7 ms·

Windows 11 has a fun feature where it will potentially deactivate if you update your bios. https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/15/23958751/microsoft-windows-activ

Windows 11 has a fun feature where it will potentially deactivate if you update your bios. https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/15/23958751/microsoft-windows-activation-issues-windows-7-8-upgrade-keys https://www.theverge.com/2023/11/15/23958751/microsoft-windo...

judge2020 3y ago
This has never happened to me even after replacing every component of my computer over the years (other than the PSU). I imagine signing in (and setting up the computer) with a microsoft account is what makes it stronger.
- deaddodo 3y ago
  This only happens if you are using an upgraded Win7/8 key and only on the newest updates of Win10/11. If you're using a Win 10 upgrade or Win11 fresh key, it's expected you wouldn't encounter it.
  - agsnu 3y ago
    It happened to me on a brand new PC (MSI Z790 motherboard) when I updated the BIOS, with a brand new Windows 11 license purchased from the MS store. It looked like the BIOS update was clearing fTPM keys or something. I ended up hitting my activation limit and had to call in and spend 1.5 hours speaking to various levels of escalation, uploading various invoices as proof of purchase, and then eventually they issued me an alternative product key which has worked ever since.
    - mavhc 3y ago
      Faster just to crack it
- saint_fiasco 3y ago
  Maybe it doesn't deactivate it you change the components one at a time over a long period, Ship of Theseus style
- cortesoft 3y ago
  I think it depends on what windows license you have... OEM or one you bought yourself.
zbrozek 3y ago
I lost a Windows 11 license because my laptop's motherboard failed and had to get replaced.
- jeroenhd 3y ago
  Didn't Microsoft tie your machine license to your Microsoft account for this reason?
  - freeAgent 3y ago
    OEM licenses can be kind of funny. They aren’t portable, though I would’ve thought that the motherboard was replaced by a motherboard by the same OEM, etc. and should’ve qualified to use that OEM’s license.
    - bigstrat2003 3y ago
      It does, or at least it used to. Back during the Vista days my copy of Windows failed to activate after I replaced the motherboard, but Microsoft support was happy to help me when I explained that it was the same computer with new parts in it.
  - oohffyvfg 3y ago
    who even fall for the Microsoft account prompts???
    - jeroenhd 3y ago
      People who like their Windows license to be activated after a motherboard replacement, it seems. Then again, the manufacturer probably should've made sure the replacement motherboard was covered by a license.
- auguzanellato 3y ago
  From my experience with Lenovo if the motherboard got replaced by the manufacturer they should have given you one with a license attached
riffic 3y ago
why, exactly, are operating systems licensed in this asinine user-hostile way? Is it a monetary thing or something?
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
ToucanLoucan 3y ago
This actually happened to me only a week or so ago. Was trying to fix a crashing issue with one of my games.

judge2020 3y ago

This has never happened to me even after replacing every component of my computer over the years (other than the PSU). I imagine signing in (and setting up the computer) with a microsoft account is what makes it stronger.

deaddodo 3y ago
This only happens if you are using an upgraded Win7/8 key and only on the newest updates of Win10/11. If you're using a Win 10 upgrade or Win11 fresh key, it's expected you wouldn't encounter it.
- agsnu 3y ago
  It happened to me on a brand new PC (MSI Z790 motherboard) when I updated the BIOS, with a brand new Windows 11 license purchased from the MS store. It looked like the BIOS update was clearing fTPM keys or something. I ended up hitting my activation limit and had to call in and spend 1.5 hours speaking to various levels of escalation, uploading various invoices as proof of purchase, and then eventually they issued me an alternative product key which has worked ever since.
  - mavhc 3y ago
    Faster just to crack it
saint_fiasco 3y ago
Maybe it doesn't deactivate it you change the components one at a time over a long period, Ship of Theseus style
cortesoft 3y ago
I think it depends on what windows license you have... OEM or one you bought yourself.

zbrozek 3y ago

I lost a Windows 11 license because my laptop's motherboard failed and had to get replaced.

jeroenhd 3y ago
Didn't Microsoft tie your machine license to your Microsoft account for this reason?
- freeAgent 3y ago
  OEM licenses can be kind of funny. They aren’t portable, though I would’ve thought that the motherboard was replaced by a motherboard by the same OEM, etc. and should’ve qualified to use that OEM’s license.
  - bigstrat2003 3y ago
    It does, or at least it used to. Back during the Vista days my copy of Windows failed to activate after I replaced the motherboard, but Microsoft support was happy to help me when I explained that it was the same computer with new parts in it.
- oohffyvfg 3y ago
  who even fall for the Microsoft account prompts???
  - jeroenhd 3y ago
    People who like their Windows license to be activated after a motherboard replacement, it seems. Then again, the manufacturer probably should've made sure the replacement motherboard was covered by a license.
auguzanellato 3y ago
From my experience with Lenovo if the motherboard got replaced by the manufacturer they should have given you one with a license attached

riffic 3y ago

why, exactly, are operating systems licensed in this asinine user-hostile way? Is it a monetary thing or something?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

ToucanLoucan 3y ago

This actually happened to me only a week or so ago. Was trying to fix a crashing issue with one of my games.