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I installed a drivers update for the intel arc b580 the other day, which failed in the middle of the installation leaving my system bricked (frooze on boot). I tried a couple of ways to recover but ended up doing a system reset whilst preserving the files.
After the system reset I came to see that my key was counted as invalid. And that I didn't have an option to resolve it with the recently changed hardware option nor with any other device tied to my account.
I then tried a clean install of windows but without any success, the license is no longer available.
I got this license around 10 years ago from a third party seller, I've been able to use it when I replaced my PC twice and during additional system resets in this time. It has been working without any issues until yesterday. This does also mean that I don't have any way to find the original copy of it. It was not an OEM key.
Any clue on other ways to resolve this?
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Hi,
Was the license you obtained 10 years ago for a version like Windows 7 or 8/8.1, which you then upgraded to Windows 10 for free?
Since it is likely a physical third-party license, do you have the key written down? (Please do not post it here.)
Thanks.
It was a Windows 10 license that I later upgraded to Windows 11.
I do not have the key written down sadly. I may have found it in the registry and sent it to support earlier but without any success. But did not think of writing it down before doing a clean install as it has worked in the past.
Hi,
That is strange. If you previously reactivated it using a 25-digit physical key—and now you don't have that key and the PC doesn't appear in the list of computers available for reactivation after a hardware change—you would need the key to reactivate it on this PC again.
Since it is a 25-digit retail key, it generally isn't linked to a Microsoft account, as you can transfer its use to other computers.
I'm sorry.
Please consider rating the question, and Access the community at Microsoft Q&A if you have further questions.
Thanks
I see in that case it does seem like there's no real way to recover it.
Thank you for taking your time helping me!
Hi,
I am sorry about this situation; you can always count on the Microsoft Q&A community. Have a great week.
Thanks
