Microsoft apparently deleted my account bound windows licence

Question

Microsoft apparently deleted my account bound windows licence

Demon 0

I did, what I do somewhat often: A full, clean install. In the past few years, this always worked flawlessly in the 4 - 6 times i did this. I logged back into my account, and it just activated.

Today, it did not do that. Instead, after 2 contact attempts, shortly before the support just closed the chat without further discussing it, they told me that no licence is attached to my account.

Is there anything I can really do now?
The key was obtained years ago and I do not have any information about which retailer it was from. No invoice available either or the key itself.

I really refuse to accept this shady practice of Microsoft, randomly revoking licences in hopes someone needs to repurchase a licence for 100€+.

MR_MEOW 3,621 Reputation points

2026-08-02T00:50:31.2+00:00

Hello, Thank you for choosing Microsoft. Well I am surprised you got to reinstall Windows that many times with out the key becoming flagged. What usually happens when an key is used it logs it in the system. Then IF a key is used to many times that key will get flagged in the system and then it would get rejected. The key would become a banned key and can not be reused again. That is the old keys. The new digital keys are attached to your E-mail and your computer device for verification. I do not know 100% for sure, but, This sounds like they key was flagged/banned as it was used to many times. Microsoft has been improving the key verification process. Unfortunately there are bad people out there that make Microsoft flag keys. I understand your use is valid and okay but the thing is the key is really ONLY meant to be used Once. One time that is it. No transfers to an other device or an other account. I know this is not the answer you want but I can suggest you can call Microsoft and they maybe able to provide you with a new key. They also can check the key to see if it has been banned. There is a error code that comes up 0x8something to tell you the reason code. IF you have that error number I can tell you if the key has been marked as banned.

Your computer is and will still work as far as I know. I will gladly tell you there is a strange error that happens with the keys and windows explorer. Open cmd.exe and type |---- " taskkill /f im explorer.exe " [enter] " start explorer.exe " [enter] ---| To fix your explorer issue. I hope you can solve that issue. There are other options and other OS that is avaiable that is open source. I wish you the best and good luck.

Your answer

MR_MEOW 3,621 Reputation points

2026-08-02T00:50:31.2+00:00

Hello, Thank you for choosing Microsoft. Well I am surprised you got to reinstall Windows that many times with out the key becoming flagged. What usually happens when an key is used it logs it in the system. Then IF a key is used to many times that key will get flagged in the system and then it would get rejected. The key would become a banned key and can not be reused again. That is the old keys. The new digital keys are attached to your E-mail and your computer device for verification. I do not know 100% for sure, but, This sounds like they key was flagged/banned as it was used to many times. Microsoft has been improving the key verification process. Unfortunately there are bad people out there that make Microsoft flag keys. I understand your use is valid and okay but the thing is the key is really ONLY meant to be used Once. One time that is it. No transfers to an other device or an other account. I know this is not the answer you want but I can suggest you can call Microsoft and they maybe able to provide you with a new key. They also can check the key to see if it has been banned. There is a error code that comes up 0x8something to tell you the reason code. IF you have that error number I can tell you if the key has been marked as banned.

Your computer is and will still work as far as I know. I will gladly tell you there is a strange error that happens with the keys and windows explorer. Open cmd.exe and type |---- " taskkill /f im explorer.exe " [enter] " start explorer.exe " [enter] ---| To fix your explorer issue. I hope you can solve that issue. There are other options and other OS that is avaiable that is open source. I wish you the best and good luck.