My version of Windows was upgraded from Windows 10 which was purchased from a retail store.
Activate Windows suddenly appeared
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(38.4, 86%, 13%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EP%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Phoenix ™
25
Reputation points
Today I noticed the text "Activate Windows. Go to Settings to activate Windows" in the bottom right corner of my screen.
Under System > Activation there is red text that says "We can't activate Windows on this device right now. You can try activating again later or go to the Store to buy genuine Windows. Error code: 0x803FABC3"
Clicking Troubleshoot brings up the dialog and afterwards says "Troubleshooting has completed. We weren't able to active Windows on this device".
I have a genuine copy of Windows and have been using it on this computer for the last year and a half.
Please help me understand why this has suddenly appeared and how I can fix it.
Thank you.
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(217.60000000000002, 30%, 31%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EKD%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
kariuki debby 0 Reputation points2025-11-09T07:41:02.94+00:00 hello i have a problem activating my windows 11,window resource has been found corrupt what should i do
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6 answers
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Phoenix ™ 25 Reputation points
2025-07-09T10:18:17.2+00:00 -
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(0, 7.000000000000001%, 10%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EDB%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
DYARI BARHAM 33,366 Reputation points Independent Advisor2025-07-10T06:20:57.22+00:00 Thanks for sharing the screenshots Phoenix.
Based on the screenshots, you're running Windows 10/11 Pro with a Retail license. Normally, re-entering your product key should fix the activation issue. Since that didn’t work, there may be something else interfering with activation.
Upgrading or replacing RAM usually doesn’t affect Windows activation. However, sometimes a glitch during the hardware scan as when the RAM was changed, can confuse Windows into thinking it’s a new device. Did removing the extra RAM stick help at all?
It could be a server issue. So, go to Settings > System > Activation and click Activate again. If it still doesn’t work, give it another try in 24–48 hours, it sometimes resolves on its own.
Also, I recommend checking for any available BIOS or firmware updates, as these can sometimes help clear up activation problems too.
Please keep me posted.
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Phoenix ™ 25 Reputation points
2025-07-10T10:17:06.12+00:00 This turned into an absolute nightmare, 4hrs on the phone with 2 different customer support agents and reinstall of windows 3 times .
My MS account was showing the same device twice, one with 32GB and the other with 64GB RAM, so I deleted the 32GB one and then afterwards MS says I shouldn’t do that and that it deleted the key or something.
They made me change login to local and back to MS account and told me that after repairing windows using the instructions emailed to me I had a 99% chance of fixing it. I am the 1%.
Microsofts final answer is to pay $379AUD for a new product key, which for a student is an insult, coming from a billion dollar company.
My PC was working fine for 2 years since I built it and then 1 week after installing new RAM MS revoked my activation then forced me go get a new one.
No wonder MS is dieing and people looking to Linux and Steam OS.
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Kapil Arya 37,676 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2025-07-09T11:51:11.2266667+00:00 Looks like you're on retail license. You can re-insert your unique Windows 11/10 product key to re-activate.
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Phoenix ™ 25 Reputation points
2025-07-09T14:06:58.0266667+00:00 I clicked "Change" next to Change product key and typed in my product key, I get this message:
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Phoenix ™ 25 Reputation points
2025-07-09T14:09:44+00:00 I have also noticed in my Microsoft account, my device is now shown twice.
I did install new RAM. One device shows 32GB and the other shows 64GB, which is current. I didn't realise this would affect Windows.
I clicked "I changed hardware on this device recently", I select the device I'm using but I get this:
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(108.80000000000001, 35%, 20%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJ%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
JKenn 0 Reputation points2025-07-09T14:37:30.0966667+00:00 A RAM upgrade should not cause an activation issue; that said, if you installed an additional RAM module, removing it might resolve your immediate issue.
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Phoenix ™ 25 Reputation points
2025-07-09T20:48:23.27+00:00 If installing new RAM does not affect windows activation, why would removing it resolve it?
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JKenn 0 Reputation points
2025-07-10T11:21:32.78+00:00 On paper, it shouldn't; however, glitches occur all the time. So in this instance, if adding RAM might have caused the issue, removing it, might resolve the issue.
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JKenn 0 Reputation points
2025-07-09T11:27:55.4133333+00:00 Hello, my name is James and I will do my best to help you with this.
It is possible that Windows activation has become corrupt. Checking your system files might resolve the issue.
To check Windows system files, do the following:
- Right-click on the Start menu, and then select Terminal (Admin).
- Enter
sfc /scannow, and then select Enter. - Wait for the scan to complete.
You might need to restart your computer for any repairs to take effect.
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DYARI BARHAM 33,366 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-07-09T10:01:28.7966667+00:00 Hi , I'm Dyari. Thanks for reaching out. I will be happy to assist you in this regard.
May I ask which edition of Windows is currently running on your computer? Also, did you purchase the license directly from the official Microsoft website?
Click Start > Type Winver and hit enter > Screenshot and post it back.
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DYARI BARHAM 33,366 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-07-09T10:02:33.7133333+00:00 Kindly click on Start > Run CMD and type the following command then hit enter:
slmgr.vbs /dlv
Screenshot and post it back as well.
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![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(19.2, 57.00000000000001%, 11%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EAD%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
amar doskii 0 Reputation points2025-10-18T10:52:10.5233333+00:00 hello Mama Dyari wish you best, i have involved the same issue, i already upgraded the windows 10 home to 11 pro, the windows from start was activated after in once got deactivated, so what should i do?
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