I've just bought an Asus Win 10 laptop and noticed that there is no CD-key at the bottom and the laptop does not prompt me to make a recovery disc. How do I backup my windows copy if I need to reformat or if the HD becomes corrupt? The last laptop I bought in 2013 had a key.
Does anyone know?
Since Windows 8, machines supplied by OEM with Windows pre-installed have the key embedded in the bios firmware.
Windows 7 machines had an SLP marker embedded in the firmware if they were supplied with an installed OS. The key was on the CoA sticker.The last laptop I bought in 2013 had a key.
You can see the SLP marker or embedded key with ShowKey Plus.
ShowKeyPlus - Windows 10 Forums
Make a Recovery Drive that includes system files. For an OEM installed windows this will include the OEM custom drivers and apps. It is effectively a 'factory reset' drive. You can boot from the recovery drive and reinstall Windows exactly as it was supplied.
Create Recovery Drive in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials
When you boot from a recovery drive and choose to clean install Windows it will read the key from the firmware, you will not be asked for a key or which edition to install, all that will be read from the firmware.
If you want to backup the Windows as you have configured it to your needs, then we strongly recommend you make regular system images. This can restore windows, all the apps you may have installed and all you user files. Macrium Reflect (Free) is what most here recommend to use.
As you have Win 10 your digital activation is held on MS, identified against your PC's hardware id (one of them in particular) - which allows you to change certain hardware freely, in particular your disk.
You can always freely download Win 10 isos and reinstall Win 10 without needing a key.
MS now recommends using 3rd party software in place of Win 7 Backup and Restore.
As @Bree says- we urge users strongly to routinely use disk imaging- will often help avoid
a. seeking technical help
b. a clean install
by being able to restore Windows and other disks or partitions imaged to a previous working state.
First, you do not need a product key. When you reinstall the same edition than laptop came with, Windows will be automatically activated.
Second, your laptop should have a so called factory recovery option, a partition containing everything to restore Windows 10 as it was when laptop was shipped from factory. Consult the manual to find out how to use it.
And last, if you want to, you can also create your own "factory recovery" partition and add it to Windows boot menu. Install all your software, update Windows and create all user accounts you need. When done, follow instructions in this tutorial to create a recovery option which restores your Windows to exactly the same state it was when recovery partition was created, with all your software, user profiles and user data, customized settings and so on: Factory recovery - Create a Custom Recovery Partition | Windows 10 Tutorials
Kari
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