Windows 10: Unable to Activate Windows 11 After BIOS Update

I recently updated my bios and am unable to activate windows after installing on a new drive.I've contacted support and they are no help.Support advises me to go through the activation troubleshooter which always results in the same outcome; I'm unable to activate windows.2 separate representatives have directed me, at the end of the call, after I'm unable to activate windows, to do a fresh install.I've installed windows 11 about 3 or 4 times now and I refused the last time to do it again.I don't understand what the issue is. I have 2 windows 11 professional licenses associated with my windows

:)

 

Cant Activate Windows 11 after BIOS Update !

Updating your motherboard's BIOS should not affect your Windows 11 activation, as activation is tied to your Microsoft account, not your hardware. However, it's possible that something went wrong during the BIOS update that caused your Windows 11 activation to be lost.

To resolve the issue, you can try the following:

1. Check that you're signed in to Windows 11 with the same Microsoft account you used to activate it.
   
2. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and click on "Troubleshoot" to run the activation troubleshooter. Follow the on-screen instructions and select "I recently changed hardware on this device" when prompted.
   
3. If the troubleshooter doesn't work, try using the "Change product key" option in the Activation settings to manually enter your product key. You can find your product key on the Windows 11 packaging or in the email from Microsoft when you purchased the license.
   

Let me know if you need further help.

 

Windows lost activation after BIOS update.

I just updated my BIOS because I had some (presumably memory compatibility-related) issues resulting in a Blue Screen each time my PC went to sleep and was woken back up. It is a self built PC that has been running for about 2 years, getting the Windows 11 Update at some point.

Now, after doing the BIOS update, it has some problem with the activation. If i use the troubleshooter, it lists a Dell Laptop I used to own years ago, which came with windows installed, as my only device. If I click changed hardware, it says it is unable to activate.

Before the BIOS update, there were never any actiavtion issues, neither with Windows 11 nor Windows 10.

 

Unable to upgrade Windows 11 Home to 11 Pro

Thanks much, Dave, indeed it was a big job.

Clean install of Windows 11 from a bootable USB helped to Activate the Pro.

Just to summarize what was done:

1. Took backup of the drives and save some on cloud.
   
2. Installed the Media creation tool app as you suggested (Windows 11 herunterladen)
   
3. Connected the USB and ran the application and downloaded the Windows 11.
   
   1. additional thing which I had to do is to install WLAN driver to the USB in advance, to have the WIFI option available as it was required to connect to a network to download the latest windows features while reinstalling the Windows, and Wi-Fi option was not available.
      
4. Turned off the 'Secure boot' from the BIOS menu.
   
5. Changed the 'Boot Order' in the BIOS menu to first use the USB Boot.
   
6. Saved and Exit, which triggered Restart and Windows installation.
   
7. During the network connecting stage to install the latest updates and features - 'Let's Connect you to a network', I opened the CMD (Shift + F10) and ran than WLAN driver exe to install it and then I was able to connect to my WIFI network.
   
   1. Optional to this step is to BYPASS the network connection stage by following this - bypass "lets connect you to a network" - Microsoft Community
      
   2. Then, doing that manually once Windows has been installed.
      
8. Once everything is set-up, I followed the suggestion from this again, and it worked - Unable to upgrade Windows 11 Home to 11 Pro - Microsoft Community