Product key erased after latest update

[Daniel 95]

Hi,
I have updated windows and I keep getting notifications saying that windows is not activated, Windows 11 was pre installed when I bought my PC so I have no physical copy and I cannot find the product key anywhere

Any way of fixing this? Its bugging me and making me want to roll back the update to a previous state and that's when I get bombarded with notifications telling me to update to the latest version.

Thanks

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Daniel,
It sounds like the latest update has thrown your activation status into limbo, which is undoubtedly frustrating. Since your PC came with Windows 11 preinstalled, it should have a digital license (often linked to your Microsoft account) or even an embedded OEM key. Here are some troubleshooting steps you might try:

1. Open Settings and go to System → Activation to confirm your current activation status. From there, click on the "Troubleshoot" button—this prompts Windows to re-check your license and usually resolves glitches with digital license validation.
2. Verify that you're properly connected to the internet. Occasionally, network issues or even switching networks (if you’re on a VPN or similar) can interfere with activation checks.
3. Check for the embedded OEM key (if one exists):
   • Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows Terminal (Admin)”).
   • Type in the command:
     wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
   This will display the product key that’s stored in your BIOS/UEFI. Even if you can’t locate a physical copy, this key is often used by Windows for reactivation.
4. If the troubleshooter or the key check doesn’t resolve the issue, consider signing in with your Microsoft account (if you haven’t already). Your account can help restore the digital license on the updated system.
5. Lastly, if none of the above steps work, it might be worth contacting Microsoft Support for a more detailed look at your activation issue—especially since the update itself may have introduced a bug.

Rolling back the update might seem tempting, but it’s generally better to resolve the activation issue. The update notifications can be particularly annoying, but they also indicate that Windows is trying to keep your system secure with the latest fixes.
Hope this helps get the activation issue sorted without too much hassle. Let me know how it goes or if you need further assistance!
Cheers,
ChatGPT

 

[Daniel 95]

Hi Daniel,
It sounds like the latest update has thrown your activation status into limbo, which is undoubtedly frustrating. Since your PC came with Windows 11 preinstalled, it should have a digital license (often linked to your Microsoft account) or even an embedded OEM key. Here are some troubleshooting steps you might try:

1. Open Settings and go to System → Activation to confirm your current activation status. From there, click on the "Troubleshoot" button—this prompts Windows to re-check your license and usually resolves glitches with digital license validation.
2. Verify that you're properly connected to the internet. Occasionally, network issues or even switching networks (if you’re on a VPN or similar) can interfere with activation checks.
3. Check for the embedded OEM key (if one exists):
   • Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start and select “Command Prompt (Admin)” or “Windows Terminal (Admin)”).
   • Type in the command:
     wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
   This will display the product key that’s stored in your BIOS/UEFI. Even if you can’t locate a physical copy, this key is often used by Windows for reactivation.
4. If the troubleshooter or the key check doesn’t resolve the issue, consider signing in with your Microsoft account (if you haven’t already). Your account can help restore the digital license on the updated system.
5. Lastly, if none of the above steps work, it might be worth contacting Microsoft Support for a more detailed look at your activation issue—especially since the update itself may have introduced a bug.

Rolling back the update might seem tempting, but it’s generally better to resolve the activation issue. The update notifications can be particularly annoying, but they also indicate that Windows is trying to keep your system secure with the latest fixes.
Hope this helps get the activation issue sorted without too much hassle. Let me know how it goes or if you need further assistance!
Cheers,
ChatGPT

I have tried all those options, I am properly connected to the internet, the troubleshooter cannot find the product key, and the command in windows terminal does not do anything

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Daniel,
Since the initial troubleshooting steps haven’t worked, here are some additional steps you can try to further diagnose and resolve the activation issue:

1. Check Microsoft Account Link
   Even though your PC came preinstalled with Windows 11, ensure your Microsoft account is linked in Settings → Accounts → Email & accounts. This links your digital license to your account, which can help revalidate the license if the embedded OEM key isn’t being recognized.
2. Run Detailed Activation Diagnostics
   Open an elevated Command Prompt or Windows Terminal and run the following commands to get more detailed information on the activation status:
   • Type:
     slmgr /dli
     and press Enter.
   • Next, try:
     slmgr /dlv
   These commands may return error codes or messages that can shed more light on the activation problem. If you see any specific error codes or messages, note them down—they might be key to understanding what’s going wrong.
3. Check System Files
   Sometimes system file corruption caused by an update can interfere with activation. Run these commands in an elevated Command Prompt:
   • First:
     sfc /scannow
     This scans for corrupted files.
   • If issues are found (or even if not), follow up with:
     DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   These commands help repair the Windows image and might resolve underlying issues affecting activation.
4. Examine the Event Viewer Logs
   Open Event Viewer (search for “Event Viewer” in the Start menu) and check under Windows Logs → Application or System for any activation-related errors. These logs may provide additional details or error codes that aren’t immediately visible.
5. Consider a Rollback or Await a Patch
   If none of the above resolves the issue, it might be an update-related bug. While rolling back the update is an option (if available in Settings → System → Recovery), understand that this might mean losing recent security and functionality updates. Alternatively, if you can tolerate the notifications temporarily, waiting for Microsoft to release a patch might be the best path.
6. Contact Microsoft Support
   Given that your system should have a digital license with an embedded product key, if these steps don’t lead to resolution, contacting Microsoft Support with the detailed error information might be the next best move. They can often reissue or revalidate the digital license on systems that encounter this sort of problem.

If you run the slmgr commands and catch any error codes or unusual messages, feel free to share them for further analysis. Sometimes those details can pinpoint whether it’s a minor hiccup or a more serious activation issue.
Hope these additional steps help get your system activated again. Let me know how it goes!
Cheers,
ChatGPT

 

[Daniel 95]

I have tried all of this but nothing works, I have rolled back the update to the previous version in the meantime until the bug that is causing this issue is fixed.

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Daniel,
It's frustrating when nothing seems to work and you have to revert to an older update just to keep things running smoothly. Rolling back is definitely a pragmatic workaround while Microsoft works on a proper fix.
At this point, keeping an eye on official Microsoft channels for any updates to the specific issue might be your best bet. Sometimes these kinds of activation bugs get resolved in subsequent cumulative updates. Additionally, you might consider reaching out directly to Microsoft Support if you haven't already, so they’re aware of the issue from your specific configuration—it could potentially expedite an official fix.
In the meantime, ensuring your system is fully up-to-date with any firmware or BIOS updates provided by your PC manufacturer might also help, as sometimes those can improve how your system interacts with Windows updates.
Let me know if there's anything else I can help with or if there are any new developments on your end!
Cheers,
ChatGPT