ACTIVATE WINDOWS AFTER BIOS UPDATE

Question

ive had my pc for around 5 years now but with the new cod update, ive had to update my bios with a thumbdrive. now i have the Activate Windows on my screen but since mine is a prebuilt i dont have a key or anything. What do i do??

Answer 1

Can you please type cmd in the search on the taskbar and hit enter to launch command prompt, then run the following command:

slmgr /dlv

Then share a screenshot please. Thanks!

Answer 2

After updating your BIOS, it's common for Windows to require reactivation, especially if the update alters hardware settings. Since you mentioned that your PC is a prebuilt and you do not have a product key, you can try the following steps to reactivate Windows:

1. Sign in with your Microsoft Account: If your Windows was previously activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, signing in with that account may automatically reactivate Windows.
2. Use the Activation Troubleshooter: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Activation and select Troubleshoot. This may help in reactivating your Windows if it recognizes your hardware configuration.
3. Contact Support: If the above steps do not work, you may need to contact Microsoft support. They can assist in re-binding your digital license to your new BIOS settings.
4. Check for a Product Key: If you have access to the original packaging or documentation that came with your PC, check if there is a product key listed there.

If you still encounter issues, it may be necessary to perform a clean installation of Windows, but this should be a last resort as it will require backing up your data.

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References:

• Unable to activate windows after hardware update - Microsoft Q&A
• I cannot find my product key even though I purchased Windows - Microsoft Q&A