Cannot view product key on clean install

alphanumeric said:

Getting back to your first post. Is the product code on the COA sticker hidden? I don't get the "tried to remove the little sticker over the product key, and destroyed the product key" comment?

Yes, when the CD came from Amazon, there's a little sticker over part of the product key... So, I tried to carefully remove it. Nope, it also removed/damaged some of the key. So, sent it back to Amazon, and they're sending me a replacement. When it comes, i'll post a picture of the key with the sticker on it. That makes NO sense at all!. Why even bother with putting a key with a sticker over it?

alphanumeric said:

If you have already done the free upgrade from 7 to 10 you don't need a key. Have a look in Settings > Update & security > Activation, what does it show?

It says "Windows is activated with a digital license" There's also an option to "change product key"....Why would you want to do that?

neverquit said:

It says "Windows is activated with a digital license" ....

Then you are free to do a clean install (replacing the HDD with a new one, if you wish), skip entering a product key and it will activate automatically from the digital licence.

There's also an option to "change product key"....Why would you want to do that?

If you had Home and had bought an upgrade to Pro, for example.

neverquit said:

It says "Windows is activated with a digital license" There's also an option to "change product key"....Why would you want to do that?

To upgrade from Home to Pro - or on the newer builds of Windows 10 from Pro to Enterprise.

Bree said:

Then you are free to do a clean install (replacing the HDD with a new on, if you wish), skip entering s product key andit will activate automatically from the digital licence.

Yep!

So, @neverquit, what I would do when you get the Windows 10 CD is try again to carefully remove the protective sticker over the product key, then record it somewhere and keep it for future use. Or see if Amazon will give you your money back if you return it with the sticker still in place over the product key.

neverquit said:

It says "Windows is activated with a digital license" There's also an option to "change product key"....Why would you want to do that?

You can switch key if you accidentally entered the wrong one that was supposed to be on a different computer, you can also upgrade a Home edition of Windows to Pro by using a different key.

slicendice said:

You can switch key if you accidentally entered the wrong one that was supposed to be on a different computer, you can also upgrade a Home edition of Windows to Pro by using a different key.

Thank you!. And I apologize for being ignorant of things you guys take for granted, but let me ask this, what's the difference between a digital license and a product key?.... Are the interchangeable?. Do I need both of them?
I hate to repeat myself, but it seems Microsoft has taken something so simple, and made it so complicated.... At least in my eyes, but then I'm not like you guys, but that's why I'm on this forum.....And I sincerely thank everyone for their help!

If you have a digital license you do not need a product key. In most cases with Windows 10, you use a product key to get a digital license, and once you have it you no longer need the product key.

It's like having to show something like a birth certificate to get a driver's license. You have to have it the first time you get the license, but to renew the license you don't need to show the birth certificate again.

NavyLCDR said:

If you have a digital license you do not need a product key. In most cases with Windows 10, you use a product key to get a digital license, and once you have it you no longer need the product key.

It's like having to show something like a birth certificate to get a driver's license. You have to have it the first time you get the license, but to renew the license you don't need to show the birth certificate again.

Ahh!... Great, thank you for the explanation!