Solved Yesterday's update trashed all of my Microsoft activations

Silvio · Monday at 9:39 AM

idgat said:
There is obviously other underlying issues for something this dramatic to happen. I wonder from where the OP purchased the de-activated products?

The knee-jerk panic reaction of espousing the blanket blocking of 24H2 is totally unjustified and is ignorance based conspiracy-theory riddled scare-mongering

Sure, I'll just continue running 23H2, with it's great performance, and almost error free updating, thanks.

I guess you also think reports of Covid vaccine injuries, are also just conspiracies..

Berton · Monday at 9:47 AM

Since no 2 computers are ever exactly alike after being sold and set up it's hard to pin down the problems some have and others don't. Amongst my clients are only 2 Desktops and 6 Notebooks running Version 24H2 and are not seeing any issues. But then they don't do any tweaking/customizations and the machines are OEM [Dell, Lenovo, HP] that came with Win11.

Catnip · Monday at 10:48 AM

Winuser said:
Was Windows 11 activated using the original Windows 7 key? I'm thinking that that may be what caused Windows 11 to not activated and had nothing to do with Windows 24H2.

Windows was activated with a genuine volume license Win 7 key (I was mistaken about the computer shop thing in my last post.), then upgraded to Win 10, then 11.

This is NOT a 24H2 problem. This PC has been working flawlessly since upgrading to 24H2. What has happened is that the product key has been erased or obliterated somehow. Using my original Win 7 key to reactivate did not work, and I assume that is because MS doesn't allow Win 7 keys for activation anymore. Checking my accounts, my digital license is no longer there for this PC. I have no idea why.

glasskuter · Monday at 11:29 AM

Catnip said:
Using my original Win 7 key to reactivate did not work, and I assume that is because MS doesn't allow Win 7 keys for activation anymore. Checking my accounts, my digital license is no longer there for this PC. I have no idea why.

I'm a little confused. Is this issue happening on the system you have listed in your system specs? That be so, I question the validity of the way you licensed that self built system in the first place. There would have been no "windows 7" original license ever attached to that machine. To be a legal activation you would have needed to have purchased a valid 10/11 license when you built it.

Berton · Monday at 11:36 AM

Haven't come across it yet but a self-built/DIY machine may have issues when Upgrading from older versions and the older keys. I have only 1 custom/shop-built that was given me for parts, can't run Win11 properly [Intel Core i7-4770 and no TPM] but did have a need for a different OS and it is now running Linux Mint quite well. Also have a Dell Inspiron N7010 17" Notebook from my grandson that didn't want to buy Win10 to replace Win7 so it's also running Linux Mint.

Catnip · Monday at 12:30 PM

glasskuter said:
I'm a little confused. Is this issue happening on the system you have listed in your system specs? That be so, I question the validity of the way you licensed that self built system in the first place. There would have been no "windows 7" original license ever attached to that machine. To be a legal activation you would have needed to have purchased a valid 10/11 license when you built it.

No, this is not one of the machines in my system specs. The PC has had the hardware upgraded over the years along with the Windows licenses. All was working beautifully until the last update.

Current specs of the affected machine are:

i7 13700KF
Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite AX Motherboard
32 GB DDR5 - 6000 RAM
GeForce RTX 4060
Intel 1 TB SSD
500 Watt PSU
Twin 24 inch monitors 1920 x 1080
Win 11 Pro 24H2

The system in my System Specs has a brand new OEM license that I bought from NewEgg.

The timeline for the affected machine is as follows:

Original build - built by computer shop - Windows 7 Pro volume license installed by our IT department.
Upgraded to Windows 10 Pro
Changed motherboard and CPU when hardware failed - was activated properly with digital activation
Changed out hardware to run Win 11 (motherboard, CPU and RAM)
Upgraded to Win 11 Pro - activated properly with digital activation

The PC and key used to show on my MS account, but does not any more. It is completely gone. I have no idea why. All I know is that the keys are legit and the PC was properly activated before the update. After the update, no activation and no digital license in my MS account.

glasskuter · Monday at 1:37 PM

Catnip said:
this is not one of the machines in my system specs

Thanks for clarifying. This brings me to the question how did the machine get assigned a volume license in the first place?

pseymour · Monday at 3:54 PM

Sounds pretty odd. Volume activation, but you mention your “original” Windows 7 key. I have many thousands of Windows machines in my purview… activation issues? Zero.

idgat · Monday at 5:44 PM

Silvio said:
I guess you also think reports of Covid vaccine injuries, are also just conspiracies

I find this derogatory aspersion grossly offensive, although it probably fits in with your 24H2 conspiracy beliefs

Really, is this your best basis for an argument comparing a proven physically-affecting pandemic disease, against a (frequently) self-inflicted and manageable updating of Windows?

Over time, as an ex-IT (whose friends and relatives just don't get it that I've retired!!!! :ffs:

), I've done s-o-o-o-o-o-o many updates to 24H2 with absolutely no problems.

I am personally aware of maybe 4, 5 instances of borked 24H2 updates, and in every instance the problems were the result of a "flawed" system, either hardware or software based (the system in the current discussion appears to be one in question). In just about every case posted in multiple forums, the Chicken Little "the sky is falling, the sky is falling" panic syndrome is totally based on hearsay, or inexperience, even ignorance either by the user who experienced problems or by others who just want to jump on the 24H2-bashing bandwagon.

Silvio · Tuesday at 7:12 AM

idgat said:
I find this derogatory aspersion grossly offensive, although it probably fits in with your 24H2 conspiracy beliefs

Really, is this your best basis for an argument comparing a proven physically-affecting pandemic disease, against a (frequently) self-inflicted and manageable updating of Windows?

Over time, as an ex-IT (whose friends and relatives just don't get it that I've retired!!!! ), I've done s-o-o-o-o-o-o many updates to 24H2 with absolutely no problems.

I am personally aware of maybe 4, 5 instances of borked 24H2 updates, and in every instance the problems were the result of a "flawed" system,

Windows 11, version 24H2 known issues and notifications

View announcements and review known issues and fixes for Windows 11, version 24H2

learn.microsoft.com

Maybe now, you will be a little less liberal, with the term "conspiracy theory", when discussing points of view, that differ from yours.

Myself, and a number of others, are aware of numerous issues reported with Windows 24H2, and as such, have decided to remain with Windows 23H2, for now.

Just because you don't agree, doesn't entitle you to label others as "conspiracy theorists", maybe take a look at above URL, and dismiss those issues as conspiracies also.

d5aqoep · Tuesday at 7:35 AM

The HWID product key I used to upgrade Windows 8.1 to 10 and then to 11 still works as it was the same key used to get HWID activations on all my PCs and they are still HWID activated. I think OP might have used grey market keys purchased for $5 a key something and those might have got bulk de-activated. Many people have fallen for that scam. One can never get a genuine key under $50

Marcus Vinicus · Tuesday at 7:41 AM

@Silvio

The information about Autocad 2022 and Windows 24H2 is out of date and MS have resolved the issue (see link below). I must note you've posted AI generated information which isn't always current or accurate.

Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2

learn.microsoft.com

Silvio · Tuesday at 7:50 AM

Marcus Vinicus said:
@Silvio

The information about Autocad 2022 and Windows 24H2 is out of date and MS have resolved the issue (see link below). I must note you've posted AI generated information which isn't always current or accurate.

Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2

Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2

learn.microsoft.com

Yes, but the point remains, that MS URL does detail current issues with Windows 24H2, that are not all due to system flaws or "conspiracy theories".

All new software versions will require fixes, to remedy flaws, agreed.

And many technology professionals, whether at work, or at home, will delay implementation/install/upgrade to latest version of an OS, till they deem sufficient time period has passed, for bug fixing.

idgat · Tuesday at 9:03 AM

Silvio said:
with the term "conspiracy theory"

Stand by this, You conveniently overlooked the rest of your hilited phrase .... "potential compatibility issues with various hardware and software".

Not quite sure where I can see 24H2 problems as being down to Microsoft (that's the alleged conspiracy), clearly being a case of caveat utilitor ... use shonky hardware/software. suffer the results.

Silvio · Tuesday at 9:26 AM

idgat said:
Not quite sure where I can see 24H2 problems as being down to Microsoft (that's the alleged conspiracy), clearly being a case of caveat utilitor ... use shonky hardware/software. suffer the results.

April 8, 2025—KB5055523 (OS Build 26100.3775) - Microsoft Support

support.microsoft.com

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Confirmed in Latest Windows 11 24H2 Update

Withum reports on Windows 11 24H2 update causes BSOD errors. Microsoft confirms SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR & CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED. KIR issued for affected devices.

www.withum.com

"Microsoft quietly confirmed that the April 8, 2025, Windows 11 version 24H2 update causes the computer to crash with a blue screen of death (BSOD). Affected users receive a BSOD error indicating a SECURE_KERNEL_ERROR. Sources outside of Microsoft also report the error CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED. "

Is your Windows 11 PC crashing a lot since the latest update? Microsoft admits bug with blue screen crashes, and has rushed out a fix

Blue Screen of (Creeping) Death – apparently these crashes have become more widespread since the April update

www.techradar.com

"Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 24H2 has a problem with Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) crashes caused by the latest updates for the OS, and a fix has been hastily pushed through."

Yep nothing to see here, forget what Microsoft has admitted, all Windows 24H2 issues, are down to users and their "shonky hardware/software".

Marcus Vinicus · Tuesday at 3:52 PM

@Silvio

You've hijacked a thread asking for assistance related to an activation/licensing issue with Windows 11 by going go on and on about how much you dislike 24h2.

Let it go or create your own thread.

DennyZenny · Tuesday at 4:20 PM

To hopefully get the thread back on track, I've done some research and it looks like OP is not alone. There have actually been several people (Reddit, answers.microsoft.com, DPReview, Borncity) experiencing issues with 24H2 deactivating their Windows installation as you can see below.

Windows 11 OEM licence deactivated after 24h2 update (answers.microsoft.com)

This thread had a response that was marked as a solution, but if your not able to catch Microsoft Activation Support, this might be a great time to make a post on the Feedback Hub about this issue.

Dark Knight · Tuesday at 4:40 PM

I've only had this happen to me once and it was on Windows 10 but as soon as I put in my information and hit the activate button , it activated without issue.
I know things like this happen with hardware changes also , but really? life is too short , not when you can get Windows keys from legit sites for fifteen bucks. I would have just bought one , activated it and moved on.

Marcus Vinicus · Tuesday at 4:45 PM

There is a tutorial by @Brink about finding the product key for Windows 11 and importantly at the end of the top post there are numerous links to other related tutorials.

Find Product Key in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to find and view your product key in Windows 10 and Windows 11. A Windows product key is a 25-character code used to activate Windows. It looks like this: PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX Depending on how you got your copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11...

www.elevenforum.com

Check Activation Status of Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to check and find out if your Windows 11 is activated. Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is genuine and hasn’t been used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Reference...

www.elevenforum.com

Levitate11 · Tuesday at 6:17 PM

rakers8 said:
don’t hold me to the Best Buy key but it was a retail key from an electronics store. Babbages? Either way, it’s not entirely relevant because it’s been linked to my ms account since they started doing such and has worked across numerous deployments without error. Even now it says it is valid and linked to my account without any warnings or disclaimers. I suspect you think I’m trolling or bashing MS given the skepticism? I think it’s a bug with my Microsoft account and not really worried about it because entering the RETAIL Win7 Pro key makes everything work. I expect it work again in the future but if not I’ll get a new key. I’ve certainly gotten a surplus of value out of it considering how many generations of free Windows upgrades it allowed. My intention was to simply let the OP know that I went through the same thing and if he happens to have an old retail copy of his key available, the solution worked for me. Perhaps it can help others until the problem is either solved or explained why it happens.

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?

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