Partner Center Hardware workspace shows "account has been deactivated" - cannot access driver attestation signing

Question

Issue Description

I am trying to submit a driver CAB file for attestation signing through Microsoft Partner Center Hardware workspace, but I cannot access it due to a "deactivated" account error.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Log in to Partner Center with company Entra ID account
2. Try to navigate to Hardware workspace dashboard
3. Hardware workspace does not appear in the dashboard
4. When navigating directly to the Hardware URL, get redirected to: partner.microsoft.com/en-us/restrictedaccess?reason=Deactivated

Current State

• Company: AlphaBit Co., Ltd (Korea)
• Hardware program status: Shows "Active In" on the program selector page
• EV Certificate: DigiCert Trusted G4 Code Signing — Status: Active, Expires: 2027-02-18
• Error: When accessing /dashboard/hardware → redirected to restrictedaccess?reason=Deactivated
• Company Information: State/province field is disabled (greyed out) but marked as required — "Accept and continue" button is disabled

What I Have Tried

• EV certificate successfully registered under Manage Certificates
• Hardware program shows "Active In" status in program selector
• Tried Partner Center support → only "Getting help with Hardware" linking to AI bot
• Tried Services Hub (go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=870272) → requires paid support plan
• Tried Windows Developer Support chat → AI Copilot only, no real ticket
• Tried Microsoft customer support phone → AI automated response only

Questions

1. Why is the Hardware workspace showing "deactivated" when Hardware program shows "Active In"?
2. Is the disabled State/province field in Company Information the root cause? How can it be fixed since the field cannot be edited?
3. How can I escalate this to a real Microsoft support agent for Partner Center Hardware workspace access?

This is blocking our driver signing workflow. Any help appreciated.

Answer 1

Same to me, nothing helps with all support channel,

Have you resolved this issue now?

Answer 2

It seems that your account may have been deactivated due to various reasons, despite the Hardware program showing as "Active In." Here are some insights regarding your questions:

1. Deactivated Account: The deactivation could be due to issues related to account verification or compliance with Microsoft policies. It's essential to ensure that all account details are correct and up to date. You may need to reach out to Microsoft support for clarification on why your account is marked as deactivated.
2. Disabled State/Province Field: The disabled state/province field could potentially be a contributing factor if it is required for your account setup. Since you cannot edit this field, it may be necessary to contact support to resolve this issue.
3. Escalating to Support: To escalate your issue to a real Microsoft support agent, you can try the following steps:
   • Use the Microsoft Collaborate portal available through the Microsoft Partner Center Dashboard to create a feedback bug.
   • Alternatively, go to Windows developer support and select the Contact us tab, then submit an incident under Driver Development and Testing/Certification.

Since your driver signing workflow is blocked, it is crucial to resolve these issues as soon as possible by contacting Microsoft support directly.

---

References:

• Support for Partner Center dashboard
• Troubleshoot sign-in issues and account access problems