A Stupid Question About Windows 10 Product Keys

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  1. Posts : 41
    Windows 7 Home Premium
       #31

    alphanumeric said:
    Most of those utilities like majicjellybean etc pull the key from the Windows registry. That would be the current key in use. That's what most people want. The gotchas are if you upgraded to Pro in Windows 8 and your key gets blocked because you bought it on say ebay. Then you need the original non pro key to get legal again. Same thing can happen if you add Media Center and it fails activation. Those utilities will just show you your Media Center key. Showkey gets you all the keys. That's all I'm saying. It all depends on what your looking for.
    I recently downloaded Showkey and have checked my 2 PC's. Nice utility :).

    I have a question about my Laptop PC.

    Toshiba Laptop Win 7x64 Home Premium OEM version (factory installed Win 7).

    Here's my Showkey info from the Laptop:

    Windows Product Key InformationProduct Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
    Product ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Installed Key: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    OEM Key: Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware

    Is the OEM firmware key the same as my COA sticker? Since it didn't show the key information, I was curious about it.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,248
    Windows 10 Pro (Build 19043.1110)
       #32

    alphanumeric said:
    Most of those utilities like majicjellybean etc pull the key from the Windows registry. That would be the current key in use. That's what most people want. The gotchas are if you upgraded to Pro in Windows 8 and your key gets blocked because you bought it on say ebay. Then you need the original non pro key to get legal again. Same thing can happen if you add Media Center and it fails activation. Those utilities will just show you your Media Center key. Showkey gets you all the keys. That's all I'm saying. It all depends on what your looking for.
    Where does one get the Showkey you refer to? I did a quick search, and there are all sorts of different things going by that name...
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  3. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #33

    I think its already linked to but here it is again. https://www.tenforums.com/software-ap...7-showkey.html
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #34

    Voyager 1 said:
    I recently downloaded Showkey and have checked my 2 PC's. Nice utility :).

    I have a question about my Laptop PC.

    Toshiba Laptop Win 7x64 Home Premium OEM version (factory installed Win 7).

    Here's my Showkey info from the Laptop:

    Windows Product Key InformationProduct Name: Windows 7 Home Premium
    Product ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Installed Key: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    OEM Key: Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware

    Is the OEM firmware key the same as my COA sticker? Since it didn't show the key information, I was curious about it.
    No, they will be different. The Windows 7 OEM key is not stored in the BIOS, only OEM info is there. Showkey won't show the Windows 7 key unless you upgraded from Windows 7 or are running Windows 7. It's only ever stored in the Windows registry.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,778
    Windows 10 Pro,
    Thread Starter
       #35

    I will run my Speccy and report back. So far I have tried Showkey and Magical Jelly Bean and I have uncovered the same unique product code both times.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #36

    Rocky said:
    I will run my Speccy and report back. So far I have tried Showkey and Magical Jelly Bean and I have uncovered the same unique product code both times.
    Have you opted out of the Insiders Program on that PC? If yes, do you know what your key was before and after?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 41
    Windows 7 Home Premium
       #37

    alphanumeric said:
    No, they will be different. The Windows 7 OEM key is not stored in the BIOS, only OEM info is there. Showkey won't show the Windows 7 key unless you upgraded from Windows 7 or are running Windows 7. It's only ever stored in the Windows registry.
    10-4, thanks for the info.

    I'm still a little apprehensive about the Win 10 question I had about keeping my original OEM Win 7 install on one HDD and upgrading to the free Win 10 OS on another HDD. I'll see how it goes with other member's posts after the general releases rolls out.

    It's the part about an OEM key/code, etc, being present in the firmware that I'm wondering about, if that will prevent me from using 2 HDD's when I want to switch from Win 7 to 10, and vice versa.

    However, I'll probably upgrade my Desktop PC first. It doesn't have any OEM/key present on my MoBo.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,248
    Windows 10 Pro (Build 19043.1110)
       #38

    alphanumeric said:
    I think its already linked to but here it is again. https://www.tenforums.com/software-ap...7-showkey.html
    Thanks! It correctly shows my currently installed Win10 key (same as what Speccy shows), the Win8 key from which it was upgraded, and says that a Vista OEM marker is present in firmware. Interesting...
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #39

    Voyager 1 said:
    10-4, thanks for the info.

    I'm still a little apprehensive about the Win 10 question I had about keeping my original OEM Win 7 install on one HDD and upgrading to the free Win 10 OS on another HDD. I'll see how it goes with other member's posts after the general releases rolls out.

    It's the part about an OEM key/code, etc, being present in the firmware that I'm wondering about, if that will prevent me from using 2 HDD's when I want to switch from Win 7 to 10, and vice versa.

    However, I'll probably upgrade my Desktop PC first. It doesn't have any OEM/key present on my MoBo.
    There is no Windows 7 key stored in the firmware, even on OEM PC's. There is a SLIC table with software licensing info but no product code. Embedded keys are only used in Windows 8. The SLIC table just lists the OEM, example Dell, and that its authorized for a factory Windows 7 install. There isn't even any version info there. The factory install media determines what version is installed and what key is used.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #40

    sgage said:
    Thanks! It correctly shows my currently installed Win10 key (same as what Speccy shows), the Win8 key from which it was upgraded, and says that a Vista OEM marker is present in firmware. Interesting...
    The BIOS SLIC table can have markers for XP, Vista and or Windows 7. It all depends on what Windows OS's where originally offered with that PC. It looks like yours is only validated for an OEM Vista install.
      My Computer


 

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