Verified if your Windows 10 is connected to a Microsoft account.
Verified if your Windows 10 is connected to a Microsoft account.
You've switched from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 and the activation message now mentions a digital license tied to your Microsoft account. This means your Windows version is linked to your Microsoft ID, not just a local copy. Changing your hardware like the motherboard or CPU won't affect the activation as long as the license remains valid. Signing in with your Microsoft account on another device will activate it too. You can update your hardware without reinstalling Windows, but you'll need to ensure your license is still active.
1. You likely obtained a license through your college or workplace—this often ties to an email address or Microsoft account.
2. Windows tracks your hardware during activation, so it will turn off when used on different devices (similar to switching SSDs or HDDs between PCs). Just re-enable it with the license you already have.
3. Both computers won’t work together. Using the license on another machine will deactivate Windows on the first one. (This happens because each system has its own hardware.)
Enable it using your Microsoft account here, though all my previous statements remain valid as it functions identically to a license key.