Solved Missing taskbar -- deactivation issue??

Mark Phelps · Dec 14, 2023

I recently replaced a motherboard and NOW, the Win11 install is deactivated. I am waiting for a response from the Windows supplier regarding the license I bought, but in the meantime, the taskbar has vanished from the desktop -- making it really hard to do anything.

I read that using Settings can address this, but Settings does not work either.

I ran some explorer fixing commands that I found in various threads here, but nothing works.

So, is the missing taskbar a standard symptom of deactivation? Asking because all my PCs are activated and I have not seen this before -- and don't want to spend a lot of time trying further fixes and doing image restores, if this is the issue.

antspants · Dec 14, 2023

I don’t want to insult your knowledge, but I want to ask, Win key + i key keyboard shortcut doesn’t open settings?

Scannerman · Dec 14, 2023

If you have access to your activation key I would recommend a clean install. Your system could be experiencing conflicts if the system board you replaced in your PC isn't identical to the old one. Even then you could be risking other issues as that operating system is not really registered to your new system board. I suspect you're having registry problems for this reason. Try reinstalling on a new drive and then transferring whatever data you need from the old drive to the new.

antspants · Dec 14, 2023

Is there an “Explorer” process running that you could restart to check if it gives it a kick.
CTRL + SHIFT + ESCAPE together to open up the Task Manager, or CTRL + SHIFT + DEL together and select TaskManager… restart the explorer process, if there is one to restart. I’m not sure how to restart an explorer process if there isn’t one running. Does Win key + E key open Explorer?

glasskuter · Dec 14, 2023

Using the Windows Activation troubleshooter - Microsoft Support

Learn how to use the Activation troubleshooter to resolve common activation issues in Windows.

support.microsoft.com

Run the troubleshooter, then scroll down in the article and expand "You recently made significant hardware change"

x BlueRobot · Dec 14, 2023

antspants said:
I’m not sure how to restart an explorer process if there isn’t one running. Does Win key + E key open Explorer?

You can create new processes from Task Manager, it is the "New Task" option, it will allow you specify a process name and then start a new instance of that .exe e.g. explorer.exe.

Mark Phelps · Dec 14, 2023

antspants said:
I don’t want to insult your knowledge, but I want to ask, Win key + i key keyboard shortcut doesn’t open settings?

iT does -- but it is a blank white window with a gear symbol in the middle. Several minutes later, and I do mean minutes. the text finally appears -- and any settings actions takes a LONG time, plus personalization actions simply do not appear.

Mark Phelps · Dec 14, 2023

Scannerman said:
If you have access to your activation key I would recommend a clean install. Your system could be experiencing conflicts if the system board you replaced in your PC isn't identical to the old one. Even then you could be risking other issues as that operating system is not really registered to your new system board. I suspect you're having registry problems for this reason. Try reinstalling on a new drive and then transferring whatever data you need from the old drive to the new.

The motherboard model is the same as the original one -- and I don't know what you mean by "registered" but of course, with a new motherboard, the old activation would not carry over.

I actually did do a clean-install on a new drive, but activation still fails because it wants the old motherboard -- which is "toast".

I did try using a different drive by restoring from an MR image backup, and the issues were the same.

Mark Phelps · Dec 14, 2023

glasskuter said:
Using the Windows Activation troubleshooter - Microsoft Support

Learn how to use the Activation troubleshooter to resolve common activation issues in Windows.

support.microsoft.com

Run the troubleshooter, then scroll down in the article and expand "You recently made significant hardware change"

I did that and, according to threads I had read, it is supposed to eventually offer you the option to call MS, but mine does not. It only wants me to go the store and buy a new license. I called them on the phone, got their support "robot" -- and ended up with the same issue, not able to talk to a support person to walk through the issue.

Mark Phelps · Dec 14, 2023

x BlueRobot said:
You can create new processes from Task Manager, it is the "New Task" option, it will allow you specify a process name and then start a new instance of that .exe e.g. explorer.exe.

I had already done that to stop and start new Explorer tasks -- but it makes no difference, still no taskbar.

antspants · Dec 14, 2023

Mark Phelps said:
iT does -- but it is a blank white window with a gear symbol in the middle. Several minutes later, and I do mean minutes. the text finally appears -- and any settings actions takes a LONG time, plus personalization actions simply do not appear.

That’s weird. Any chance it could be a memory/RAM issue?
But replacing something as major as a Motherboard, could possibly have some dire repercussions for the OS? (Obviously)
Could be that a fresh install could serve you well, but obviously not until you know your Licence works. Affiliate to Eleven, Stack Social has low cost keys for $30 sometimes, @z3r010

Mark Phelps · Dec 14, 2023

antspants said:
That’s weird. Any chance it could be a memory/RAM issue?
But replacing something as major as a Motherboard, could possibly have some dire repercussions for the OS? (Obviously)
Could be that a fresh install could serve you well, but obviously not until you know your Licence works. Affiliate to Eleven, Stack Social has low cost keys for $30 sometimes, @z3r010

No, it's not a memory issue
I think this is tied to the deactivation problem -- as MS investigated the product key I gave them (from Stack Commerce) and said it was a reused MSDN key! And no, they did not offer me a free MS key in exchange but want a LOT of money for a key -- more than I can afford -- since I just spent $150 replacing the motherboard on this desktop.

I can try doing an image restore to an older build but I need to solve the licensing issue first.

So, I just looked at StackSocial website and they have Win11 Pro real cheap. Is this legit? Or is this another reused MSDN key scam?

antspants · Dec 14, 2023

Mark Phelps said:
So, I just looked at StackSocial website and they have Win11 Pro real cheap. Is this legit? Or is this another reused MSDN key scam?

Stack Social has an affiliation with both Microsoft and Johns forums (8/10/11 etc) as far as I understand it. I don't think John/@z3r010 would operate or affiliate with them unless they were legit. Microsoft wouldn't appreciate it?
Who needs MS as an enemy...
I'd guess it would be appreciated it if you used one of the affiliate links from here, but I can't find where they are, Mark.

Mark Phelps · Dec 14, 2023

antspants said:
Stack Social has an affiliation with both Microsoft and Johns forums (8/10/11 etc) as far as I understand it. I don't think John/@z3r010 would operate or affiliate with them unless they were legit. Microsoft wouldn't appreciate it?
Who needs MS as an enemy...
I'd guess it would be appreciated it if you used one of the affiliate links from here, but I can't find where they are, Mark.

I found this thread here:
Windows 11 Pro - $25 at StackSocial

So, is that what you mean? It looks exactly like the page I found on my own. What makes it an affiliate link?

antspants · Dec 14, 2023

Mark Phelps said:
I found this thread here:
Windows 11 Pro - $25 at StackSocial

So, is that what you mean? It looks exactly like the page I found on my own. What makes it an affiliate link?

I’m not sure what makes it an affiliate link, Mark. But if you use the Ghots link in the first post, John mentions a few posts down that he already switched it to his link. The top link or Johns link in the last post. Must be the same method.
Tracking, maybe. I remember there always being “Affiliate” in a link, maybe times have changed.

Mark Phelps · Dec 15, 2023

antspants said:
I’m not sure what makes it an affiliate link, Mark. But if you use the Ghots link in the first post, John mentions a few posts down that he already switched it to his link. The top link or Johns link in the last post. Must be the same method.
Tracking, maybe. I remember there always being “Affiliate” in a link, maybe times have changed.

OK, I tried using that link and Paypal -- and the Paypal transaction fails saying it exceeds the spending limit -- but when I look at my Paypal account, there are no limitations. I will have to contact their Customer Support to see what is the matter.

antspants · Dec 15, 2023

That sounds ODD. I thought there might be enough time for @z3r010 to tune in but he hasn’t been on yet. Not that he’d know about the error but will confirm the latest offer. Maybe that’s why, maybe that offer expired. I wish I could be more helpful, Mark. Sorry about that.

antspants · Dec 15, 2023

Regarding affiliation, there isn’t any. None the less, it’s very cheap and $10 off for first purchase, apparently.

From John;

New Mobo, unable to activate using troubleshooter

Does this site have a discount code for keys? I posted in the wrong thread, sorry, Mark was asking about keys in another thread re his Motherboard and activation. But I think they’re selling it for around $30, it’s verified through @z3r010 and I believe you can get a $10 discount with your...

www.elevenforum.com

Mark Phelps · Dec 15, 2023

antspants said:
Regarding affiliation, there isn’t any. None the less, it’s very cheap and $10 off for first purchase, apparently.

From John;

New Mobo, unable to activate using troubleshooter

Does this site have a discount code for keys? I posted in the wrong thread, sorry, Mark was asking about keys in another thread re his Motherboard and activation. But I think they’re selling it for around $30, it’s verified through @z3r010 and I believe you can get a $10 discount with your...

www.elevenforum.com

That rebate apparently does not work, either -- as I selected it and it was supposed to send a code to my email, but I never got anything.

Mark Phelps · Dec 15, 2023

OK, so now I have some REALLY bad news ... I have been unsuccessful in using PayPal to buy a license from StackSocial -- so I went to my account page and discovered that this is just another name for Stack Commerce -- the site that sold me the so-called Retail Win11 Pro key that MS claims is a reused MSDN key.

They sold me an external SSD earlier that claimed to have USB 3.1 speeds but when I tested it, it only had USB 2.0 speeds. They did refund my purchase but it looks like they have blocked me now.

So now, I have to do more looking for a cheap license.

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