Microsoft Investigating Bug that Deactivates Windows 10 Pro Licenses

eidairaman1 · Nov 9, 2018

Divide Overflow said:
Windows as a mis-service.

Go back to 7 Pro

INSTG8R · Nov 9, 2018

eidairaman1 said:
Go back to 7 Pro

That means I’d need a new license...

cadaveca · Nov 9, 2018

Well, I have had this TR 1950X system up and running, un-activated, since December/January.

Now it's activated? Guess this issue isn't all bad...

R-T-B · Nov 10, 2018

TheinsanegamerN said:
Meanwhile my "activated" version is running just hunky dory. In fact, very few of the bugs that affect customers seem to affect me.

Just another black mark against DRMed black box software, and another instance where the warez version works better then the official version.

yeeeeman said:
The best fix for this is to download microsoft toolkit, press ez-activator button and forget about it.

Can we quit skirting forum rules by admitting to, or worse, recommending piracy?

GoldenX · Nov 10, 2018

R-T-B said:
Can we quit skirting forum rules by admitting to, or worse, recommending piracy?

It's not piracy if you have your license.

INSTG8R · Nov 10, 2018

GoldenX said:
It's not piracy if you have your license.

Which all of us should have from owning Win 7/8

eidairaman1 · Nov 10, 2018

INSTG8R said:
Which all of us should have from owning Win 7/8

Problem I heard is once you use the win 7 license to upgrade to 10 you cant re use it for 7 but only 10.

Thats why I do fresh OS installs only

INSTG8R · Nov 10, 2018

eidairaman1 said:
Problem I heard is once you use the win 7 license to upgrade to 10 you cant re use it for 7 but only 10.

Thats why I do fresh OS installs only

Sure but how many people go back? I’ve reinstalled Win 10 at least 3 times since it s come out. Because it’s tied to your MS account it just reactivates every time.

lexluthermiester · Nov 10, 2018

INSTG8R said:
That means I’d need a new license...

Easily done;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-oem-cd-key-global_1536-20.html
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-7-pro-oem-cd-key_1338-20.html

eidairaman1 said:
Problem I heard is once you use the win 7 license to upgrade to 10 you cant re use it for 7

That's not true. I have reused Win7 keys to install 7 again after using them to get the upgrade to 10. You can go back if you want to.

R-T-B · Nov 10, 2018

eidairaman1 said:
Problem I heard is once you use the win 7 license to upgrade to 10 you cant re use it for 7 but only 10.

Thats why I do fresh OS installs only

This is false in my experience.

GoldenX said:
It's not piracy if you have your license.

I mean, that's debatable in and of itself, but they were recomending it to people who they have no means of knowing are licensed. I mean, even piracy software if it must be used as a solution to a problem (like with no-cd cracks of obsolete software) is still not appropriate for this forum. Period. There are better sites for that.

INSTG8R · Nov 10, 2018

lexluthermiester said:
Easily done;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-oem-cd-key-global_1536-20.html
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-7-pro-oem-cd-key_1338-20.html

That's not true. I have reused Win7 keys to install 7 again after using them to get the upgrade to 10. You can go back if you want to.

Not saying you can’t buy keys my point was Win 10 is pretty much a perpetual key barring you don’t try to put it on a new/different machine and we all got one free. If I wanted to go back to 7 I’d need to purchase a new key as I did 4 times in Win7s lifetime. As Win 7/8 owners we all could use our keys to upgrade for free

FordGT90Concept · Nov 10, 2018

Well this is concerning that Windows can randomly decide to deactivate itself. I'm less concerned about the immediate problem and more concerned about Microsoft's apparent ability to delicense installations long after the license has been accepted. Does this mean machines that aren't internet connected can delicense themselves whenever? Or is Windows periodically connecting to a server when the machine is online that reauthorizes it? In either case, it's DRM that for all intents and purposes should not exist. Consumer protection agencies should get on Microsoft for implementing such a thing.

R-T-B · Nov 10, 2018

FordGT90Concept said:
In either case, it's DRM that for all intents and purposes should not exist. Consumer protection agencies should get on Microsoft for implementing such a thing.

You missed the boat for that with XP's release.

FordGT90Concept · Nov 10, 2018

There's nothing wrong with activations but constant verification stinks of the most draconian of DRM every implemented like Star Force 3 (Chaos Theory), some implementations of SecuROM 7 (Spore), and some always online games like SimCity and Hitman that will throw a fit if you so much as have an internet hiccup.

Microsoft will probably get class action sued for this.

Gorstak · Nov 10, 2018

Allegedly, they solved the issue

R-T-B · Nov 11, 2018

FordGT90Concept said:
There's nothing wrong with activations but constant verification stinks of the most draconian of DRM every implemented like Star Force 3 (Chaos Theory), some implementations of SecuROM 7 (Spore), and some always online games like SimCity and Hitman that will throw a fit if you so much as have an internet hiccup.

Microsoft will probably get class action sued for this.

I mean I've had machines offline for years so it's not "if I fail to phone home I will scream "pirate!""

It's more for some reason every activatiom server for retail returned "false" for a day. If you were offline nothing would've happened, ironically.

And if you are upset that it checks in with an activation server periodically, again, this started with the MS Genuine campaign in the xp era. Nothing new and been public knowledge for a while. You missed the outcry boat a decade ago.

FordGT90Concept · Nov 11, 2018

R-T-B said:
And if you are upset that it checks in with an activation server periodically, again, this started with the MS Genuine campaign in the xp era. Nothing new and been public knowledge for a while. You missed the outcry boat a decade ago.

Except that you would have to click something to authenticate your Windows is activated (e.g. downloading setup files for a Windows feature). This, on the other hand, just happened. I don't think Microsoft has said what triggered the authentication verification. It's like coming home one day and finding someone stole your house.

R-T-B · Nov 11, 2018

FordGT90Concept said:
Except that you would have to click something to authenticate your Windows is activated

It was distributed as a Windows Update and included in Service Pack 3 media. No clicking. Just fun on desktop notifications and activation invalidation if it found piracy.

FordGT90Concept said:
I don't think Microsoft has said what triggered the authentication verification.

If it can contact a server online, it will. If it can't, status-quo. Again, it's done this for a while. Every post vista product and some XP products.

remixedcat · Nov 11, 2018

is MS and BugThesda competing to durrrr the best or what? lol

rtwjunkie · Nov 11, 2018

R-T-B said:
I mean I've had machines offline for years so it's not "if I fail to phone home I will scream "pirate!""

It's more for some reason every activatiom server for retail returned "false" for a day. If you were offline nothing would've happened, ironically.

And if you are upset that it checks in with an activation server periodically, again, this started with the MS Genuine campaign in the xp era. Nothing new and been public knowledge for a while. You missed the outcry boat a decade ago.

This would explain why my W10 systems are all fine. I didn’t turn them on during those couple days.

FordGT90Concept · Nov 11, 2018

All of my systems are on 1803 and didn't have a problem. If it only affected 1809 that could explain it; however, I know a lot of people running 1809 that had their machines running during that timeframe and they too were unaffected.

I wish Microsoft would put out a bulletin detailing what happened and why.

biffzinker · Nov 11, 2018

My Win 10 Pro 1803 install deactivated. Before that I did have 1809 installed.

Prima.Vera · Nov 12, 2018

Just Windows as a service working great...

System Name	PCGOD
Processor	AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard	Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling	Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory	16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s)	AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage	Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s)	NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case	AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s)	Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply	Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse	Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard	Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software	Windows 7 Pro 64

System Name	Hellbox 5.1(same case new guts)
Processor	Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard	MSI X570S MAG Torpedo Max
Cooling	TT Kandalf L.C.S.(Water/Air)EK Velocity CPU Block/Noctua EK Quantum DDC Pump/Res
Memory	2x16GB Gskill Trident Neo Z 3600 CL16
Video Card(s)	Powercolor Hellhound 7900XTX
Storage	970 Evo Plus 500GB 2xSamsung 850 Evo 500GB RAID 0 1TB WD Blue Corsair MP600 Core 2TB
Display(s)	Alienware QD-OLED 34” 3440x1440 144hz 10Bit VESA HDR 400
Case	TT Kandalf L.C.S.
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster ZX/Logitech Z906 5.1
Power Supply	Seasonic TX~’850 Platinum
Mouse	G502 Hero
Keyboard	G19s
VR HMD	Oculus Quest 3
Software	Win 11 Pro x64

System Name	Pioneer
Processor	Ryzen R9 9950X
Motherboard	GIGABYTE Aorus Elite X670 AX
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15 + A whole lotta Sunon and Corsair Maglev blower fans...
Memory	64GB (4x 16GB) G.Skill Flare X5 @ DDR5-6000 CL30
Video Card(s)	XFX RX 7900 XTX Speedster Merc 310
Storage	Intel 5800X Optane 800GB boot, +2x Crucial P5 Plus 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs
Display(s)	55" LG 55" B9 OLED 4K Display
Case	Thermaltake Core X31
Audio Device(s)	TOSLINK->Schiit Modi MB->Asgard 2 DAC Amp->AKG Pro K712 Headphones or HDMI->B9 OLED
Power Supply	FSP Hydro Ti Pro 850W
Mouse	Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless
Keyboard	WASD Code v3 with Cherry Green keyswitches + PBT DS keycaps
Software	Gentoo Linux x64 / Windows 11 Enterprise IoT 2024

System Name	Ciel / Akane
Processor	AMD Ryzen R5 5600X / Intel Core i3 12100F
Motherboard	Asus Tuf Gaming B550 Plus / Biostar H610MHP
Cooling	ID-Cooling 224-XT Basic / Stock
Memory	2x 16GB Kingston Fury 3600MHz / 2x 8GB Patriot 3200MHz
Video Card(s)	Gainward Ghost RTX 3060 Ti / Dell GTX 1660 SUPER
Storage	NVMe Kingston KC3000 2TB + NVMe Toshiba KBG40ZNT256G + HDD WD 4TB / NVMe WD Blue SN550 512GB
Display(s)	AOC Q27G3XMN / Samsung S22F350
Case	Cougar MX410 Mesh-G / Generic
Audio Device(s)	Kingston HyperX Cloud Stinger Core 7.1 Wireless PC
Power Supply	Aerocool KCAS-500W / Gigabyte P450B
Mouse	EVGA X15 / Logitech G203
Keyboard	VSG Alnilam / Dell
Software	Windows 11

System Name	Hellbox 5.1(same case new guts)
Processor	Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Motherboard	MSI X570S MAG Torpedo Max
Cooling	TT Kandalf L.C.S.(Water/Air)EK Velocity CPU Block/Noctua EK Quantum DDC Pump/Res
Memory	2x16GB Gskill Trident Neo Z 3600 CL16
Video Card(s)	Powercolor Hellhound 7900XTX
Storage	970 Evo Plus 500GB 2xSamsung 850 Evo 500GB RAID 0 1TB WD Blue Corsair MP600 Core 2TB
Display(s)	Alienware QD-OLED 34” 3440x1440 144hz 10Bit VESA HDR 400
Case	TT Kandalf L.C.S.
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster ZX/Logitech Z906 5.1
Power Supply	Seasonic TX~’850 Platinum
Mouse	G502 Hero
Keyboard	G19s
VR HMD	Oculus Quest 3
Software	Win 11 Pro x64

Microsoft Investigating Bug that Deactivates Windows 10 Pro Licenses

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

INSTG8R

Vanguard Beta Tester

cadaveca

My name is Dave

R-T-B

GoldenX

INSTG8R

Vanguard Beta Tester

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

INSTG8R

Vanguard Beta Tester

lexluthermiester

R-T-B

INSTG8R

Vanguard Beta Tester

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

R-T-B

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

Gorstak

R-T-B

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

R-T-B

remixedcat

rtwjunkie

PC Gaming Enthusiast

FordGT90Concept

"I go fast!1!11!1!"

biffzinker

Prima.Vera

System Name	BY-2021
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (65w eco profile)
Motherboard	MSI B550 Gaming Plus
Cooling	Scythe Mugen (rev 5)
Memory	2 x Kingston HyperX DDR4-3200 32 GiB
Video Card(s)	AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT
Storage	Samsung 980 Pro, Seagate Exos X20 TB 7200 RPM
Display(s)	Nixeus NX-EDG274K (3840x2160@144 DP) + Samsung SyncMaster 906BW (1440x900@60 HDMI-DVI)
Case	Coolermaster HAF 932 w/ USB 3.0 5.25" bay + USB 3.2 (A+C) 3.5" bay
Audio Device(s)	Realtek ALC1150, Micca OriGen+
Power Supply	Enermax Platimax 850w
Mouse	Nixeus REVEL-X
Keyboard	Tesoro Excalibur
Software	Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Benchmark Scores	Faster than the tortoise; slower than the hare.

System Name	SloMo
Processor	G4560
Motherboard	MSi H110-PRO-D
Cooling	LC-CC-95 @ Arctic Cooling fan
Memory	2X Crucial DDR4 2400 4GB
Video Card(s)	Integrated HD 610
Storage	WD 500 GB + Seagate 500 GB + Toshiba 3 TB
Display(s)	Lenovo D221
Case	Corsair Carbide 100R
Audio Device(s)	Manhattan Flex BT Headphones, Encore P-801 stereo speakers
Power Supply	Corsair CX450M
Mouse	microsoft office mouse
Keyboard	Modecom mc-800m
Software	Windows 10 Pro x64
Benchmark Scores	gorstak @ hwbot.org

System Name	RemixedBeast-NX
Processor	Intel Xeon E5-2690 @ 2.9Ghz (8C/16T)
Motherboard	Dell Inc. 08HPGT (CPU 1)
Cooling	Dell Standard
Memory	24GB ECC
Video Card(s)	Gigabyte Nvidia RTX2060 6GB
Storage	2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD//2TB WD Black HDD
Display(s)	Samsung SyncMaster P2350 23in @ 1920x1080 + Dell E2013H 20 in @1600x900
Case	Dell Precision T3600 Chassis
Audio Device(s)	Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 // Fiio E7 Amp/DAC
Power Supply	630w Dell T3600 PSU
Mouse	Logitech G700s/G502
Keyboard	Logitech K740
Software	Linux Mint 20
Benchmark Scores	Network: APs: Cisco Meraki MR32, Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC-LR and Lite Router/Sw:Meraki MX64 MS220-8P

Processor	Core i9-9900k
Motherboard	ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 6
Cooling	All air: 2x140mm Fractal exhaust; 3x 140mm Cougar Intake; Enermax ETS-T50 Black CPU cooler
Memory	32GB (2x16) Mushkin Redline DDR-4 3200
Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX 4070 Ti Super OC 16GB
Storage	1x 1TB MX500 (OS); 2x 6TB WD Black; 1x 2TB MX500; 1x 1TB BX500 SSD; 1x 6TB WD Blue storage (eSATA)
Display(s)	Infievo 27" 165Hz @ 2560 x 1440
Case	Fractal Design Define R4 Black -windowed
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Z
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus GX-1000 Gold
Mouse	Coolermaster Sentinel III (large palm grip!)
Keyboard	Logitech G610 Orion mechanical (Cherry Brown switches)
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (Start10 & Fences 3.0 installed)

Processor	Core i7-13700
Motherboard	MSI Z790 Gaming Plus WiFi
Cooling	Cooler Master RGB something
Memory	Corsair DDR5-6000 small OC to 6200
Video Card(s)	XFX Speedster SWFT309 AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT CORE Gaming
Storage	970 EVO NVMe M.2 500GB,,WD850N 2TB
Display(s)	Samsung 28” 4K monitor
Case	Phantek Eclipse P400S
Audio Device(s)	EVGA NU Audio
Power Supply	EVGA 850 BQ
Mouse	Logitech G502 Hero
Keyboard	Logitech G G413 Silver
Software	Windows 11 Professional v23H2

Processor	Intel® Core™ i7-13700K
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15
Memory	32GB(2x16) DDR5@6600MHz G-Skill Trident Z5
Video Card(s)	ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 3080 AMP Holo
Storage	2TB SK Platinum P41 SSD + 4TB SanDisk Ultra SSD + 500GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD
Display(s)	Acer Predator X34 3440x1440@100Hz G-Sync
Case	NZXT PHANTOM410-BK
Audio Device(s)	Creative X-Fi Titanium PCIe
Power Supply	Corsair 850W
Mouse	Logitech Hero G502 SE
Software	Windows 11 Pro - 64bit
Benchmark Scores	30FPS in NFS:Rivals