Solved Yesterday's update trashed all of my Microsoft activations


Levitate11 said:
Just to clarify: Are you saying that you've been taking advantage of the MS "free" upgrade option / period since Win 7 - and the same key still works?
Click to expand...
I don't know if he/she is saying that, but that's what I am saying. My Win 11 Pro is a free upgrade from Win 7 on.

I should clarify my licensing situation since I know jack about licensing. It wasn't a volume license after all, it was an OEM key when the original machine was built. IT has set me straight on this one. I have since upgraded for free twice, with the same key on a local account.

I want to thank @DennyZenny for the links he/she provided. Looks like I am not alone with this problem. Sadly, IT has messed up my machine now and I have to do a repair install. That's ok. It was probably due for one anyway.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 13700KF32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Intel i7 13700KF
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z790 UD AC
    Memory
    32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    Sound Card
    On board Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER 34 inch
    Screen Resolution
    Not 4K like I thought. 35" wide though.
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Samsung 980 Pro Nvme, 1 TB Samsung 970 EVO Nvme, 2 x Samsung 970 2TB SSD SATA
    PSU
    EVGA 1000Q
    Case
    Rosewill something or other
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15. A whole schwak of Noctua case fans. $$$
    Keyboard
    Logitech G815
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Hero
    Internet Speed
    700 up, 600 down
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    MalwareBytes

  • At a glance

    Widows 11 ProRyzen 2700X32 GB DDR4XFX Radeon R9 280
    Operating System
    Widows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Ryzen 2700X
    Motherboard
    MSI X470 Gaming Plus Max
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX Radeon R9 280
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27 inch Acer monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    One 1 TB NVME (Samsung)
    PSU
    Corsair 750 Watt
    Case
    HAF 912
    Cooling
    Wraith cooler and case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G710+
    Mouse
    Generic
    Internet Speed
    700 down, 650 up
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malware bytes
Catnip said:
I don't know if he/she is saying that, but that's what I am saying. My Win 11 Pro is a free upgrade from Win 7 on.

I should clarify my licensing situation since I know jack about licensing. It wasn't a volume license after all, it was an OEM key when the original machine was built. IT has set me straight on this one. I have since upgraded for free twice, with the same key on a local account.

I want to thank @DennyZenny for the links he/she provided. Looks like I am not alone with this problem. Sadly, IT has messed up my machine now and I have to do a repair install. That's ok. It was probably due for one anyway.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Are you still on the same machine? Or do you just input the old key when it's asked for on a new machine?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro 24H2Intel Ultra 7 155H16gbIntel Arc integrated
OS
Windows 11 Pro 24H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
CPU
Intel Ultra 7 155H
Memory
16gb
Graphics Card(s)
Intel Arc integrated
Hard Drives
SSD
Levitate11 said:
Interesting. Are you still on the same machine? Or do you just input the old key when it's asked for on a new machine?
Click to expand...
The hardware has changed. 2 motherboards, RAM and processors. I just did the Windows version upgrades through Windows update when they were offered. I haven't had to enter a key since Win 7.

At least, I don't ever recall entering another key.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 13700KF32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Intel i7 13700KF
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z790 UD AC
    Memory
    32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    Sound Card
    On board Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER 34 inch
    Screen Resolution
    Not 4K like I thought. 35" wide though.
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Samsung 980 Pro Nvme, 1 TB Samsung 970 EVO Nvme, 2 x Samsung 970 2TB SSD SATA
    PSU
    EVGA 1000Q
    Case
    Rosewill something or other
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15. A whole schwak of Noctua case fans. $$$
    Keyboard
    Logitech G815
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Hero
    Internet Speed
    700 up, 600 down
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    MalwareBytes

  • At a glance

    Widows 11 ProRyzen 2700X32 GB DDR4XFX Radeon R9 280
    Operating System
    Widows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Ryzen 2700X
    Motherboard
    MSI X470 Gaming Plus Max
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX Radeon R9 280
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27 inch Acer monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    One 1 TB NVME (Samsung)
    PSU
    Corsair 750 Watt
    Case
    HAF 912
    Cooling
    Wraith cooler and case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G710+
    Mouse
    Generic
    Internet Speed
    700 down, 650 up
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malware bytes
Mobo swaps can cause issues with retaining embedded keys in Win 11. I’ve read more than once that 7 or 8 keys that were used before upgrading to 11 lose activation after Mobo swap and (now) are no longer able to be reactivated. Can’t say for certain that is your issue, but definitely a possibility.
 

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At a glance

Windows 11 Pro
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Not sure what you guys do to your machines or run them -- yes there are errors / bugs / sometimes driver problems with Windows updates and of course Networking is (and always has been) a bit of a lottery with Windows -- but loss of activation ---- never had that one. Unless your W11 was either not 100% kosher, you made some dubious changes, ran some "unauthorized" software or some undetected spy/malware has got on to your machine I can't see any way loss of activation would occur - certainly not if you re-enter the proper product key.

Hardware changes WILL lose activation in some cases -- and the Free W7/W8 -->W10/W11 upgrades even though working for far longer than advertised have been stopped for ages now,

In any case surely before doing any upgrade / update - even via WU just take an image before doing so. If you use physical vhdx files it's even simpler - you don't even need to have ANY 3rd party backup / restore software paid or free either - simply save the vhdx file(s) via file explorer and to restore simplyoboot a windows install disk -->repair system --> copy the vhdx file to your internal HDD, /SSD etc, reformat the efi partition, re-install the boot loader e.g cd f:\windows\system32, bcdboot f:\windows /s S: /f UEFI where f is your Windows drive, and S is the efi partition.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-releas...2 X Intel i7
OS
Windows XP,11 Linux Fedora Rawhide pre-release 46
Computer type
PC/Desktop
CPU
2 X Intel i7
Screen Resolution
4KUHD X 2
Just an update. A repair install did the trick. I was able to reactivate with my original key and my other MS software was able to reactivate as well. I was not enjoying the idea of suggesting to my boss that I need another Visual Studio Pro license.

Bizarre thread, but thank all of you for the advice.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win 11 Pro 25H2Intel i7 13700KF32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    OS
    Win 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Intel i7 13700KF
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z790 UD AC
    Memory
    32 GB Team Group DDR5 - 6000 CL 30
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS TUF GAMING RTX 3070 Ti
    Sound Card
    On board Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ACER 34 inch
    Screen Resolution
    Not 4K like I thought. 35" wide though.
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Samsung 980 Pro Nvme, 1 TB Samsung 970 EVO Nvme, 2 x Samsung 970 2TB SSD SATA
    PSU
    EVGA 1000Q
    Case
    Rosewill something or other
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15. A whole schwak of Noctua case fans. $$$
    Keyboard
    Logitech G815
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 Hero
    Internet Speed
    700 up, 600 down
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    MalwareBytes

  • At a glance

    Widows 11 ProRyzen 2700X32 GB DDR4XFX Radeon R9 280
    Operating System
    Widows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self build
    CPU
    Ryzen 2700X
    Motherboard
    MSI X470 Gaming Plus Max
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    XFX Radeon R9 280
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Two 27 inch Acer monitors
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    One 1 TB NVME (Samsung)
    PSU
    Corsair 750 Watt
    Case
    HAF 912
    Cooling
    Wraith cooler and case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G710+
    Mouse
    Generic
    Internet Speed
    700 down, 650 up
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Malware bytes
jimbo45 said:
Not sure what you guys do to your machines or run them -- yes there are errors / bugs / sometimes driver problems with Windows updates and of course Networking is (and always has been) a bit of a lottery with Windows -- but loss of activation ---- never had that one. Unless your W11 was either not 100% kosher, you made some dubious changes, ran some "unauthorized" software or some undetected spy/malware has got on to your machine I can't see any way loss of activation would occur - certainly not if you re-enter the proper product key.

Hardware changes WILL lose activation in some cases -- and the Free W7/W8 -->W10/W11 upgrades even though working for far longer than advertised have been stopped for ages now,

In any case surely before doing any upgrade / update - even via WU just take an image before doing so. If you use physical vhdx files it's even simpler - you don't even need to have ANY 3rd party backup / restore software paid or free either - simply save the vhdx file(s) via file explorer and to restore simplyoboot a windows install disk -->repair system --> copy the vhdx file to your internal HDD, /SSD etc, reformat the efi partition, re-install the boot loader e.g cd f:\windows\system32, bcdboot f:\windows /s S: /f UEFI where f is your Windows drive, and S is the efi partition.

Cheers
jimbo
Click to expand...

You should write that up as more of a step by step tutorial.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro 24H2Intel Ultra 7 155H16gbIntel Arc integrated
OS
Windows 11 Pro 24H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
HP
CPU
Intel Ultra 7 155H
Memory
16gb
Graphics Card(s)
Intel Arc integrated
Hard Drives
SSD
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