New
#1
reactivating windows 10 on new hardware, without "proper" product key
Sorry for so many posts, but this may be my most important question yet.
My "introduction" to windows 10 started with the purchase of a used machine, from a computer/resaler on Amazon. It is a fully activated install (seems like an OEM install) of windows 10 pro, 64 bit. The machine works well. I've linked m Microsoft account I already had from SKYPE to the machine, and after re-installing several programs I'm now looking to protect myself from failures. I've already cloned my system drive and tested it, so I know my system is backed up. BUT!!! What I'm more worried about now is what would happen if I had to move the system drive to another machine!
I understand about installing drivers for different hardware. My concern is that I'm sure the system will detect when it has been moved, and will want me to enter things like the product key, to prove my licensing. Well there doesn't seem to BE a product key, and the seller won't offer me one! The activation check tool available through the Start-> help says my machine is activated, so that's a start. There is an OEM microsoft product key on the computer case, but it was from Vista, and I doubt it has anything to do with the win-10 install. I tried to check, but that's when I discovered that all the software tools I've found using both google and calling microsoft have not revealed any typical product key, with 5 groups of HEX digits.
I've called Microsoft numerous times, each time wasting the first 10 minutes coaxing the "automated" robot to connect me to a live human. When I do get a human there usually is a language barrier. But in the end they just route me through the same tests. The first is a test you can run from CMD as administrator and enter:
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
All that does is respond with "OA3xOriginalProductKey", with no product key shown afterward.
I also tried this PITA string in powershell...
powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"
The command is accepted but again reports nothing.
One rep I spoke to was smart enough to say he was going to attempt to directly connect with my computer, but we got cut off, and I suspect he would have tried the same commands anyway.
About the most hopeful thing was when I asked one of the reps if they could give me a new product key. they said that if I ever moved my system to another machine and ran into an activation problem, as long as I have a Microsoft account that shows my machine under "devices" (which it does), I could call Microsoft and under those circumstances they would issue me a new product key.
Sounds assuring, but I'd like another opinion or confirmation. Has anyone actually had to deal with this? Is there anyone on the forum that works at Microsoft and can confirm this? Computers often seem to last forever these days, save the obvious problems like a HD or power-supply failure or surges (some of which you can prepare for). But machines do fail. And since neither Microsoft nor the amazon seller will give me a product key, I'd like to prepare for all possible calamities and at least know who to call and what to do. There are all kinds of facts and fiction on Google, but the best thing would be to know for sure that this could be handled.
Thanks for any help, and again sorry for all the questions.