Windows 10: Windows 11 Pro deactivated after a BIOS upgrade.

Back in Aug I performed a BIOS upgrade. shortly after that the OS started giving me an error that the windows install was not activated.I didn't think too long on it as I was in a crunch and had assignments due, so I purchased a new license on the Microsoft store.Everything was fine till I upgraded the BIOS again for the new Intel power fixes. Now windows is telling me again it's not valid. So I've had 2 valid licenses on this PC now already. How do I get the license that I purchased on the store in Aug reapplied to this PC? I have a Phone support ticket submitted #7055001499Thank you

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Windows 11 Pro deactivated after BIOS update

Hi,

My problem is that Windows 11 Pro deactivated itself after I updated my motherboard (MSI Z790 Carbon Wi-fi) BIOS. I updated it from 7D89v17 to 7D89v18. I haven't done any hardware changes so it should be still active. Troubleshooting doesn't help. I have been using local account so my current device is not listed on my Microsoft account. I also tried to use my Windows 10 Pro OEM activation key in the Change Product key section but it also fails. Previous BIOS updates worked fine. I have opened couple of service requests in Windows Get Help to get that agent to call me, but I haven't heard anything yet.

BIOS update should not ever break Windows activation!!!

PC Specs:

i5-13600k, MSI Z790 Carbon Wi-fi, ASUS Strix RX 5700 XT

 

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 (Download Windows 11)
   
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
   

 

Windows 11 Pro Upgrade from Windows 10 Pro Edition

No but after it installed the malfunctioning Windows 11 upgrade it was listed as Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft Windows support advised I reinstall Windows 10 Pro and said that Windows 11 is really only meant for new PC's that come with it preinstalled. MSI website doesn't list my 2020 GT76 Titan dt-039 notebook on their Windows 11 upgrade eligibility list so I guess that's why the Windows 11 Pro upgrade failed. I suggest being careful with trying the Windows 11 upgrade despite it stating my notebook was capable of running Windows 11 it was wrong. Luckily I have the original Windows 10 Pro USB Flash drive because the Windows 11 Pro upgrade was so incomplete I had no way of reverting notebook back to Windows 10 without reinstalling from a USB Flash.