Windows 10: Will Windows 10 Pro Still Work As Normal After Replacing OEM Motherboard?

1. Recently tried replacing/upgrading SSD on XPS15 9550 laptop running Windows 10 Pro 22H2. Did everything "by the book" but when I tried powering on laptop with new blank SSD and Windows 10 Installation Media USB Flash Drive installed, nothing happened. Could not even get a logo screen to get to BIOS.2. After several days of troubleshooting, still cannot get computer to boot - even when reinstalling the OEM SSD. My XPS 15 9550 only has one hard drive which is a Samsung SSD. 3. My last resort is to replace the motherboard.4. Before attempting to swap out the OEM SSD for a new SSD,

:)

 

Windows 10 Pro Activation after motherboard replacement

Hi Greg,

Thanks for all the information.

But in one of the iterations of attempting to activate the license (while my account showed the $99 Windows 10 Pro Upgrade) I did login with the email account as you suggested (was the last tech I talked to after talking to the activation tech suggested). It still did not work and produced the exact same error messages as attempting it under my local account with my MS account being open (and also used for my Office 365 license). After it failed that was when he said the "$99 upgrade was single-use-for-a-single-motherboard only upgrade and could never be used again on a new motherboard". So I asked do you mean that when HP replaced the motherboard because the original had failed, I LOST that license forever, and he said yes, you need to purchase a new license.

I couldn't believe that was absolutely true, but then after trying all the additional suggested steps and it still failed, I was starting to believe it was true. Finally last night I clicked on the Store link and clicked Buy on the $199 Windows Pro Upgrade (only option that came up) and then after selecting PayPal for payment and clicked on the button to complete the payment - 1 second later IT WAS ACTIVATED...

So, as I mentioned, I have now paid $330 for a Windows 10 Pro license ON THE SAME PC.

If the $99 license is such a piece of ****, Microsoft should not be selling it. And when I bought it on 9/26/21 I don't remember a warning being displayed that stated "This is a single install, single use only upgrade for a single motherboard and will never work to activate Windows 10 Pro on your PC if your motherboard fails and is replaced by the OEM. That will require a new purchase of the Windows 10 Pro license." I knew it was for 1 PC only and was not transferable, but not that it was 100% tied to ONLY 1 MOTHERBOARD.

I am hoping now that I have given Microsoft another $220 for a 2nd Windows Pro License this will not be an issue in the future if the motherboard fails again, which of course, I hope that doesn't happen either. I also told the HP tech I talked to that they need to warn their users about this issue if they have purchased and installed the $99 Pro upgrade.

The odd thing now is, I only see the $199 Pro upgrade, not the $99 Pro upgrade. When I searched for the upgrade on 9/26, the only thing I remember seeing was the $99 upgrade. So I selected that. Had I known it was a waste of money I never would have bought it.

And the other odd thing is my MS account shows this PC twice - I assume the latest entry is for the new motherboard and the earliest entry is for the original motherboard, but not 100% sure. Both descriptions are the same, even the same serial number. One does state the OS is "Windows 10 Professional" while the top entry only shows it as "Windows Professional". BUT there is NO mention of the motherboard... If Microsoft is actually tracking "devices" only by their motherboard then that should be listed also. It should also list the date the device was added and it doesn't.

Anyway, my PC is officially licensed again, at a much higher price than I thought it would cost. So the license activation issue is resolved for me. But my concerns on wasting money on a 2nd purchase of a Windows 10 Pro upgrade are still there. But thanks for the reply.

Ray

 

Dell Laptop OEM license missing after motherboard replacement

Yes, it is new laptop, with windows 10 pro manufacturer OEM key

KMS activation require SLIC (win7 or older) or OEM embedded key (win 8 or newer)

we get Dell to replace our motherboard again this time with the proper manufacturer OEM key

this issue has been resolved since then

 

Replacing Motherboard/CPU/RAM with OEM Windows

You haven't misunderstood.

But it becomes complicated.

This was the information Microsoft worked with prior to windows 8, as prior to Windows 8 the product key was not embedded in a chip in the motherboard.

Now you have to convince Microsoft to Activate it for you.

This was the original link. Microsoft is altering/deleting links, but the information that was originally there remains the same (I copied it before the link disappeared)

Device Partner Center

Q. If my customer asks me to upgrade a PC with new hardware components, when is a new operating system needed? When would the PC be considered "new"?

A. Generally, an end user can upgrade or replace all of the hardware components on a computer—except the motherboard—and still retain the licence for the original Microsoft OEM operating system software. If the
motherboard is upgraded or replaced for reasons other than a defect, then a new computer has been created. Microsoft OEM operating system software cannot be transferred to the new computer, and the licence of new operating system software is required.

If the motherboard is replaced because it is defective, you do not need to acquire a new operating system license for the PC
as long as the replacement motherboard is the same make/model or the same manufacturer's replacement/equivalent, as defined by the manufacturer's warranty.