Unable to activate Windows 11 - Help pls

A

AllAnt

Member
Hi

Received new gaming desktop today. Really pleased. Except, I am unable to activate windows 11. My build came with windows pre-installed and I understand it should already be activated - it is not. I have a red error message advising a Hardware Change ( I assume that's because I installed my own graphics card - which was covered as part of my build specs) . I have ran and installed all updates & troubleshooting - still unable to activate windows 11. Any help & support appreciated. Thanks
 
Rakk

Rakk

The Awesome
Moderator
Have you checked your PCS online account for your Windows key, or looked for a sticker on the back of the machine, that's where your Windows key is likely to be
 
A

AllAnt

Member
Thanks for your suggestions. Sticker on the back is not a MS Windows 11 Activation key. Cant see anything on my PCS online account with activation keys. I can confirm that my build spec included ' Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account ' - Surely it should not be this difficult to Activate windows ! Cheers
 
Martinr36

Martinr36

MOST VALUED CONTRIBUTOR
if you scroll down your spec in the order section of your account the windows key should be there

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A

AllAnt

Member
Hi Martin - Re-checked. My order spec just has the top line ' Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003] ' But definitely, no Activation key below.
 
A

AllAnt

Member
Here you go....

Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 500 ARGB
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24-Core Processor i9-13900K (3.0GHz) 36MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4 (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
64GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (4 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SOLIDIGM P41+ GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 4125MB/sR, 2950MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE RGB High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
Norton 360 inc. Game Optimizer - Free 90 Day License
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
AllAnt said:
Here you go....

Case
COOLERMASTER HAF 500 ARGB
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i9 24-Core Processor i9-13900K (3.0GHz) 36MB Cache
Motherboard
ASUS® ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4 (LGA1700, USB 3.2, PCIe 5.0) - ARGB Ready
Memory (RAM)
64GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3600MHz (4 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
NONE, I ALREADY HAVE A GRAPHICS CARD
1st M.2 SSD Drive
1TB SOLIDIGM P41+ GEN 4 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 4125MB/sR, 2950MB/sW)
Power Supply
CORSAIR 850W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre UK Power Cable (Kettle Lead)
Processor Cooling
CORSAIR iCUE H150i ELITE RGB High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste
ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)
Network Card
10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
MIN. 2 x USB 3.0 & 2 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL + MIN. 2 FRONT PORTS
Operating System
Windows 11 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00003]
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10/11 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
Norton 360 inc. Game Optimizer - Free 90 Day License
Browser
Microsoft® Edge
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Click to expand...
I can only think that the GPU upgrade has registered it as a new system for some reason. A GPU replacement doesn't normally do that, would take a motherboard or CPU change to do it.

You'd need to phone PCS and get it relicensed I think.
 
A

AllAnt

Member
Yeah - tried the activation trouble-shooter - for Hardware changes and no joy.
I have read that motherboard replacements will require new license - but I've added my own GPU and that should not merit a new activation , plus it was part of my build . Thanks for your support this evening - will check-in with PCS - thank you
 
SpyderTracks

SpyderTracks

We love you Ukraine
AllAnt said:
Yeah - tried the activation trouble-shooter - for Hardware changes and no joy.
I have read that motherboard replacements will require new license - but I've added my own GPU and that should not merit a new activation , plus it was part of my build . Thanks for your support this evening - will check-in with PCS - thank you
Click to expand...
PCS will sort it, and you can still use it in the meantime without a license.

You use it unlicensed for a trial period of 1 month without any restrictions.
 
Scott

Scott

Behold The Ford Mondeo
Moderator
That's really strange. Typically the license key would be listed on your order under your account. Ironically, when people are requesting trouble shooting they send over a screenshot or copy/paste from that and accidentally include their Windows License key. It's possible that PCS have now changed this to remove the license key for such times, and thus you may need to request it.

If you reach out to PCS through the live chat or phone call, quickest way to get a solution, they will hopefully email over what you need.

Just to attempt one solution though. If you remove the GPU, connect to the monitor via the motherboard and then register the installation with a Microsoft account, this will create a digital license/link with the installation. When you then plug in the GPU, you will be able to re-register with the new hardware changes without any issue.
 
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