Windows 10: Cannot activate after hardware change, used digital license before

Dear Microsoft Community,


I've run into a frustrating problem after I switched out my motherboard, Ram and Cpu.

I know that the license is normally bound to the mainboard and therefore created an digital license linked to my Microsoft Account to cope that and dont get any problems with activation after the swap. Unfortunately I didn't help at all and I now dont have any license for my pc anymore, which annoys me, and I'm not gonna buy a new one just because Windows doesn't recognize my old one anymore.


I used the troubleshooter found under activation etc. and all it said to me is, that its not able to activate my windows 10 license and then sends me to the store to get a new productkey, thanks for nothing Microsoft!

I've tried every option this troubleshooter offers and either it told me that i cannot activate my windows anymore or when i've used the "recently changed my hardware on this device" option Windows tells me that it can't be activated right now. So I'm a bit stuck right now and have to live with an unactivated windows even tho i purchased and linked a previous key to my account.



Are there any possibilities for me to try out or any helpful advice helping with my problem?

I already want to thank for every response i might get.

If any information is important for further actions, message me and I will provide these information, thanks!

:)

 

Uninstall (delete, remove) the Windows 10 digital license from old hardware, after reactivating it on new (similar) hardware, after hardware change

Hi,

I recently was able to reactivate my Windows 10 digital license on new (only on similar, same type laptop to laptop) hardware, by linking my Microsoft account. I followed the steps mentoned in

Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change .

I find that the old hardware, still has an activated digital license of Windows.

I need to uninstall the digital license from the old hardware, in such a way that it will not activate, on its own, and will not invalidate the digital license on my new hardware, at all.

Please advice me, as I would like to transfer my digital license to my new hardware, completely, and permanently. I require my old hardware to not be having the digital license, at all, and the digital license to be completely deleted from it.

 

How does a Windows 10 'digital license' activate the OS?

source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation

Does MS digital license 'fingerprint' hardware information during the free upgrade / activation and store it (at Microsoft) , so that the next re-install queries MS for the fingerprint and activates Windows 10?

Thought the disk drive may change, I expect that none of the other fingerprinted hardware will change.

 

Windows 10 Digital License Activation not working after hardware change.

From the MS site:

"Digital licenses are associated with your hardware and linked to your Microsoft account, so there's nothing you need to find on your PC. You're all set once your PC is connected to the internet and you log in to your Microsoft
account.

Hide all
First time installation and activation on a new device or motherboard
Activate after reinstalling Windows 10
Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change

When you make a significant hardware change to your device, such as replacing the motherboard, Windows 10 might no longer be activated.

Make sure you associate your Microsoft account to your digital license to prepare for hardware changes. The association enables you to reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter if you make a significant hardware change later. For more
info, see Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change.

If you don't have a digital license, you'll use a product key to activate. "

I already had a product key given to me from OnTheHub. MS states that product key gets turned into a digital license:

[table][tr][td]Buying a digital copy of Windows 10 from an authorized retailer[/td][td]Product keyFind your product key in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 10 or in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website.A digital license will be given to your device for Windows 10 based on the valid product key you entered.[/td][/tr][/table]

Furthermore, this PC did not have a preinstalled Windows 10. This was not a prebuilt PC and I have used this version on Windows since I built it in 2016.