Windows 10: Changing motherboards after it failed - can't see if windows 11 is OEM or not?

Hello!Im having to change out my motherboard as it recently failed and was unable to see if my Windows 11 was just to this motherboard or a digital key. How am I able to search/look to see if my Windows 11 would transfer over? Is there a way to have my email/one drive be associated and find out that way? Or am I out of luck that it died before I could get anything?I am able to get into my account and my harddrives are fine. Just can't pull anything as it won't post

:)

 

Choice of memory and motherboard... a bit stuck...

No one who got some suggestions on this one, huh?

I've found out that the Asus M3A78-T needs to be flashed, so then that motherboard is excluded from my list. Which motherboard and memory should I then go for? Any suggestions?

 

Windows need activation after motherboard changed, fail to connect to server after troubleshooting for hardware change

If you original had an OEM copy or upgraded from OEM version of Windows to Windows 10, then the license would be invalidated with the motherboard change.

You could try your luck using chat support:

• Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support

 

How to activate Windows 10 OEM version after changing Motherboard?

I think your first step might be to try to determine what kind of license you have.

There are educational license, that probably would behave more like the volume licenses in the sense that you would have to get the university to issue you another license. Or it might be like you think and is an OEM license that might not transfer.

The "current" standard answer for OEM licenses, is that they die with the motherboard dying.

And in fact for a Retail license the answer would be to install that first on the new motherboard and do the upgrade to Windows 10 again.

Now I will mention that in there is currently an Insider build where Microsoft is testing more ways to activate. As in using the product key of the old version of Windows or in the case of machines that have the OEM key embedded in them, use the OEM key
to activate. But it might be months before that is release to the public.

And depending on where the manufactures store that OEM key I suppose it might be possible you changing out the motherboard would in fact remove it. In other words say the original motherboard is from Dell and has a OEM key in it, but you buy a generic motherboard,
then it wouldn't have an OEM key on it.

There is conflicting reports on here if a call to Microsoft will get them to activate or not. Most of them seem to say that Microsoft wouldn't do it for them.

As for your two possible paths. There is no way to pay to change an OEM license to Retail license.

Now on just buying a license in general.

If you are purchasing a motherboard you have the right to buy an OEM license, which is cheaper than the Retail license. But with that you are doing the same thing, and most likely locking your license to that motherboard.

Another possible path is just to buy say Window 8 or 7 license, and then upgrade that to Windows 10.

Also you should check with your university to see if they have some kind of deal.