Recover Windows 10 key after installing Windows 7


  1. PabloViGar
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Recover Windows 10 key after installing Windows 7


    Hello everyone,

    I updated to W10 from W7 last year, when you could do it for free, and, as far as I know, my official W10 key got stored in my motherboard.
    Today, I wanted to format my PC but accidentally installed W7 instead of W10.
    I want to upgrade to W10 so I am creating an image and so. My question is: is there any way so I can get my W10 official key back?
    I have tried using key recovery software but it only gets the W7 key.

    Thank you.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Caledon Ken
    Posts : 30,849
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       New #2

    Hi PabloViGar. Welcome to the TenForums @PabloViGar

    Your entitlement was actually stored on the MS servers not you MB.

    Just do a clean install on 10, same version, skip over entering key and MS will activate your software.

    If you made significant changes then some additional steps are required.

    Ken
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. PabloViGar
    Posts : 2
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    That's right, the problem is solved. Thank you.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. Caledon Ken
    Posts : 30,849
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       New #4

    Excellent. Glad the forum could help.

    Ken
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. alphanumeric
    Posts : 15,196
    Windows 10 IoT
       New #5

    Just to clarify, The only Windows 10 keys stored in the BIOS are those put there by OEM's like Dell, Acer, ASUS etc. It's not added by upgrading to Windows 10. As you found out, you get a Digital License, and that is stored on the Microsoft Activation Server. The key you originally got was a generic key all PC's that do the free upgrade get it. There is a Home key and a Pro key etc. Those keys are easy to find with a Google search. You could enter them during setup, no need to though. They will only work (activate) if that PC already has a Digital license stored on the activation server. No pre existing DL and no activation. Run showkey now and you'll see what your 10 key is. ShowKeyPlus
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
How to Recover Deleted Files with Windows File Recovery app in Windows 10 If you can’t locate a lost file from your backup, then you can use Windows File Recovery, which is a command line app created by Microsoft available from the Microsoft...
In Windows 10, I was using Windows Live Mail for many years, and decided it was time to change, since WLM is being phased out by Microsoft. I had many emails stored in files under headings in WLM, but I thought that these would be transferred to...
Unable to recover windows 10 please help
in Performance & Maintenance

I recently purchased my new computer which is the MSI Trident 3 running Windows 10. This was a used computer so when we went to perform a reset Windows 10 somehow got corrupted and now I’m stuck on the error Recovery, file...
Recover Windows onto new SSD
in Installation and Upgrade

Original post: Got an SSD for my ASUS G750 laptop. I probably could do a clean install from from an ISO, but being a laptop I want to do what would be a factory reset to preserve all the drivers. I'm not interested in cloning because I want...
How to Use Windows Device Recovery Tool to Rollback from Windows 10 Mobile You can download the Windows Device Recovery Tool on your PC and use it to fix software problems on your Windows 10 Mobile phone. It'll install the latest version of...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:20.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums