I've been told that if I want to use an ISO of Windows 10 which I have burned to a DVD in the future after a hard drive failure, I would need to provide a product key. I was told to look in BIOS for that. What I found instead was a line of x's in place of the product key. Only the last 5 digits were there. Is there a way to see the entire product key so I can use it when I need it? I think the product key is usually on a sticker on the computer or on the box it came in but mine doesn't have that.
There is a couple of apps that will let you see your keys, this is one of them
ProduKey - Recover lost product key (CD-Key) of Windows/MS-Office/SQL Server
You were told incorrectly. You only need to know the key if you installed a clean, full edition of windows 10. If you upgraded from a previous OS then there is no key for you to need. You simply skip entering the key when you re-install and it will automatically activate as long as it's the same hardware.
Run showkeyplus from this forum:
Showkey - Windows 10 blog
Your entitlement is stored on a Microsoft server. You can install the same version of Windows 10 (Home or Pro) as often as you need and it will be activated automatically. This entitlement happens when Windows 10 is activated for the first time.
Mystere
That's actually what I was asking about. I would need it if I was going to reinstall Windows 10 in case of a hard drive failure and I had to reload the operating system as a clean install.
Also I would not be reinstalling after upgrading from a previous version of Windows the computer I have started with Windows 10.
Thank you Sonicblue. I still have to wonder why Microsoft makes it difficult for people to see it in the first place.
A hard drive failure would not be an issue. You would still activate. If you replaced your motherboard, then your digital entitlement is no longer valid (only valid on the pc you upgraded, a new motherboard is a new PC, you would need to get a new digital entitlement).Mystere
That's actually what I was asking about. I would need it if I was going to reinstall Windows 10 in case of a hard drive failure and I had to reload the operating system as a clean install.
Also I would not be reinstalling after upgrading from a previous version of Windows the computer I have started with Windows 10.
As I said, there are no keys if you upgraded. The only key you will see is the generic key (ending in 3V66T for Pro or 8HVX7/6F4BT for Home) that cannot be used to activate. Although you will see your original Windows key, that won't be usable to upgrade again after July 29th.
If your computer came with Windows 10 installed from the factory then the product key is stored in bios/UEFI and Windows setup will not ask you for a product key because it will retrieve it from bios/UEFI. That's why it is not important for you to know it - you won't be asked to enter it.Mystere
That's actually what I was asking about. I would need it if I was going to reinstall Windows 10 in case of a hard drive failure and I had to reload the operating system as a clean install.
Also I would not be reinstalling after upgrading from a previous version of Windows the computer I have started with Windows 10.
I missed that. Yes, you're correct. If your PC came with Windows 10, and it was from a major OEM then the key will be stored in the firmware and Windows won't even ask you for it. If it's from a small vendor (or you built your own with a full Windows FPP license) then you should have a COA with a product key. If you've lost it somehow, then the showkeyplus app will help.If your computer came with Windows 10 installed from the factory then the product key is stored in bios/UEFI and Windows setup will not ask you for a product key because it will retrieve it from bios/UEFI. That's why it is not important for you to know it - you won't be asked to enter it.
