

Link Microsoft Account to Windows 11 Digital License Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum (elevenforum.com)
 
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fatedust said:
Try this:
1. Disable TPM in BIOS, save changes and exit. Settings\Security\Trusted Computing\Security Device Support
2. Boot to OS and press WIN+R to open RUN, type tpm.msc and make sure TPM is disabled.
3. Update BIOS.
4. Performing above steps once, and Windows activation should not be disabled from now on.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice, I will try this but i am not confident at all. As I can read on other forums, updating bios on z690 and z790 models (from all constructor, not only msi) break windows activation everytime.
 
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interesting to know!
Once you have reset your pin with your MS account (after disabling FTPM), you need to reboot, go to BIOS and enable FTM again. From there did you reboot to windows and log with your pin before updating BIOS or did you update BIOS just after enabling FTM ?

Thank you (those who faced the issue and the author of the video). This should help many.
 
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