I have tried to change the product key using either my Windows 8 or 8.1 Pro 64 bit product keys. But every time i go to change product key, and put the new key it, and run ShowKey Plus, it shows the same old product key.
Is there a simple way to clear the UEFI of the old key completely, so I can do a clean install, using either of the above product keys?
If the Puter came with OEM Win 8.* or Win 10 installed (?) the Key is embedded in the BIOS and can't be changed
If you try to do a clean install on a machine originally supplied with Windows 8/8.1/10 then the OEM key is embedded in the firmware (and cannot be removed). Setup will detect this and skip asking for a product key or which version you want to install. If the OEM key was for Home then that's what it will install, even if you subsequently upgraded the PC to Pro.
If this PC has previously had Pro running and activated with a digital licence then the easiest solution is to let it install Home. After Home has installed that can be upgraded to Pro (which activates from the existing digital licence) by changing the key to the generic Pro key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions
If you wish to install Pro directly on a machine with an embedded Home key, then you have to modify your install media to force it to ignore the OEM key.
Windows 10 Home upgrade to Pro Version - post #15
Installation does NOT ask for key during install
If the product key is permanently embedded in the chipset of the mobo, why does Windows 10 have the option to change the product key? Because even after I change it using this option, it reverts back to the embedded product key!
Surely there must be some way to clear the UEFI chipset?
Discussed here on MS site - detail at end.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...e-bdca91b2aa52
Is your activation perhaps linked to your MS account?
Whick key are you looking at? ShowKeyPlus shows several keys, only the Installed Key determines if you currently have a Home or Pro OS, this is the one you can change. The OEM key is the one embedded in the motherboard and will never change.
ShowKeyPlus
The change product key option is there so you can change editions. Like say if Home was installed and you want to upgrade or switch to Pro. Entering a valid Pro key will switch you to Pro.
Also, if the PC is activated with a Digital License it will get the generic key. You can type in as many new keys as you want but if it gets a DL it gets a generic key.
Once it has a DL you don't need to enter any key on a clean install, you just skip entering one. Install the correct edition that matches your DL and it will auto activate with the generic key.
You can override auto key detection by adding a PID.txt or ei.cfg file to the sources folder of your install media.
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