get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?
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@thanksajdotcom said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
@Mike-Davis said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
So I tried RWeverything that @JaredBusch recommended, and couldn't find the key. I decided to download ShowKeyPlus since it only displays the key and is way less complicated than RWeverything.
The problem became obvious at that point. "OEM key not present in firmware"
I guess we'll have to try to answer the question about injecting a OEM key on VL install another day...
I know that OEM keys work with VL installs. I've done it many times with everything from XP to Windows 8.1. Just change the product key, and worst case scenario, you have to call the automated 1-800 number to activate. Absolute case, you have to talk to someone and they'll give you the A-G activation thing in about sixty seconds. Just say you're trying to activate after a reinstall.
If you have to call to active a VL media based install because you used an OEM key - yeah - just no. That never worked for me. The installer rejected the key when I tried this.
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It's been awhile since I've used it but ProduKey might help you.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html#DownloadLinks
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I have a brand new laptop that came with Windows 10 I'll try on Monday morning.
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@black3dynamite said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
It's been awhile since I've used it but ProduKey might help you.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html#DownloadLinks
Doesn't work with Windows 10. I know that one. Great program though!
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You can also try Belarc Advisor (http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html).
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@black3dynamite Belarc is only for personal use without purchasing it.
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@black3dynamite said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
You can also try Belarc Advisor (http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html).
Also doesn't work with anything after Windows 7.
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I don't know about Windows 7, but this worked on Windows 10 this morning.
http://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html
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@Dashrender said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
I don't know about Windows 7, but this worked on Windows 10 this morning.
http://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html
Just tested it on my Windows 10 Enterprise machine, and it worked! Great find!
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@thanksajdotcom said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
@Dashrender said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
I don't know about Windows 7, but this worked on Windows 10 this morning.
http://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html
Just tested it on my Windows 10 Enterprise machine, and it worked! Great find!
Does it only work with machines that are originally Windows 7 era though?
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@thanksajdotcom I didn't think the manufactures were putting keys in the BIOS back then. I thought that started with Windows 8.
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@Mike-Davis said:
@thanksajdotcom I didn't think the manufactures were putting keys in the BIOS back then. I thought that started with Windows 8.
I'm not sure how this utility works. Belarc and ProduKey pulled it from the registry. UEFI didn't start until Windows 8, that is true. I wonder if this utility works with machines running Windows 8.1/10 but needs the Windows 7 and before age machines, because non-UEFI BIOS. I'm not sure. My machine is a Lenovo Thinkpad T420. Originally it was 7 Enteprise. I'd say try it, and YMMV.
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Actually I've seen UEFI Windows 7 Keys. It was only in the last year or so before Windows 8 came out. It was well after SP1 for Windows 7 was released.
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@Dashrender said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
Actually I've seen UEFI Windows 7 Keys. It was only in the last year or so before Windows 8 came out. It was well after SP1 for Windows 7 was released.
I guess that's fair. I've seen ones that you can flash the BIOS to upgrade it to UEFI but I never saw a Windows 7 computer come with 7 and a UEFI BIOS.
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@thanksajdotcom said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
@Dashrender said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
Actually I've seen UEFI Windows 7 Keys. It was only in the last year or so before Windows 8 came out. It was well after SP1 for Windows 7 was released.
I guess that's fair. I've seen ones that you can flash the BIOS to upgrade it to UEFI but I never saw a Windows 7 computer come with 7 and a UEFI BIOS.
Plenty of machines shipped with BIOS keys and windows 7, because they were windows 8 keys baked in, that the vendors shipped to you with Windows 7.
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@JaredBusch said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
@thanksajdotcom said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
@Dashrender said in get Windows 10 product key from BIOS?:
Actually I've seen UEFI Windows 7 Keys. It was only in the last year or so before Windows 8 came out. It was well after SP1 for Windows 7 was released.
I guess that's fair. I've seen ones that you can flash the BIOS to upgrade it to UEFI but I never saw a Windows 7 computer come with 7 and a UEFI BIOS.
Plenty of machines shipped with BIOS keys and windows 7, because they were windows 8 keys baked in, that the vendors shipped to you with Windows 7.
Yeah, I've seen that too. Especially around the time when 8 was first released, yes, I saw this a lot. So that's fair.
