How to escalate support issues.
I have an issue with Microsoft's Backup and Restore and File History on Windows 11. Specifically, the shadow copy space is empty and set to 1GB, but the error complains that the shadow space is full or too small. (I've run through every support article available) This was all working fine (on Win 11) until a couple of weeks ago. However, the support chat claims this is 3rd-party software and that Windows 7 backups cannot be restored to Windows 11, which has nothing to do with the issue at hand. The machine has never had Windows 7 installed, but the support agent insists that Windows 7 is unsupported, and hence, I'm using 3rd-party software and will not transfer me to anyone else, and no longer responds. The agent's reasoning just doesn't make sense to me. Is there any way to raise a support issue for Windows 11 or its components? This reminds me of trying to install Windows Vista; although it was a forced upgrade that failed, the support agent just insisted Microsoft Vista wasn't Microsoft software.
Windows 11 not activating after mainboard replacement, troubleshooter doesn't run, can't get support
I work from home with my PC running Windows 11 Pro 25H2. My Windows license has a long lineage, starting with a retail Windows 8 DVD, which was successively updated for free to Windows 8.1, 10, and 11, activating it with a digital license automatically issued by Microsoft at every update and renewed without issue at every Windows reinstall. So, I don't have a Windows 11 product key, and since the original retail purchase was over a decade ago, I don't have the Windows 8 DVD or its key anymore either (not that I think that it would work anyway). During all those years, my PC had several hardware changes that affected the activation, but back in those days you could easily talk to a Microsoft support representative, and they always solved my problem. Now, however, Microsoft has made that extremely difficult. More about this later on. My mainboard just died a few days ago, and I was forced to replace it. I did not reinstall Windows, I'm still using the same old boot drive with the same Windows install. I knew I would lose the Windows activation, but I counted on that being easy to resolve, as it was the previous times. Was I wrong! I searched what I should do and found that I had to run the activation troubleshooter on the Settings -> System -> Activation window and inform that my hardware had changed. However, when I click on the Troubleshoot button, nothing happens, other than the mouse cursor briefly blinking. THE TROUBLESHOOTER WINDOW DOES NOT APPEAR AND IT DOES NOT RUN. I ran sfc /scannow, rebooted, and tried again. Nothing changed. I tried to contact Microsoft's support, but after walking in circles through a lot of knowledge base articles that the site force-fed me and that obviously didn't help, I finally found an actual contact link. It asked me for the type of issue, and I selected "Windows activation". After another truckload of useless KB articles, it asked me to inform my installation ID (not the product key), which, according to that page, should appear on the Activation window. The window does not show the installation ID. I searched again and found that I could obtain the installation ID with the command slmgr /dtl. Indeed, it showed the ID — in a separate pop-up window that doesn't allow copying the text. It's a very long sequence of digits (63, I think) that I had to manually and carefully type into the form. I had a few false starts (it's easy to mistype when it's 63 seemingly random digits), but the form warned me that the ID was invalid and I retyped it until I got it right. Then I got a response that said that my installation could not be validated and I could close the window. No contact link, nothing more. Dead end. Microsoft refused to even hear me! So, the recommended solution doesn't work and Microsoft won't even let me contact them and explain my problem. I don't want to buy a new Windows license, not only because of the expense, but also because it wouldn't be fair. After all, until a few days ago I was a legitimate user with a fully licensed and activated Windows install, according to Microsoft's own terms. In the meantime, I'm writing this with that ugly watermark on my monitor... What can I do? Thank you very much in advance for any help.
Why does the "Properties" window still display a light theme in Windows 11's dark mode?
In Windows 11, even though the system theme is set to dark mode, when right-clicking on a file or folder to open the "Properties" window, its interface remains in a light theme, which does not coordinate with the dark design of other parts of the system. I want to confirm whether this is the system's established design, a known defect, or an issue that can be adjusted through settings, and seek possible solutions.
W11 Home activation problems, how can I speak to real person on phone?
Hi, I want to activate my Windows 11 Home, but it's not working. When I call support, I'm directed to a website, but that doesn't help either. How can I get through to a real person on the phone? No matter what I say, I always get referred to a website. Thanks in advance!
Secure Boot Certificate Updates via InTune Policy
We are currently having issues applying the settings required to install secure boot cert updates using the InTune policy method. A brief overview to quickly explain : We are a reasonably large company managing a mix of over 10,000 Windows and iOS devices. Our Windows devices come from the supplier with the Professional edition of Windows pre-installed, this is then changed via an Enterprise key as part of our Autopilot enrolment process and activated via our users subscription license. To all sense and purposes Windows looks and feels like the Enterprise edition, indeed if you check using winver, system settings and activation status for example then Windows tells us that it is the Enterprise edition. However, if you check the licensing using slmgr /dli it shows that the licensing has been reverted back to the OEM Professional edition as pre-installed by the supplier on purchase. This may have always been the case but until very recently has gone unnoticed. Whilst testing the rollout of an InTune policy to allow secure boot cert updates as detailed here : Microsoft Intune method of Secure Boot for Windows devices with IT-managed updates - Microsoft Support , this is failing because the policy is rejected by licensing error : MDM PolicyManager: Policy is rejected by licensing, Policy: (ConfigureMicrosoftUpdateManagedOptIn), Area: (SecureBoot), Result:(0x82B00006) Unknown Win32 Error code: 0x82b00006 InTune reporting directly on the policy shows this as error 65000 We are able to change the key by using slmgr and a combination of MAK\KMS\OEM but whatever keys are applied this always reverts to being the OEM Professional key after the device has been restarted. I have seen that there is a group policy method for setting the required settings for the secure boot cert updates to work, this however seems a very backward approach by Microsoft in an area where they are trying to promote a cloud-first policy. Indeed since we rolled out Windows 11, we as an organisation have been moving anything that we can to cloud in readiness for retirement of our on-prem estate. Microsoft's response to my recent support request was that this is expected behaviour, which to all sense and purposes is not what i would class as a solution. Has anyone else had the same issues when using the InTune policy method, and was a solution found or did you have to return to the dark ages and resort to group policy? There seem to be lots of posts online referring to access to specific registry keys being blocked going as far back as 2024, the suggested script to resolve these permissions and suggested KB articles have not resolved the issue.
Is Enabling Secure Boot Mandatory for Windows 11 Installation?
The device supports TPM 2.0 but it is not enabled. Configuring Secure Boot poses challenges as it requires completely disabling CSM compatibility mode in the BIOS. Attempting to boot in UEFI-only mode results in a black screen issue with the graphics card. Please clarify: 1. Is Secure Boot an absolute requirement for installing Windows 11? 2. How can the black screen issue with the graphics card in UEFI mode and the difficulties in configuring Secure Boot be resolved?Windows 11 Home to Pro - Azure
Hi All, We mistakenly purchased a PC with Windows 11 Home license. We use M365 and with all our Windows 10 Pro PCs, we can set up using an Azure account for work. What options do we have to upgrade to 11 Pro? PC hasn't been touched yet, as I'm aware there are issues with purchasing an upgrade through the store as it will be linked to the personal account logged in with and not an Azure account. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.
The Windows 11 login screen lacks a password field and displays a password error.
The Windows login screen fails to display the password input field. After clicking “Login,” it prompts that the password is incorrect (though the actual password is correct), preventing access to the system. Seeking an effective solution.
