Windows 10: I broke my motherboard and need to replace it. How do I reactivate windows after the repair?

I misaligned a screw for the CPU cooler when servicing my water-cooled system. I am going to replace the motherboard. Will I still be able to activate my Windows install? HDD and all other components will remain the same.

:)

 

New Motherboard and Reactivation

That is definitely correct if replacing the motherboard as part of an upgrade. However, this not an upgrade. Therefore, I believe your conclusion is incorrect.

This is because replacing a broken motherboard with an identical make and model mobo is not an upgrade but a hardware repair. That type of repair does not meet the any specified definition of an upgrade as stated or defined within the EULA.

 

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.

 

WIndows auto-reactivating after motherboard replacement?

Hi all - just a quick question. I have an HP laptop I was asked to repair. Turns out the motherboard is toast.

I want to order a replacement used board from Ebay. The current dead board has an embedded Win10 license key. That means that the new board should also have an embedded Win10 license key.

If I replace the motherboard with a good used one and then just reinstall the hard drive that is in the machine now without reinstalling Windows, will the current install of Windows just reactivate itself with the license key embedded on THIS board? None of the 'hardware' will have changed as it's the exact same motherboard in terms of specs, the only thing that will have changed is the board itself...? The embedded key on the new motherboard will be a legitimate key....so would that work in theory?

Thanks!