A motherboard replacement can affect Windows activation because the digital licence is associated with hardware. Check the activation state before the repair while the existing computer still starts; reconstructing that information afterwards can be harder.

Open Settings, System, Activation. Record the Windows edition and the exact activation status. Home and Pro are different editions, and Microsoft specifies that the edition must match when reactivating an existing licence. A photograph of the status can be useful, but crop out account details before sharing it.

Establish the recovery route

If the page says the digital licence is linked to your Microsoft account, make sure you know which account that is and can access it. If it is not linked, review Microsoft's account-linking instructions before the hardware change when that is appropriate to your licence and device ownership.

If Windows was purchased with a product key, locate the original purchase record and keep the key securely. Do not place the full key in a public ticket, blog comment or general repair description. For an organisation-managed installation, its administrator should handle licensing.

Account linking enables a reactivation route; it is not a promise that every licence can be transferred to any replacement hardware. Keep the original purchase and device history available if Microsoft or the manufacturer needs to assess eligibility.

Check after the repair

Once the repaired PC is online, return to Activation and inspect the status. If Windows is not activated and you have a linked digital licence, Microsoft's Activation troubleshooter includes an option for a recent hardware change. Use the same account associated with the licence and identify the correct device.

Record any error code rather than repeatedly entering unrelated keys or purchasing a replacement immediately. Also distinguish activation from data access: an activation problem and a BitLocker recovery prompt are separate issues. Resolve each through its proper process and confirm the final activation state after the hardware work is complete.

Reference: Microsoft Support.