No, you don't need a new Windows key when upgrading your motherboard.
No, you don't need a new Windows key when upgrading your motherboard.
I received a digital license key from an OEM W8.1 setup, which is the code you get after upgrading from W7 to W10 and then to W8.1.
This matches the details displayed in your system info page https://gyazo.com/01aca74a87a89d8ef1015b62aec1d5a7
Upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 can be done via the key or the free offer, regardless of method. You don’t have to connect the key to an MS account, and it doesn’t need to be saved in the Microsoft account. You can install Windows 10 using a key that isn’t linked, whether it’s from Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 OEM/retail.
The process required connecting it so the key works across various motherboards. When I switched boards, my new one didn’t activate because it lacked a key from MS servers. I needed to set up an account using my MS account to transfer the key between old and new boards.
Should I purchase a new key? I chose not to switch to Windows 10 because I didn’t like its appearance and the constant changes, but now I see that was a huge error.