this is the error i keep getting idk y Screenshot (1).png
cant activate windows after resetting pc
![](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(160, 57.99999999999999%, 25%)' 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)
andrew d
0
Reputation points
hello i reformatted my pc and i cant even enter my cd key and its under windows 11 enterprise now and during setup it would not let me log into any of my Microsoft accounts i thought it was a tpm issue or something in bios so i reformatted now im blocked from certain features
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Licensing and activation
4 answers
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EmilyS726 213.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor2026-02-13T21:37:58.1166667+00:00 Hello,
How did you obtain your license initially?
Did it come with the device preinstalled, or did you purchase it?
If you purchased it, did you purchase from Microsoft, or from third party?
Is it originally a Win7/8 key?
Just to make sure - we are not dealing with any motherboard chaneges here, right?
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andrew d 0 Reputation points
2026-02-13T21:40:55.9366667+00:00 preinstalled oem no motherboard changes
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andrew d 0 Reputation points
2026-02-13T21:41:55.5766667+00:00 oem preinstalled no 3rd party no motheboard changes
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EmilyS726 213.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-02-13T21:42:17.17+00:00 Thanks. Can you please type cmd in the search on the taskbar and hit enter to launch command prompt, then run the following command:
slmgr /dlvThen share a screenshot please.
Next, Launch Powershell (note, it is not Command Prompt, but Powershell), and run this code to see if you have an OEM license on the motherboard. (don't share the key), a yes or not answer will do.
(Get-CimInstance -ClassName SoftwareLicensingService -Property OA3xOriginalProductKey).OA3xOriginalProductKey -
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EmilyS726 213.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-02-13T21:47:28.1566667+00:00 If it returns a key, it confirms OEM license on board.
Do a clean install instead, don't just do a reset via Settings. Make sure you use iso from Microsoft.
The installation process should pick up the license automatically.
The following steps should be done on a working Windows computer:
Download the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's official website. https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 click on the "download now" button under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media"
Run the tool and select "Create installation media for another PC."
Choose "USB flash drive" as the media to use for the installation and select "Next."
Connect a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of free space to your computer.
Select the USB flash drive you want to use, and then select "Next."
The tool will then download the required files and create the installation media.
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Now these steps will be done on your problematic computer:
Go to the computer's BIOS boot menu to have it boot from the USB drive.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11, making sure to choose "Custom install" and select the option to delete all existing partitions.
Once the installation is complete, you'll have a clean installation of Windows 11 on your computer.
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EmilyS726 213.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
2026-02-13T21:50:19.5733333+00:00 Ok, let meknow how it goes.
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andrew d 0 Reputation points
2026-02-13T21:08:46.7566667+00:00 here is a ss of the issue
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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(204.8, 96%, 29%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3END%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Neil D 32,325 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator2026-02-15T15:42:57.3166667+00:00 There is no screenshot visible on the forum.
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Q&A Assist2026-02-13T21:04:42.2333333+00:00 AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn moreIt sounds like you're experiencing issues with activating Windows after a reset, particularly with Windows 11 Enterprise. When you reset or reformat your PC, the digital license associated with your previous installation may not carry over automatically. Here are a few steps you can take to resolve the issue:
- Check Your Microsoft Account: Ensure that you are logged into the correct Microsoft account that was previously linked to your Windows license. Sometimes, the activation fails if the account used is different.
- Activation Troubleshooter: You can use the Activation Troubleshooter to help resolve activation issues. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and select Troubleshoot. This may help in reactivating your Windows if it recognizes the previous activation linked to your account.
- Product Key Entry: If you have a product key, you can try entering it manually. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and look for an option to change the product key.
- Contact Support: If the above steps do not work, you may need to contact Microsoft support for assistance, especially if your device is not recognizing your previous activation.
- BIOS/TPM Issues: If you suspect that the issue is related to TPM or BIOS settings, ensure that TPM is enabled in your BIOS settings. However, this typically does not affect the activation process directly unless there are other underlying issues.
Make sure your device is connected to the internet during these processes, as activation requires online verification.