Identifying the correct product key

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  1. Greybird
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Identifying the correct product key


    I'm about to upgrade my computer for the first time since Windows 10 came out, and it is a substantial upgrade (including the motherboard.) I have four computers in the house running Windows 10. Two of them use upgrade licenses from Windows 7, two have retail copies purchased from Amazon. My Amazon account has three keys: my two, plus one I purchased on behalf of a friend when I was setting up his new system.

    I need to find out which product key is associated with this computer. It could be any of the three listed on my Amazon account (one of which is not actually mine), or (potentially) it could be one of the upgrade licenses and I'd need to buy a new copy of Windows with my upgrade.

    How in the world do I figure out which one is on one specific PC?
      My Computer
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  3. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,971
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #2

    Right up your alley!

    ShowKeyPlus
      My Computers
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  4. Wannagofast
    Posts : 428
    Windows 10/11 Pro 64 bit
       New #3

    LOL
    Beat me to it.

    ShowKeyPlus

    peace
    wanna
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  6. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,971
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #4

    Wannagofast said:
    LOL
    Beat me to it.

    ShowKeyPlus

    peace
    wanna
    You're slowing down, Tim. Thanks for the backup.............
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  7. Greybird
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    A: That did it. Full retail, have a screenshot of the key. My life got easier.
    B: Thank you!
    C: Damn that was fast.
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  8. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,971
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #6

    Greybird said:
    A: That did it. Full retail, have a screenshot of the key. My life got easier.
    B: Thank you!
    C: Damn that was fast.
    Great! That nifty app was written by one of our members who is a developer. Glad it help......
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  9. Greybird
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Maybe. Now I'm just confused. The key it lists isn't any of the ones I have a record of having purchased.

    I just need to know whether I'll have to budget for a new copy of Windows or not. They made this way, way too convoluted.
      My Computer
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  10. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,971
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #8

    Greybird said:
    Maybe. Now I'm just confused. The key it lists isn't any of the ones I have a record of having purchased.

    I just need to know whether I'll have to budget for a new copy of Windows or not. They made this way, way too convoluted.
    They, as in MS? No doubt. But Superfly's app tells what's in there. If you have a specific question on interpretation, post a question to him in that thread I gave the link to. He's super knowledgeable about keys.
      My Computers
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  12. Greybird
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Microsoft is They. Anyway, I figured it out. I ran ShowKey on every PC in the house, and one key was unaccounted for.

    It triggered a memory, and I recall what happened. About a year ago I did a clean install on this machine and didn't have my key on hand, so I selected 'activate later.' Once I had everything up and running, I checked and it was already activated. I just figured it was Microsoft being on the ball. What actually seems to have happened was that some of the components in this system were part of a free Win 7 upgrade years ago, and MS activated that license instead of the retail license that I'd purchased and tied to the system later on.

    So ShowKey was showing me the generic upgrade key, while my actual retail key that was supposed to be in use was sitting on my shelf, unused for the past year. Ugh. Well, at least I know what version I have no. Only took a couple of hours. :P
      My Computer
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  13. f14tomcat
    Posts : 56,971
    Multi-boot Windows 10/11 - RTM, RP, Beta, and Insider
       New #10

    Greybird said:
    Microsoft is They. Anyway, I figured it out. I ran ShowKey on every PC in the house, and one key was unaccounted for.

    It triggered a memory, and I recall what happened. About a year ago I did a clean install on this machine and didn't have my key on hand, so I selected 'activate later.' Once I had everything up and running, I checked and it was already activated. I just figured it was Microsoft being on the ball. What actually seems to have happened was that some of the components in this system were part of a free Win 7 upgrade years ago, and MS activated that license instead of the retail license that I'd purchased and tied to the system later on.

    So ShowKey was showing me the generic upgrade key, while my actual retail key that was supposed to be in use was sitting on my shelf, unused for the past year. Ugh. Well, at least I know what version I have no. Only took a couple of hours. :P
    Glad that got sorted out. And, you have key available you didn't realize you had! Gave yourself a Christmas present.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

 

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