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So i updated my bios and after tried to activate my windows(windows 11), went to trouble shoot and it said it didnt find any of my devices. Error code 0xC004F211. I do have an account with a windows key, hell it was active a few days ago before my bios got updated. I've tried everything i could think of, every solution i could scrounge up from the internet, i just geniunely need to talk to a microsoft support person and i've been trying for hours, its impossible. Please can a microsoft support person help.
The PC had been activated for about two years. It only deactivated immediately after updating the BIOS on my Biostar B450MHP. The Activation Troubleshooter says it cannot find any devices linked to my Microsoft account for reactivation, even though this is the only Microsoft account I've ever used and the PC still appears in my Microsoft devices. I also had a laptop which is now broken, also activated windows there just by signing in with my microsoft account
Thank you for the info.
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?
Right now it just shows a generic key.
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was there a solution to this question? More than likely hes showing a generic key due to using ChatGPT to go through some trouble shooting issues (I literally did the same thing) and one of the steps is installing that generic key to attempt to get access on receiving his actual key. I currently have the same issue with B650M-C mother board being updated and windows key no longer activating.
I cant rightly remember but my mom bought me a gaming laptop some time ago and they just told me to make a microsoft account and login, and when that broke and i got a new pc i just did the same thing, logged in to my microsoft account and windows activated. Yes both were on windows 11, also windows 100% activated, it said activated on the activate tab in settings, i could use personalize and there was no watermark.
Windows was preinstalled
Third party because theres no purchase history in my microsoft account but im pretty sure it was digital key as i only needed to login to my microsoft account for windows to activate.
It was a windows 10 or 11 key
No I didnt install a generic key, I was just looking through forums, checking my microsoft accounts and losing half my mind trying to contact an actual microsoft support person and not some stupid ai or faq they provided because im quite sure theres something wrong with my microsoft account
Also btw if i did lose my key wouldnt it be showing an invalid key error instead of a hardware change error?
BIOS change can be seen as hardware change by Windows even tho motherboard is not technically changed, because the firmware is updated. Firmware is for the motherboard.
Was the computer bought from a different user like a second hand/used one?
If so, if it is digital license, it is linked to the previous owner's Microsoft account. So for troubleshooting, you need their account to run the troubleshooter.
Another possibility is, it was an old Windows 7/8 license, later upgraded to 10, then 11. In this scenario, your activation can be kicked off after BIOS update or hardware change, or reinstall, because Windows doesn't honor Windows 7/8 license upgraded all the way to 11. It was a loophole that has now been closed.
I honestly fear you would need to get yourself a proper license if you don't have purchase proof.
no the windows key and license are under my microsoft account, and although i bought the pc secondhand it never had windows activated. Also the windows license was for windows 10 and 11 as i was able to activate it on both. Like I said I think it could be an issue with my account not recognizing my pc after updating my bios because as I said before my windows was active just a week ago before I had my bios updated
How do you know that it is under your account? Did you buy the license directly from Microsoft?
I mean it should be? Both times i just logged onto my microsoft account and it just immediately activated windows automatically
No, that behavior alone doesn't mean the license is in your account.
It could be that the previous owner already activated it, and removed their account after that - which wouldn't remove the activation until they run troubleshooter to transfer the license out.
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!
