How to reactivate windows 11 after factory reset?

Question

How to reactivate windows 11 after factory reset?

Austin Whorley 0

I've recently reset my pc due to some issues but now that I've done that I see "Activate Windows" in the lower right of my screen and when I use the trouble shooter I get the error code 0xC0EA000A. It's saying the hardware on this device was changed but all I did was wipe the drives? Any help would be greatly appreciated. It's a very similar story to https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4098332/windows-activation-gone-after-factory-reset this problem someone else had.

EmilyS726 256.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-03T02:16:25.34+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?
Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T02:40:23.1+00:00

I purchased it from Best Buy and it was preinstalled
EmilyS726 256.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-03T02:58:51.7933333+00:00
Is it originally a Win7/8 key?

==============

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!

==================

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 if it shows. Just let me know if it returns a key.

(Get-CimInstance -ClassName SoftwareLicensingService -Property OA3xOriginalProductKey).OA3xOriginalProductKey
Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T03:02:57.32+00:00

Is the key 25 characters long

?
EmilyS726 256.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-03T03:05:31.67+00:00

Ok, I need this question answered, is it upgraded from windows 7 or 8, then to 10 and then 11?

And your powershell returns 25 digits whose last 5 is not 8HVX7, is that right?
Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T03:06:55.8166667+00:00

10 to 11 and no, the last 5 character aren't the ones you listed

2 answers

Your answer

EmilyS726 256.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-03T02:16:25.34+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?
Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T02:40:23.1+00:00

I purchased it from Best Buy and it was preinstalled
EmilyS726 256.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-03T02:58:51.7933333+00:00

Is it originally a Win7/8 key?

==============

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!

==================

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 if it shows. Just let me know if it returns a key.

(Get-CimInstance -ClassName SoftwareLicensingService -Property OA3xOriginalProductKey).OA3xOriginalProductKey
Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T03:02:57.32+00:00

Is the key 25 characters long

?
EmilyS726 256.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-03T03:05:31.67+00:00

Ok, I need this question answered, is it upgraded from windows 7 or 8, then to 10 and then 11?

And your powershell returns 25 digits whose last 5 is not 8HVX7, is that right?
Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T03:06:55.8166667+00:00

10 to 11 and no, the last 5 character aren't the ones you listed

Answer 1

Something is not adding up, though.

The PowerShell returns an OEM license onboard, and it is a different key compared to what's shown on slmgr/dlv command. slmgr/dlv command shows a generic key (which can mean digital retail license or no license); it is not picking up the OEM license onboard.

Since you did a factory reset, I suggest that you do a clean install instead, and it should pick up the OEM license onboard automatically - as long as this license wasn't upgraded from Win7/8 license.

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.

=====================================================

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.

Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T06:18:38.8133333+00:00

I got to the section in the boot where it's asking if I have a product key. When I enter the one that I got from Power Shell it the application says that the key doesn't work
EmilyS726 256.2K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-03T14:24:37.61+00:00

So it is not recognizing the key that's in the motherboard.

I suspect that there's some hardware issue going on here. What was the issue prior to this that prompted you to factory reset?

Answer 2

Roma Khedr 5

When activation fails after a factory reset due to a hardware change error, you can resolve it using the following steps:

Go to Settings > Update & Security (or System > Activation on Windows 11) > Activation.

Click on Troubleshoot, then select "I changed hardware on this device recently" and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your original license.

If that does not work, contact Microsoft Support to update your device's license status associated

with your account.🟢✅

Austin Whorley 0 Reputation points

2026-08-03T03:12:16.6133333+00:00

I didn't change any hardware. I wiped my drives clean. This system that needs windows activated had it activated not even 2 nights ago.
Neil D 33,905 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-08-03T10:46:25.88+00:00

If you have windows 11 installed now then get ShowKeyPlus from the windows Store (or you can use another windows device) enter the 25 character at Check edition in the app.

Does it show a Windows 10/11 licence for that product key?