This actually happened to me only a week or so ago. Was trying to fix a crashing issue with one of my games.

I lost a Windows 11 license because my laptop's motherboard failed and had to get replaced.

Didn't Microsoft tie your machine license to your Microsoft account for this reason?

OEM licenses can be kind of funny. They aren’t portable, though I would’ve thought that the motherboard was replaced by a motherboard by the same OEM, etc. and should’ve qualified to use that OEM’s license.

It does, or at least it used to. Back during the Vista days my copy of Windows failed to activate after I replaced the motherboard, but Microsoft support was happy to help me when I explained that it was the same computer with new parts in it.

People who like their Windows license to be activated after a motherboard replacement, it seems.

Then again, the manufacturer probably should've made sure the replacement motherboard was covered by a license.

From my experience with Lenovo if the motherboard got replaced by the manufacturer they should have given you one with a license attached

What did Microsoft tell you when you attempted to reactivate? It used to be they'd just do it if you called them.

why, exactly, are operating systems licensed in this asinine user-hostile way? Is it a monetary thing or something?

This only happens if you are using an upgraded Win7/8 key and only on the newest updates of Win10/11.

If you're using a Win 10 upgrade or Win11 fresh key, it's expected you wouldn't encounter it.

It happened to me on a brand new PC (MSI Z790 motherboard) when I updated the BIOS, with a brand new Windows 11 license purchased from the MS store. It looked like the BIOS update was clearing fTPM keys or something. I ended up hitting my activation limit and had to call in and spend 1.5 hours speaking to various levels of escalation, uploading various invoices as proof of purchase, and then eventually they issued me an alternative product key which has worked ever since.

Faster just to crack it

Maybe it doesn't deactivate it you change the components one at a time over a long period, Ship of Theseus style

I think it depends on what windows license you have... OEM or one you bought yourself.