F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Update to BIOS causes Windows 11 activation failure.

Update to BIOS causes Windows 11 activation failure.

Update to BIOS causes Windows 11 activation failure.

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HellNether
Senior Member
731
08-13-2021, 01:57 PM
#1
faced difficulties with Ethernet on my Z690 M. Aorus Elite DDR4 board. Consulted Gigabyte, they advised a BIOS upgrade. Updated from F6a to F7a, but the issue persisted. It turned out a Microsoft BIOS update is a hardware modification. Now Windows 11 Pro isn't activated, and troubleshooting fails because I already performed the changes when installing the board. A Microsoft support representative helped, suggesting checking with the motherboard vendor about BIOS compatibility with Windows 11. Should I really purchase a new product key for a BIOS update?
H
HellNether
08-13-2021, 01:57 PM #1

faced difficulties with Ethernet on my Z690 M. Aorus Elite DDR4 board. Consulted Gigabyte, they advised a BIOS upgrade. Updated from F6a to F7a, but the issue persisted. It turned out a Microsoft BIOS update is a hardware modification. Now Windows 11 Pro isn't activated, and troubleshooting fails because I already performed the changes when installing the board. A Microsoft support representative helped, suggesting checking with the motherboard vendor about BIOS compatibility with Windows 11. Should I really purchase a new product key for a BIOS update?

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DanTDM_2007
Member
146
08-15-2021, 12:33 AM
#2
The BIOS update doesn’t affect the motherboard brand, model, or serial number. The problem likely lies elsewhere. Did you run sfc /scannow to verify Windows for issues?
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DanTDM_2007
08-15-2021, 12:33 AM #2

The BIOS update doesn’t affect the motherboard brand, model, or serial number. The problem likely lies elsewhere. Did you run sfc /scannow to verify Windows for issues?

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COLIN20052012
Posting Freak
857
08-18-2021, 12:47 AM
#3
It could be functional within a couple of weeks.
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COLIN20052012
08-18-2021, 12:47 AM #3

It could be functional within a couple of weeks.

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cryokinesiis
Junior Member
7
08-29-2021, 03:58 PM
#4
I'm not sure why the BIOS update impacted activation. I assumed CSM or Secure Boot could be involved, but they were configured identically on both versions. I didn't run an SFC scan. Instead, I used the Windows 10 product key I originally had, not the updated one. It resolved the issue immediately. The Windows support team didn't advise trying a different key. Appreciate the help!
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cryokinesiis
08-29-2021, 03:58 PM #4

I'm not sure why the BIOS update impacted activation. I assumed CSM or Secure Boot could be involved, but they were configured identically on both versions. I didn't run an SFC scan. Instead, I used the Windows 10 product key I originally had, not the updated one. It resolved the issue immediately. The Windows support team didn't advise trying a different key. Appreciate the help!