Possibly replacing mobo. OS question.

[DarkEnergy]

I'm going to try to RMA my mobo because of a front USB short issue. My question is, isn't Windows 10 tied to the motherboard and if so, if I replace the motherboard, will it no longer be activated? If that's the case, would I have to call them to get it fixed or just use the key again? 

[shadowbyte]

if it's the same model of mobo, it should be fine.

Even so, windows is finicky about these things, so you may have to contact microsoft for another windows key.

If you explain your situation, I'm pretty sure they just give you another key and you're on your merry way

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

Didn't happen to me when switching from my i5-4690k and Z97MX-Gaming 5 to a Q6600 and Intel DG41RQ temporarily so you should be fine as well.

[VinsinityKT]

If you used a key, its not embedded into your motherboard. If you upgraded from WIndows 7 or 8 to 10 than it is. I learned this through experimenting while making a test drive.

[DarkEnergy]

4 minutes ago, VinsinityKT said:

If you used a key, its not embedded into your motherboard. If you upgraded from WIndows 7 or 8 to 10 than it is. I learned this through experimenting while making a test drive.

I went from 7 to 10 with the free upgrade. Then I did a fresh reinstall of Windows 10. 

[VinsinityKT]

1 minute ago, DarkEnergy said:

I went from 7 to 10 with the free upgrade. Then I did a fresh reinstall of Windows 10. 

You can try simply plugging in your hard drive. But I think you will have to contact Microsoft for this.