Windows 10: Reactivating Windows after replacing motherboard

Some backstory before I start- Back in June of 2018 I bought a prebuilt Cyberpower pc. After 2 years the motherboard died, so I replaced it. After booting it up, I have a little thing in the bottom right hand corner of my screen that says, "Activate Windows. Go to Settings to activate Windows" So I went there and fast forward later after some research and I've learned I need my original product key to reactivate Windows. The problem is I don't have it. Since the pc is a prebuilt, I checked the manual and it said that all pcs manufactured during or after 2018 would no longer have the product key because the key is saved on the motherboard the pc came with. Like I said earlier, the motherboard is dead. Is there anyway to retrieve the product key from the dead motherboard or will I have to re-buy Windows?


Thanks

:)

 

Reactivating Windows after replacing an OEM motherboard.

can not reactivate after replacing an oem motherboard

[Original title:
reativating]

 

Can't reactivate Windows 10 Pro after replacing motherboard

Hi,

I've just replaced a faulty motherboard in my PC and tried to reactivate Windows 10 Pro via the Windows Activation troubleshooter. The license linked to my account is an upgrade from a retail version of a previous version (so i should be able to reactivate
it). After selecting the correct device to activate I am presented with the following error message:

Unable to activate Windows

We can’t reactivate Windows on this device. Try again later.

Learn more

You can also activate this device by going to the Store and purchasing a genuine copy of Windows.



Go to Store

The "Learn more" page referred to does not help as I have just followed the steps listed on that page to get to where I am now.

 

New Motherboard and Reactivation

I **think** that if you are replacing a broken motherboard with an identical replacement then you have a good chance of successfully re-activating your current Win10 installation

Once you have installed your new identical motherboard to replace the broken one I recommend you do the following:

• Speak to a Microsoft Activation Customer Service Representative on the phone.
• You will be able to get the phone number via the activation screen in "Settings"
• Clearly state that the motherboard used to initially activate Windows 10 had failed and needed to replaced
• Clearly state that this is a repair and not an upgrade
• Clearly state that you are replacing a defective motherboard with an identical like-for-like replacement (same make and model)
  
• Clearly state again that this is definitely not an upgrade of your existing hardware

FYI, I have successfully re-activated previous versions of Windows after replacing a broken motherboard with an identical make and model. I used the method to ensure success.

If you are not 100% clear in the way you are expressing your self then you may not be successful. ie They will not re-activate if they believe you performed a major hardware upgrade

Good luck.