Windows 10: Windows 11 reactivation after reset

Hi, I reset my laptop yesterday and now it's asking me to reactivate Windows. I don’t have the product key with me since my dad originally bought the laptop. Is there any way to fix this? The error code I’m getting is 0xC0EA000A.

:)

 

Product Key Reactivation

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

Reactivating Windows 11 after retrieving the motherboard key involves using the original product key or digital license associated with your system.

Here are the steps to reactivate Windows 11:

1. Open Settings:
   
   • Click on the Start button and select the gear icon to open "Settings."
     
2. Navigate to Update & Security:
   
   • In the Settings menu, click on "Update & Security."
     
3. Go to Activation:
   
   • In the left sidebar, select "Activation."
     
4. Enter Product Key:
   
   • If you have a product key, click on "Change product key" and enter the key when prompted.
     
5. Use Digital License:
   
   • If your Windows 11 was linked to your Microsoft account, you might see an option to troubleshoot and link your digital license. Click on this option and follow the prompts.
     
6. Restart Your Computer:
   
   • After entering the product key or linking your digital license, restart your computer.
     
7. Verification:
   
   • Go back to the Activation section in Settings to verify that Windows 11 is now activated.
     

 

Adobe Flash message in IE 11

Hi Sandra,

To help you out with your concern, we suggest that you disable the add-ons in Internet Explorer 11. For step by step instructions, go to this

link, then look for the title Turning off and removing add-ons.

We also suggest that you reset Internet Explorer 11 through these steps:

• Go to Internet Explorer then click the Gear icon.
• Choose Internet options > Advanced.
• Click Reset.

(Note: If you have added Favorites, back up them first before resetting the browser. )

Should you need further assistance, let us know.

Regards.

 

How to Reset Windows 11

This article explains how to Reset Windows 11 PC in case it is not working well.

Reset is a feature in Windows 11, which Reinstalls Windows, allowing you to keep the files or remove them as desired. Resetting is particularly helpful when you have problems with specific Windows components like Windows updates not working, Apps crashing, etc.

Doing a Reset affects the following things:

1. Reinstall a fresh copy of Windows.
   
2. Reset your customized Settings to default.
   
3. Remove/Keep your files depending on which option you select.
   
4. Remove the installed applications on your Windows 11 PC.
   

A Reset takes 20-25 minutes, depending on the configuration and the option chosen of Cloud Reset or Local Reset.

There are multiple ways to Reset your Windows 11 PC, and the following steps explain those in Detail:

How to Reset Windows 11

If you can start your computer, you can trigger a Reset from the Settings app. See the steps below:

• Open Start menu>Settings app.
  
  

• Go to System>Recovery options at the end.
  
• Under Recovery options, click Reset PC.
  
  
  

Reset options in Windows 11, now in System Settings, instead of Update and Security

• Select if you want to keep your files or remove the files. Removing the files is helpful if you plan to donate or sell your computer. I am selecting to keep my files in this example.
  

• The next step is, how do you want to Reset Windows by downloading the Installation files from the Cloud or do a Local Reset. If you have an Internet connection, I recommend using the Cloud download option. Windows would download a 4GB file to your device and use that to reinstall Windows. A Local reinstall may also help, but for reliability purposes, I strongly suggest using Cloud Download. If you do not have an Internet connection or have limited data, choose Local reinstall.
  

• Confirm the Ready to Reset this PC screen and the Recent update screen.
  

• The process to download would then start. Confirm the Additional settings screen.
  

• A preparing to Reset screen would then appear, which starts the Installation Process.
  

• Windows would then Restart and show you the Resetting Progress on the screen.
  

• After the first Restart, Windows would boot to the Installation phase.
  

• When the process is complete, you would see the Login screen. Enter your PIN.
  

• After that, the Windows would finalize the Reset and show you the desktop.
  

• The Reset process is complete.
  

Reset Windows 11 from Windows Recovery environment

If your Windows has stopped working, Windows provides an option to Reset Windows 11 PC from the Recovery environment. To do that, you need to force the computer into Windows Recovery and then Reset Windows 11 from there. The process is nearly the same as above.

Step 1: Trigger the recovery environment:

• To force Windows into the Recovery environment, Perform a hard shutdown by pressing the power button for 5 seconds when the Windows boot screen appears.
  
• Do this twice.
  

• On the third time, you would see the Windows Recovery Environment, which would say that your PC has a problem and it could not repair the problem.
  

Step 2: Reset Windows 11 from the Windows Recovery environment

• Click Advanced options.
  

• Click Troubleshoot. Select Reset this PC.
  

• Select if you want to Keep files or Remove everything.
  

• Select Cloud Download or Local Download.
  
• Confirm the Reset.
  
• The process would start.
  

After that, your computer would do the same process as mentioned above.

These steps can help you Resetting your Windows 11 PC. If a Reset fails, you may have to do a clean install using a USB hard drive, either prepared on another computer or an existing one you have.

Also read:

• Create a Windows 11 USB Flash drive (yourwindowsguide.com)
  
• Repair Install Windows 11 using an ISO file (yourwindowsguide.com)
  
• Windows 11: FAQ (microsoft.com)
  
• How to: Use Snap Layouts and Snap groups in Windows 11 (microsoft.com)
  

Sumit (@_sumitdhiman) / Twitter