Windows not Activating After reinstalling.

Question

I recently had to reinstall Windows 11 on my prebuilt PC after dealing with corruption for a few months. This was my first time doing this and all steps were followed.

At startup where it asked for a network, it would not detect my USB wifi adapter. I continued by creating a local account with the same email as my Microsoft account and continued to startup. I have tried to change the Windows key to the one on BIOS but it gave the error of key being used. Troubleshooter won't load at all. What could i do?

Answer 1

Thanks for sharing the screenshot.

Based on the screenshot, your Windows Home has a Retail license key, which means you can use it after reinstalling Windows, even after changing the computer but it is not activated now.

Open Settings > System > Activation > Click Troubleshoot > Choose “I changed hardware on this device recently”. If you previously had it activated with a Microsoft account, it usually fixes it instantly but make sure your computer is fully updated and has internet connection.

Answer 2

Thanks for sharing the screenshot.

You installed Windows 11 Home on your computer. Please log in to your Microsoft account from a browser > Devices > Do you see your device > Check to see if your old device is available> Detail > What Windows Edition do you see?

In the meantime, click Start > Run command prompt > Type:

slmgr /dlv

Screenshot and post it back.

Answer 3

Thanks for the update.

You see this error code because you entered a product key that can't be used to activate Windows.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-help-with-windows-activation-errors-09d8fb64-6768-4815-0c30-159fa7d89d85#ID0ELD=Windows_10&id0eld=windows_10

Since you are unsure how it was activated and you haven't bought the license key separately, it was probably activated either with an OEM license key but you reinstalled the wrong Windows Edition, or it was activated with Volume License, which I see on some of the prebuilt computers.

However, please make sure you log in with the same Microsoft account you used before performing a clean install.

Please click Start > Type winver and hit enter > Screenshot and post it back.

Answer 4

Hi ,

I'm Dyari. Thanks for reaching out. I will be happy to assist you in this regard.

Reactivating Windows after a clean install depends on your license. May I know how you activated Windows 11 for the first time? Have you reinstalled the same Windows edition (Home or Pro)?What error code do you see when you go to the Activation page?

Answer 5

It sounds like you're experiencing issues with Windows activation after reinstalling Windows 11. Here are a few steps you can take to resolve the activation problem:

1. Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that your PC is connected to the internet. If your USB Wi-Fi adapter is not detected, try connecting via Ethernet if possible.
2. Use the Activation Troubleshooter: If the troubleshooter won't load, you might need to try accessing it again after ensuring your internet connection is stable. You can find it by going to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and then selecting Troubleshoot.
3. Use the Command Prompt: You can try to activate Windows using the Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and enter the following command:

      slmgr.vbs /ato
   

   This command attempts to activate Windows online.
4. Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, pending updates can affect activation. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.
5. Re-enter the Product Key: If you have the product key that came with your PC, you can try re-entering it. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and select Change product key.
6. Contact Microsoft Support: If you continue to face issues, contacting Microsoft support may be necessary. They can help you with reassigning your license or resolving activation issues.

If you have followed these steps and still encounter problems, it may indicate a deeper issue with the installation or the product key itself.

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References:

• Windows installation fails with error: The product key entered does not match any of the Windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key