Windows 10: Is Digital activation tied to a microsoft account as well as hardware?

Hi folks,

I was wondering about this, since we have a digital licence for Windows 10, and should one need a new motherboard, how does Microsoft determine if we are entitled to Activation for Windows 10 or not, if that activation is only tied to hardware..

Short History, I had Windows 7 home OEM which I upgraded to windows 8 pro at a special discount from Microsoft, now that licence could be transferred from one computer to another, one copy of OS only run once at any time though.

Now I am not entirely sure when I upgraded Windows 8 pro to Windows 10 pro whether or not I lost the right to transfer it to another computer, or maybe if I replaced existing Motherboard, if activation might still work.

So that is partly reason for my activation question of digital activation licence is only tied to hardware, or linked to a Microsoft account as well.

Some clarification would be gratefully appreciated.
Many Thanks
Joe

:)

 

Is my digital Win10 license tied to my account?

So I bought a license from a third party website and activated it. It says
"Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account." on Activation page. Does that mean that license is tied to my account? Do I need to copy my activation code and store it to use it after formatting my PC or will it automatically
use that license when I log in to my account?

 

Link Microsoft Account to Windows 10 Digital License  

This is what i get on step 2

 

Windows 10: Will digital license of Windows 10 linked to Microsoft account?

Hi,



I realize that you have queries about activating Windows 10 through Microsoft account by linking to digital license. I will certainly help you.

When you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10, the digital license will be automatically linked to your Microsoft account.

Also I recommend you to refer to the information provided by Andre Da Costa in the link below and check if it helps.

How to troubleshoot Product Activation in Windows 10

I suggest you to follow the steps for activating Windows 10 after there is any hardware changes

How to activate Windows 10 after hardware changes:
When you have linked your Windows 10 digital license to your Microsoft account, then you can use the following direction to activate Windows 10 after hardware changes.

Step 1: Click on Start Menu. Then select Settings.

Step 2: Click Update & security.

Step 3: Then click on Activation. If your Windows 10 copy is not activated and you see a link labeled as
Troubleshoot.

Step 4: After that click on Troubleshoot link to open Windows 10 activation troubleshooter and get your copy of Windows 10 activated after hardware changes.

Step 5: If the troubleshooter fails to activate Windows 10, then you will see a option as
I changed hardware on this device recently.

Step 6: Click on I changed hardware on this device recently link or option to see a page where you need to enter your Microsoft account email address as well as password.

Step 7: Then try to select your Windows 10 computer from the devices list, check the box labeled as
This is the device I am using right now and then click on
Activate button to activate your copy of Windows 10.

Please get back to us with an update on queries on Windows 10, we will be happy to help.

Thank you.