The product key is in the confirmation email you received after buying your digital copy of Windows. Microsoft only keeps a record of product keys if you purchased from the Microsoft online store. You can find out if you purchased from Microsoft in your Microsoft account Order history.
Retrieve windows 8 product key from microsoft
If you are converting a computer from a KMS host, MAK, or retail edition of Windows to a KMS client, install the applicable product key (GVLK) from the list below. To install a client product key, open an administrative command prompt on the client, and run the following command and then press Enter:
This wikiHow teaches you how to find your 25-character Windows 8 product key in a variety of ways. If you can boot into Windows, you can find the key using the command prompt, Windows PowerShell, or a free app called ProduKey. If the PC won't boot, you may find the key on a sticker somewhere on the hardware, the DVD packaging (if you purchased Windows separately), or in your email (if you purchased Windows online through Microsoft). If you're unable to retrieve the key with any of these methods, you can purchase a replacement key for only $10 through Microsoft.
It is known that Windows 8 is different from previous Windows operational system. There is no sticker available on computer listing product license key. In Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 computer, product keys are saved in the registry and evaluated each time you load a Windows update.
If the above couldn't help you, we need to ask for Windows 8 replacement product key from Microsoft. But at first you have to make sure Windows 8 version you are using. Is it Windows OEM version? If it is, you have to call the support department of your PC vendor first.
With build 10586, this is not as clearly defined since all November updates are automatically defined as from a retail channel. Regarding troubleshooting issues with product activation, this adds a bit of complication since PCs that qualify for the upgrade, in particular, retail licenses, will use a default product key used by Windows 10 Home and Pro.
You can also use ShowKeyPlus to find your product key from a Windows Backup and also to verify which edition your product key is associated with using the Check product key function. Again, a handy gem to have in your tech toolbox.
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The key is now embedded in BIOS and can be retrieved automatically during the activation process in Windows 8 / 10. Theoretically, you will never be asked for a key to activate your machine. But to have the process run smoothly, you will need the right Windows 8/10 installation media that matches the one stored in BIOS. Or, you will be prompted to type in the right product key.
Hi, I bought a new Dell Inspiron with a Bios Win 8 product key. the problem is that for some reason, this key is blocked. Dell gave me a new key which works but every 15 mins or so, the msg to activate windows comes up. When I checked in system, I can see that Windows somehow goes back to the blocked bios key. I have to activate it every 15 mins!! How can I solve this? Can I replace the blocked bios key with the new key I have which works? thanks Nick
I have purchase refurbishes pc with genuine windoes 10 home, my bad luck due to some reason i have degraded the windows 10 to windows 7 but my pc was not giving me the performance so if i again install the windows 10 so how can i get back my genuine windows key or any solution to become my windoes 10 again genuine, as there is product number i have, and have a picture from my pc included product id (AAOEM)
I have dell inpiron 5110 lap top. It had win 7. I upgraded it with free win 10. Win 10 worked fine and received updates. However, in july 16, it become corrupted. So I have to install win 8. win 8 key is expiring in Feb 16. I want to install free win 10. Please help. How can I retrieve my earlier win 10 product key.
You can also retrieve your Windows product key via a third party program such as NirSoft ProduKey, which scans your Windows registry file for the product keys of other software. Install and run ProduKey to view a list of product keys stored in your registry file. However, it cannot find product keys for all programs. Most notably, Microsoft Office 2013 and Office 365 do not store their product keys in the registry file.
Registry files often stores the product installation key if Microsoft Office was pre-installed on your computer. If that is the case, then simply use the following instruction to retrieve your product key
So now, I want to install windows 7. I know that product keys from windows (7, 8 & 10) are used interchangeably. Since my Microsoft account is linked to my product key, I can install windows 10, but to install windows 7, I need the key itself.
Having your product key is necessary if you want to download Windows 8 or 8.1 installation media from Microsoft. Their downloads require a valid product key. It's also useful if you want to perform a fresh install of Windows to wipe away all the bloatware that comes with a new PC.
If you purchased Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 online -- maybe you grabbed that cheap $40 or $15 offer when Windows 8 was released -- you'll find your Windows 8 or 8.1 product key included in an email Microsoft sent you at the time of purchase. The product key from this email can be used when you reinstall Windows 8 or 8.1.
If you bought a digital copy of Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10 / 11 from Microsoft website, the product key will be included in the confirmation email you received after buying it or will be distributed digitally as an entitlement, in which case you won't receive a product key. For example, if you upgraded to Windows 11 for free, you'll receive an entitlement instead of a product key.
Even though this is a good way to combat piracy, and in most cases, Windows 8/8.1 setup automatically reads the product key while reinstalling the operating system, PC users who need the product key to download Windows ISO from Microsoft to reinstall the OS or for other reasons need to recover the product key from the firmware first.
Windows 8 Product Key Viewer is a little tool developed to recover Windows 8/8.1 product key from BIOS/UEFI as well as hard drive. In short, you can use this tool to retrieve Windows product key on a PC preinstalled with Windows 8/8.1, and also, if you have installed Windows 8/8.1 on a newly assembled computer.
If you are looking to install / reinstall windows 8 on your machine you will be required to enter a windows 8 product key to activate windows. There are many ways to find the product key, I will list them all here.How to find your windows 8 product key. If you bought a physical copy of windows 8 the product key should of come with the product on a label. With some machines the product key will be on a sticker on the machine. Below I will show you how to find the product key.Video Title Not SetPlease enable JavaScript
Below I will show you all the ways that you can find your windows 8 product key.1. Sticker On Computerif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'computergarage_org-leader-2','ezslot_5',814,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-computergarage_org-leader-2-0');If you purchased your computer / laptop with windows 8 pre-installed, then the product key should be on your machine.You will need to find a sticker which should look like the one below.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'computergarage_org-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_4',804,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-computergarage_org-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The sticker will be on either the base unit of your PC or on the back of your laptop. Below is a picture I took that shows the product key sticker on may laptop.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'computergarage_org-leader-3','ezslot_6',823,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-computergarage_org-leader-3-0');Some times on laptops you will need to remove the covers and even remove the battery to get at the sticker.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined')ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'computergarage_org-leader-4','ezslot_8',824,'0','0']);__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-computergarage_org-leader-4-0');2. Physical CopyIf you purchased a physical copy of windows 8 then a sticker or label would of come with the product. Typically you would of received the following
One of the easiest ways to retrieve your product key from a running machine is to use a third-party utility. Produkey worked perfectly for us on the latest version of Windows 10. Just run the program and your product key is right there.
Hey Isham, this script works well for Windows 7 and below but it is not giving correct cd keys for windows 8/8.1. As microsoft has changed its encryption method for windows 8.Let me know if you find the updated decoding method.Thank You
You can also still upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro by using a product key from a previous business edition of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 (Pro/Ultimate). That can save you as much as $100 in OEM upgrade charges if you buy a new PC with Windows 10 Home preinstalled. (For details, see "How to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro without hassles.")
For the past five-plus years, I have repeated those steps on test PCs at regular intervals and confirmed that the free upgrade tool still works. I continue to receive email messages regularly from readers offering firsthand reports that their free upgrades were successful, with no purchase or product key required.
The digital license is associated with that specific device, which means you can reformat the disk and perform a clean installation of the same edition of Windows 10 anytime. (If you're thinking of upgrading your old system drive to an SSD, perform the upgrade to Windows 10 on the old hardware; after confirming that the new Windows 10 version is properly activated, install the SSD and then either restore from a backup image or boot from the USB flash drive to do a clean install. You won't need a product key, and activation is automatic.) 2ff7e9595c
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