Activation ASAP

Question

Activation ASAP

Roman Lewis 0

Hello. Recently I discovered I had a malware on my computer, I spent a while running antiviruses and personally looking through files and finding more and more. I realised this was a pretty big problem, and thought that I should wipe everything and reinstall windows 11 to be safe.

I used a clean USB and installed Windows 11 Home (the same as my OS before the reset) and reinstalled. Upon reinstall, I loaded on to see that I needed to activate windows. I tried troubleshooting, it gives me "we weren't able to activate windows on this device". I press "I recently changed hardware" and i get "unable to activate windows".

So, I go onto my linked devices setting and see that my account is linked to this "new" and my "old" computer, even though its the same machine. It treats the 2 as seperate machines, but it does therefore confirm im using the same account. I tried unlinking it, nothing has worked. My motherboard is a Z590 UD AC.

Please help ASAP, this is the computer I use for literally everything school and work related, and i'm running out of time.

PS: This computer was prebuilt and I do not remember getting a microsoft activation key.

Neil D 34,285 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-17T18:56:07.8066667+00:00
Can you explain more about where the licence originated. S you get the best advise.

Did you buy the Windows 11 licence separate from the system.

Was it part of the free upgrade from Windows 10. (if so was that part of the free upgrade from Windows 7/8.

Was the licence provided by the system builder/manufacturer. (is there a label on the device case)

As a note you can continue to use windows while sorting out the activation problem.
Roman Lewis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-17T19:02:45.2866667+00:00

Hi! Thanks yes I realised I could still use windows, let the panic get the best of me for a bit 😂.

1: I dont remember having to buy a license.

2: The PC I bought was pre built. When it arrived it was windows 11 automatically. However when I press troubleshoot on activation settings and then press "recently changed hardware" it brings up a menu about a windows 10 license?

3: I'd imagine it was provided by the manafacturer, but I cant see a label anywhere and I dont ever remember typing a key in.

Thankyou for your response!
Neil D 34,285 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-17T19:52:35.62+00:00

It's difficult to advise for sure when the licence history is unknown.

If it was a Windows 11 licence from the manufacturer it should activate automatically on connection to the Internet. If it has been part of a free upgrade then that's different.

To try and see if there is any details about the licence get ShowKeyPlus from the windows Store and see what is shown about the licence status.

Post a screenshot in your reply but click any product keys hiding all but the last 5 characters.
Roman Lewis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-17T22:00:51.3066667+00:00

This is all i have. Nothing is on the other options like retrieve key, etc. I blocked everything other than the last 5 digits (if thats not what you meant just lmk)

^This is what I get when i press on hardware changes btw.
Neil D 34,285 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-18T08:09:09.25+00:00

I don't have good news.

There is no licence shown the product key is a generic key when windows is installed without a licence.

If you are sure Home edition was in use previously (the record on your account will show the edition) then there's not much can be done.

It looks like your system is a custom build and would have needed a purchased licence at some point in the past. A Gigabyte motherboard would not have a licence allocated without a purchase. If there is a chance it was from Windows 7/8 then that cannot be used any longer to activate Windows 11, although it may have been accepted before 2023. Microsoft updated their rules regarding free upgrades using Windows 7/8 licences.
Roman Lewis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-18T09:25:21.89+00:00

Its just crazy I was literally on my computer half an hour before all this and nothing was wrong (apart from the obvious malware). I dont know much about licenses or anything but could it be something to do with maybe a digital license being tied to my "old" machine that windows is therefore not picking up this "new" machine?

Your answer

Neil D 34,285 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-17T18:56:07.8066667+00:00

Can you explain more about where the licence originated. S you get the best advise.

Did you buy the Windows 11 licence separate from the system.

Was it part of the free upgrade from Windows 10. (if so was that part of the free upgrade from Windows 7/8.

Was the licence provided by the system builder/manufacturer. (is there a label on the device case)

As a note you can continue to use windows while sorting out the activation problem.
Roman Lewis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-17T19:02:45.2866667+00:00

Hi! Thanks yes I realised I could still use windows, let the panic get the best of me for a bit 😂.

1: I dont remember having to buy a license.

2: The PC I bought was pre built. When it arrived it was windows 11 automatically. However when I press troubleshoot on activation settings and then press "recently changed hardware" it brings up a menu about a windows 10 license?

3: I'd imagine it was provided by the manafacturer, but I cant see a label anywhere and I dont ever remember typing a key in.

Thankyou for your response!
Neil D 34,285 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-17T19:52:35.62+00:00

It's difficult to advise for sure when the licence history is unknown.

If it was a Windows 11 licence from the manufacturer it should activate automatically on connection to the Internet. If it has been part of a free upgrade then that's different.

To try and see if there is any details about the licence get ShowKeyPlus from the windows Store and see what is shown about the licence status.

Post a screenshot in your reply but click any product keys hiding all but the last 5 characters.
Roman Lewis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-17T22:00:51.3066667+00:00

This is all i have. Nothing is on the other options like retrieve key, etc. I blocked everything other than the last 5 digits (if thats not what you meant just lmk)

^This is what I get when i press on hardware changes btw.
Neil D 34,285 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2026-09-18T08:09:09.25+00:00

I don't have good news.

There is no licence shown the product key is a generic key when windows is installed without a licence.

If you are sure Home edition was in use previously (the record on your account will show the edition) then there's not much can be done.

It looks like your system is a custom build and would have needed a purchased licence at some point in the past. A Gigabyte motherboard would not have a licence allocated without a purchase. If there is a chance it was from Windows 7/8 then that cannot be used any longer to activate Windows 11, although it may have been accepted before 2023. Microsoft updated their rules regarding free upgrades using Windows 7/8 licences.
Roman Lewis 0 Reputation points

2026-09-18T09:25:21.89+00:00

Its just crazy I was literally on my computer half an hour before all this and nothing was wrong (apart from the obvious malware). I dont know much about licenses or anything but could it be something to do with maybe a digital license being tied to my "old" machine that windows is therefore not picking up this "new" machine?