Question Bios update deleted windows activation/bios question

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
P

P0tluck94

Reputable
Nov 22, 2021
346
17
4,685
I didn't know where else to put this as it's a bit complicated of a post.

it involves a few different things, I bought my pc may 1st 2023 I paid quite alot for a pc without a gpu ($2200) as I had one already but just upgraded to a 4070ti super (just getting the cost out of the way so it hopefully makes sense)

I have $3100+|into the tower which leads to the issue , I've had problems with this pc since I bought it, (overheating, programs dissappear, network not working several issues)
no response from the pc company i bought it from, you all helped me fix a couple of the issues (thank you) so onto the issue.

I had the free Windows 11 pro upgrade and it was the last day for it so I decided to upgrade, everything was great no issues but I had a chipset upgrade i couldn't do unless I upgraded the bios so I did that and then I couldn't use my pin to get into the pc i had to use Microsoft password, I did all the walk arounds to fix it but without success so I had to reset windows which deleted my windows activation key, this pc even though I paid so much for it did not come with the activation key and the company wouldn't respond so I had to buy one ($211.00)


So onto the bios , both build numbers are the same 3405 but the one in hwinfo says bios date 2023, the one on Asus website says 2024, why are the dates different but build numbers the same?

is the pc good if the dates in the bios dont match or would I definitely know if something was wrong with the bios? im confused (im a stroke survivor so I have memory/ thought issues)

have you all heard of a bios deleting a windows key and have you ever heard of a pc not coming with an activation key?

I'm currently trying to get refunded for the windows key but they aren't responding so im curious, if i can't get reimbursed do I risk legal trouble if I call them or publicly with all the issues I've had with this thing when they are supposed to have a year warranty on everything? $211.00 dollars is alot for me to have to drop right then and there being disabled
My main question is about the bios deactivating windows key and the bios dates not matching if you all dont want to comment in the company issue.

https://imgur.com/a/vCY6NJE
View: https://imgur.com/gallery/vCY6NJE
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
USAFRet said:
Upgrade from what?

Did the PC come with a valid Win 1X license?
Where did you purchase this from?
Click to expand...
The pc came with windows 10 pro pre activated but no sticker or activation key for me to have , the upgrade was frim 10pro to 11 pro , it was still activated until i had to reset windows cause of the bios messing up my windows pin, I would imagine I should of had the activation key my my use. Trying to get refunded from the pc company I bought it from as I feel I should of had the key which means i wouldn't of had to buy it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
COLGeek said:
The date mismatch is likely just the difference from when the version was finalized and published. I would not worry about this.

Are you running a fully activated installation now?

Also, have you updated your AMD chipset drivers recently?

https://www.amd.com/en/support/chipsets/amd-socket-am4/b550
Click to expand...
Yes I've updated all my drivers since I upgraded to 11pro, thanks for the info on the date, the pc runs good I just worry alot as in have extra money, it took me 2 years of saving to get this thing. Yes it's fully activated now but I had to buy the key as the company don't respond.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
P0tluck94 said:
The pc came with windows 10 pro pre activated but no sticker or activation key for me to have , the upgrade was frim 10pro to 11 pro , it was still activated until i had to reset windows cause of the bios messing up my windows pin, I would imagine I should of had the activation key my my use. Trying to get refunded from the pc company I bought it from as I feel I should of had the key which means i wouldn't of had to buy it.
Click to expand...
Buying from an authorized retailer, you would have an OEM Win 10 license.
Given a compatible hardware system, this should have Upgraded to Win 11 no problem, for free.

Win 10 Pro -> Win 11 Pro
Win 10 Home -> Win 11 Home.

What did you have originally?


P0tluck94 said:
it was still activated until i had to reset windows cause of the bios messing up my windows pin
Click to expand...
That sounds like a potentially shady original install.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet said:
Buying from an authorized retailer, you would have an OEM Win 10 license.
Given a compatible hardware system, this should have Upgraded to Win 11 no problem, for free.

Win 10 Pro -> Win 11 Pro
Win 10 Home -> Win 11 Home.

What did you have originally?



That sounds like a potentially shady original install.
Click to expand...
Yeah I upgraded from win 10 pro to win 11pro , the original upgrade was activated.

after I upgraded the bios and had to reset windows (keeping files) Because it made it so i couldn't get past the lock screen that deleted the activation. So I had to get a new one from windows, they couldn't find the key on my account.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
If the bios changes significantly enough then windows will not recognize it any more and you will lose you license, just had that happen on my bios that updated to having dynamic tuning, you could have avoided that by connecting your license to an MS email.

How to Link Windows Key to Microsoft Account

Learn how to easily link your Windows key to your Microsoft account. Streamline your experience and access your key across devices.
www.process.st www.process.st
 
  • Like
Reactions: P0tluck94
Upvote 0 Downvote
P0tluck94 said:
Yeah I upgraded from win 10 pro to win 11pro , the original upgrade was activated.

after I upgraded the bios and had to reset windows (keeping files) Because it made it so i couldn't get past the lock screen that deleted the activation. So I had to get a new one from windows, they couldn't find the key on my account.
Click to expand...
A Reset in Windows should not have triggered any sort of license deactivation.

Was that license linked to an/your MS account?
 
  • Like
Reactions: P0tluck94
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet said:
A Reset in Windows should not have triggered any sort of license deactivation.

Was that license linked to an/your MS account?
Click to expand...
No the license was through the pc company that wouldn't respond to my email so i had to buy one.

Microsoft said because the bios update erased the key but they could just be saying that.

all i know is it was activated on win 11pro before the bios update access the windows reset and would not activate after, the troubleshooter said not valid
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
TerryLaze said:
If the bios changes significantly enough then windows will not recognize it any more and you will lose you license, just had that happen on my bios that updated to having dynamic tuning, you could have avoided that by connecting your license to an MS email.

How to Link Windows Key to Microsoft Account

Learn how to easily link your Windows key to your Microsoft account. Streamline your experience and access your key across devices.
www.process.st www.process.st
Click to expand...
I didn't have the license to link, it came pre activated from the pc company
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P0tluck94 said:
I didn't have the license to link, it came pre activated from the pc company
Click to expand...
Your system had it, on an activated windows you just follow the instructions, make an MS account with an email if you don't already have one, and the license gets linked to that MS account, you don't need to know the key or anything.
Obviously you need a second way to access your emails for confirmations since it won't let you get into windows.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
TerryLaze said:
Your system had it, on an activated windows you just follow the instructions, make an MS account with an email if you don't already have one, and the license gets linked to that MS account, you don't need to know the key or anything.
Obviously you need a second way to access your emails for confirmations since it won't let you get into windows.
Click to expand...
The license was not linked to my Microsoft account it was on the motherboard , didn't have possession of the key no stickers no paper nothing, I was on the phone with Microsoft for an hour gave then all my information they liked at my MS account abd told me i did not have key and that when I disagreed the bios it seekers it abd they couldn't help and that I had to buy one
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P0tluck94 said:
The license was not linked to my Microsoft account it was on the motherboard , didn't have possession of the key no stickers no paper nothing, I was on the phone with Microsoft for an hour gave then all my information they liked at my MS account abd told me i did not have key and that when I disagreed the bios it seekers it abd they couldn't help and that I had to buy one
Click to expand...
This is to be worked out between you and the company you bought the PC and its license from.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P0tluck94 said:
The license was not linked to my Microsoft account it was on the motherboard
Click to expand...
licences that are on mainboard (stored in bios) are from direct OEMs like asus, HP, lenovo and such big brands which fabs their own computers
bios update wouldnt reset this kind of licence
bios update can however trigger hardware id change
your digital licence is still stored on MS activation servers....
since you didnt link it with microsoft account, you have no way to retreive it
anyway its still responsibility of that OEM builder provider to provide you with new key if this one got borked, next time tie that key with ms online account, so you can manage your keys and devices there
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
kerberos_20 said:
licences that are on mainboard (stored in bios) are from direct OEMs like asus, HP, lenovo and such big brands which fabs their own computers
bios update wouldnt reset this kind of licence
bios update can however trigger hardware id change
your digital licence is still stored on MS activation servers....
since you didnt link it with microsoft account, you have no way to retreive it
anyway its still responsibility of that OEM builder provider to provide you with new key if this one got borked, next time tie that key with ms online account, so you can manage your keys and devices there
Click to expand...
Can you do that if you don't have the serial key like a sticker, or paper with it on it?

I think what happened was the windows reset i had to do after the bios messed up my login pin so I had to reset windows to fix it ( not a reinstall just a simpler option built-in into windows keeping files )but I've reset windows in the past without issues, I emailed them 4 times and asked them on their discord for a key they never responded so haven't, and with me being disabled with how much money i spent on this thing which i had to save for almost years I bought av key so in student reusing anything getting messed up, i think i will call them out publicly to try to force them to respond, not to mention i had to have this pc gone over after i got it Cause of it overheating, programs disappearing , locking which was another $190, they didn't respond to that and it was in day one of me having it, I have all the screenshots of me asking for help and receipts as well so we'll see
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P0tluck94 said:
Can you do that if you don't have the serial key like a sticker, or paper with it on it?
Click to expand...
Log into account.microsoft.com with your ms account credentials and
check devices registered to your account.
P0tluck94 said:
I bought my pc may 1st 2023 I paid quite alot for a pc without a gpu ($2200) as I had one already but just upgraded to a 4070ti super
Click to expand...
Can you list full specs of your system?
2k for system without a gpu sounds a lot. Was it with some expensive high end monitor included?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
SkyNetRising said:
Log into account.microsoft.com with your ms account credentials and
check devices registered to your account.

Can you list full specs of your system?
2k for system without a gpu sounds a lot. Was it with some expensive high end monitor included?
Click to expand...
5800x3d
Asus rog strix b550 -f gaming wifi ll
32 gigs mushkin lumina 3600 (junk ram)
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360 aio
Thermaltake gf3 850 gold psu
All fans are lian li
Nzxt h7 flow case
2 nvmes one is 1 tb 5400 one is 2 tb 7400 also made by mushkin

The $2k includes build fee taxes and shipping , yes I got overcharged
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom