Transferring Windows Key to another PC

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  1. Posts : 33,915
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #21

    NavyLCDR said:
    Since Microsoft does not track where the digital license for Windows 10 came from once it is saved on their servers, it is really just up to the user to know. There can be clues in the computer's ACPI table (firmware) which Showkey Plus will show, such as the existence of a Windows 7 marker or Windows 8 or 10 product key. Those would indicate an OEM install.
    An interesting aside to this conversation is that although MS don't appear to have changed how the digital license is stored on their servers, they do seem to have recently taken steps to retain the OEM or Retail status on the PC itself.

    My System One below got the free upgrade to W10 in August 2015, and in the process it's OEM install of Win7 became indistinguishable from a Retail install of W10 Home, with the generic retail W10 key and a retail product ID, as shown by ShowKeyPlus.

    Code:
    ShowKeyPlus - Windows Product Key Information
    
    Product Name:     Windows 10 Home
    Product ID:       00326-10000-00000-AA159
    Version:          19042.844 (64-bit OS)
    Installed Key:    YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7 *
    OEM Key:    Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware
    
    * Default key - requires a Digital License for activation

    As an experiment I recently restored it's W7 image, then did an in-place upgrade to the current W10 20H2. This time round it got an OEM product ID, and the Toshiba generic OEM SLP W7 key was replaced with the generic Windows 10 Home 'Default Product Key to be used with OEM Activation 3.0 - for manufacturers'.

    Code:
    ShowKeyPlus - Windows Product Key Information
    
    Product Name:     Windows 10 Home
    Product ID:       00325-80000-00000-AAOEM
    Version:          19042.746 (64-bit OS)
    Installed Key:    37GNV-YCQVD-38XP9-T848R-FC2HD *
    Original Key:     6GF36-P4HWR-BFF84-6GFC2-BWX77
    Original Edition:    Windows 7 Home Premium OEM:SLP
    OEM Key:    Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware
    
    * Default key - requires a Digital License for activation

    Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 18,484
    Windows 11 Pro
       #22

    Transferring Windows Key to another PC-capture.jpg

    Is my license OEM or Retail? Once the digital license for Windows 10 is saved on Microsoft's Activation Servers, the user can switch, at will, between OEM and Retail activation channels. That's why, I believe, that there is no information saved with the digital license to indicate if it was OEM or Retail. Also there have been several reports on this forum of users that have transferred what they thought were OEM licenses to different computers through their Microsoft Accounts. Too bad the license transfer using the Microsoft Account does not work with virtual machines, it would be interesting to do some experimenting.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 311
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #23

    @NavyLCDR

    Hey Navy so I ran that program on my NEW pc and this is what I got. I blocked out Product ID just in case. Keep in mind this was originally a windows 8.1 system but was formatted before it was given to me and I used my win 10 usb installer from my not working pc.

    Transferring Windows Key to another PC-capture.png

    If you need the product ID as well, let me know.

    Thanks :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 18,484
    Windows 11 Pro
       #24

    @Vellaura,

    There is nothing in the computer's BIOS that is going to help you activate Windows. You are going to need to try:

    1. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...d-fb3fc72b6665

    2. Get a product key to activate Windows 10 Pro with.

    or

    3. Call Microsoft.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 311
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #25

    @NavyLCDR

    If I call Microsoft what approach should I take?

    Also, would it be worth reverting back to windows 8.1 if a key would be installed? Then try to upgrade?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 18,484
    Windows 11 Pro
       #26

    Vellaura said:
    @NavyLCDR

    If I call Microsoft what approach should I take?

    Also, would it be worth reverting back to windows 8.1 if a key would be installed? Then try to upgrade?
    You would tell Microsoft that you moved your Windows 10 from an old computer where it used to be activated to a new computer and need to move the license from the old computer to the new computer.

    Showkey Plus shows that there is no product key in the computer's BIOS in order to activate Windows 8 with, so installing Windows 8 would not do you any good unless you had your own product key for it. I'm assuming on the new computer there is no Windows Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label on it anywhere with a product key printed on it?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 311
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #27

    NavyLCDR said:
    You would tell Microsoft that you moved your Windows 10 from an old computer where it used to be activated to a new computer and need to move the license from the old computer to the new computer.

    Showkey Plus shows that there is no product key in the computer's BIOS in order to activate Windows 8 with, so installing Windows 8 would not do you any good unless you had your own product key for it. I'm assuming on the new computer there is no Windows Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label on it anywhere with a product key printed on it?
    Okay thank you :)

    I'm going to try get my other PC working to check its key, if its a retail key do I simply sign in, sign out then sign back in on the new PC or do I have to sign in and do the hardware change thing then sign out?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 18,484
    Windows 11 Pro
       #28

    Your old computer must be running Windows 10 version 1607 or later. Go to Settings, Update & Security, Activation. You need to see "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft Account." That's all you need to verify on the old computer. Then log into the new computer with the same Microsoft Account and:

    Transferring Windows Key to another PC-capture1.jpg
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 311
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #29

    NavyLCDR said:
    Your old computer must be running Windows 10 version 1607 or later. Go to Settings, Update & Security, Activation. You need to see "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft Account." That's all you need to verify on the old computer. Then log into the new computer with the same Microsoft Account and:

    Transferring Windows Key to another PC-capture1.jpg
    Managed to get it solved thank you, i signed in as well so I will have windows 10 with me foreverrrr \/
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 18,484
    Windows 11 Pro
       #30

    Vellaura said:
    Managed to get it solved thank you, i signed in as well so I will have windows 10 with me foreverrrr \/
    Does that mean using the activation troubleshooter worked for you on the new computer?
      My Computer


 

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