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Windows activation problem after bios update
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Jun
0
Reputation points
Hi, i just updated my bios and my windows got deactivated and i was able to activate it again by choosing the option " i changed hardware" but then later i found out that my Realtek audio had problems with the latest bios, so i downgraded the bios to the previous one i was using and windows got deactivated again. But this time i wasn't able to activate it again even after choosing the "i changed hardware" option. My license is retail and tied to my Microsoft account. I also have my product key written down but wasn't able to activate it using that one too. When I went to the registry to check my product key, I noticed that it had changed to a completely different one but when I entered "slmgr /dli" in cmd, the partial product shows the last 5 digits of my original product key. On the settings>activation page it shows "We can't activate Windows on this device at the moment. You can try activating again later, or go to the Store to buy genuine Windows. Error code: 0x803FABC3". Why is it so hard to contact microsoft support? Any way i can fix this?
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation
10 answers
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Igor Leyko 111K Reputation points Independent Advisor2026-05-26T20:48:34.6166667+00:00 -
Jun 0 Reputation points
2026-05-27T07:53:25.6333333+00:00 I contacted yesterday but they weren't very helpful. I allowed them to help with quick assist, they input a command "wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey" which didn't output any key. I showed them the product key i noted down from the registry and checked in microsoft database and said it was blocked and i have to buy a new one. And they didn't do any other troubleshoots. Could it be that the one in registry is just a place holder and not a real key for activation as Neil D said? I couldn't explain it to them very well because of communication/language problems.
I check countless forums and seem like this has been a very common issue. It seems like we have like 2-3 tries of choosing the "i Changed hardware recently" option and then they blocks futher tries. I did an update and downgrade of the bios so that matches exactly as people said in the forums. Updating the bios changes the Motherboard ID which makes microsoft thinks it's another motherboard and caused this problems.
Is there any way i can prove to microsoft that my motherboard/hardware is the same and only updated the bios? I would really need some help right now cause i can't afford another license.
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Neil D 33,100 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2026-05-29T09:25:59.2333333+00:00 If the seller provided the licence to activate windows they should have provided you details of the licence/product key.
The one in the registry cannot be used for activation.
Are there any labels on the device with a 25 character product key.
Are you sure you have Windows 11 Pro installed as the licence screenshot you poste is for Pro edition. Unless the product key you entered ends with 3V66T. (that is a generic key)
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Igor Leyko 111K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-05-26T09:07:00.0833333+00:00 Please re-enter your product key and show a screenshot of Activation page of Settings.
Could it be your license is shown as Windows 7 or Windows 8 in ShowKeyPlus?
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Igor Leyko 111K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-05-25T16:06:55.01+00:00 OK, let's wait.
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Neil D 33,100 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-05-25T15:12:30.66+00:00 You may find if you wait a few days that the activation troubleshooter will work when you select Change hardware.
The product key in the registry is just a place holder and not a real key for activation.
Did you buy the licence you have the product key for or did it come from a previous OS upgrade. If it was originally from Windows 7 or 8 it can no longer be used to activate Windows 11.
You can check the product key using ShowKeyPlus from the Store and enter the key at Check edition in the app. If the product key is shown as windows 7 or 8 then you cannot use it and will need a new licence.
Also check it is not a generic product key. Generic product keys - TenForums
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Jun 0 Reputation points
2026-05-25T16:04:52.42+00:00 Mine is a prebuilt PC that was purchased with the option to have windows included, so the license came preinstalled. It was from windows 10 and also shows in ShowKeyPlus as windows 10. A few years back i formatted and reinstalled windows 11 couple of times and was able to activate it using my microsoft account. And today when i updated the bios i was able to activate it the first time, but after downgrading the bios i wasn't able to activate it. Also It doesn't seem to be a generic key. I might wait for a few days and see if it works.
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Neil D 33,100 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-05-26T08:46:28.8666667+00:00 Just to confirm. Does ShowKeyPlus show a retail licence for the product key you have.?
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Neil D 33,100 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-05-26T19:08:12.7766667+00:00 With the details you have given there shouldn't be a problem with activation. The only issue affecting activation is that it could have detected the change in hardware (although it wasn't really) within a short period of time.
The only option is likely to be that Microsoft support will need to activate for you.
To contact them directly use the Get Help app in windows. type in chat with an agent then select Contact Support. Or if there is an option for Billing try that instead.
They have never been easy to contact so you may have to try more than once.
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Igor Leyko 111K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-05-25T13:47:12.4133333+00:00 Unfortunately, this is hardware manufacturer fault. Due to some inaccuracy, BIOS update changed hardware ID and Windows interprets this change like a transfer to a new PC.Unfortunately, neither your hardware manufacturer nor Microsoft want to take responsibility for the situation.
You may ask Microsoft support for the help with reactivation, but the chances are low. https://support.microsoft.com/contactus/ Try different answers to break thru robot system.