As written on Microsoft Support, When installing Windows
10, the digital license associates itself with your device's hardware. So, if
you make significant changes, such as replacing your motherboard, Windows will
no longer find a license that matches your computer.
Here’s how to prepare
Windows 10 for activation before you make any significant hardware changes. If
you didn't prepare before the hardware change, we also provide the steps to
help you reactivate Windows 10.
Prepare your
Windows 10 device for a hardware change
Confirm that Windows 10
is already activated
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update &
Security > Activation . If not activated, complete the activation
process. If you experience an error while activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors.
Associate your Windows
10 license with your Microsoft account
In Windows 10 (Version
1607 or later), link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 digital license
on your device. Then you can reactivate Windows using the Activation
troubleshooter if you make a significant hardware change later.
First, find out if
your Microsoft account (What is a Microsoft account?)
is linked to your Windows 10 digital license.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update &
Security > Activation
If your Microsoft account is linked, you’ll see this
message on the Activation page:
Windows is activated
with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account.
If you don’t see that
message, you’re not linked. Instead you’ll have an option to Add an account. Here’s how:
1.
Sign in as an
administrator to add your Microsoft account. To confirm if you're using an
administrator account, select the Start button, then select Settings > Accounts > Your
info . Under your name, you’ll
see Administrator. If you’re not an administrator, see Create a local user or administrator account.
2.
Confirm that the
administrator account is also your Microsoft account by checking to see if an
email address is displayed above Administrator. If an email address is displayed, this is a Microsoft account.
If not, you’re logged in using a local account. If you don’t yet have a Microsoft account,
see How to create a new Microsoft
account.
3.
Once
you confirm that you’re an administrator and using your
Microsoft account, go back to the Activation page, select Add an account, enter your Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in.
After your Microsoft
account has been added, on the Activation page you’ll see Windows is activated with a digital license
linked to your Microsoft account.
Confirm your Windows 10
version
Review See which version of Windows 10 you have to
find your version of Windows 10 (such as Windows 10 Professional),
which appears under the Windows Specifications. Be sure your digital license matches your
Windows version following a hardware change.
Get your product key
If you used a product
key to get to Windows 10, then you’ll need that key again after the hardware
change. To find out how to locate your key, see Find your Windows product key. For more
info about product keys and digital licenses, see Activation in Windows 10.
How to
reactivate Windows 10 after a hardware change
Note
Connect your device to
the internet.
Run the Activation
troubleshooter
If you previously linked
your Microsoft account to your digital license, you can use the Activation
troubleshooter to help reactivate Windows after a significant hardware change.
This troubleshooter will
only be available if your copy of Windows 10 (version 1607 or later) isn’t
activated. See Using the Activation
troubleshooter. Also, the Activation troubleshooter helps you
reactivate Windows only after you add your Microsoft account and link your
account to the digital license on your device. To check which version
you’re running, select Start > Settings > System > About .
To use the Activation
troubleshooter:
1.
Sign in as an
administrator. For more info, see Create a local user or administrator account in Windows
10.
2.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation >Troubleshoot .
3.
The troubleshooter will
show a message that Windows can’t be activated on your device. Select I changed hardware on
this device recently, then select Next.
4.
Enter your connected
Microsoft account and password, then select Sign in. The troubleshooter will only work with the
connected Microsoft account.
5.
From the list of devices
that are linked to your Microsoft account, select the device that you’re
currently using. Then select the check box next to This is the device I’m
using right now, then select Activate.
If you don’t see the
device you’re using in the list of results, make sure that you signed in using
the same Microsoft account you linked to the Windows 10 digital license on your
device. Once you confirm that you’re signed in using the same Microsoft
account, here are some additional reasons why you can’t reactivate Windows:
·
The edition of Windows
on your device doesn’t match the edition of Windows you linked to your digital
license.
·
The type of device
you’re activating doesn’t match the type of device you linked to your digital
license.
·
Windows was never
activated on your device.
·
You reached the limit on
the number of times you can reactivate Windows on your device. For more info,
see Terms of Use.
·
Your device has more
than one administrator, and a different administrator already reactivated
Windows on your device.
·
Your device is managed
by your organization and the option to reactivate Windows isn’t available. For
help with reactivation, contact your organization’s support person.
Enter your product key
If Windows 10 wasn't
pre-installed on your device when purchased, and you used a product key to
upgrade to Windows 10, then you'll need that same product key after the
hardware change.
Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change Product Key, then enter the product key.
If you installed a
retail copy of Windows 10 on your device using a Windows 10 product key, and
then made hardware changes, follow this same process using your Windows 10
product key.
If you continue to
experience errors when activating, see Get help with Windows activation errors and
locate the error you're getting.
If you don’t have a
product key or digital license
If you don't have a
product key or digital license, you can purchase a Windows 10 license after
installation finishes. Select the Start button, then select Settings > Update & Security > Activation . Then select Go to Store to go to Microsoft Store, where you
can purchase a Windows 10 license.
If you need additional
help reactivating Windows on your device, contact customer support.