How do I find my Windows 10 Product Key?
Like millions of others, I downloaded Windows 10 and installed it over Windows 8.1. So I have no "sticker." How do I find my Windows 10 product key, in case I need to reinstall someday? Or, even if I never need to reinstall; just for my peace of mind?
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The key is (I think) worthless by itself because it was an upgrade, not a base install.
ASKER
Belarc did it, thanks. Whether it's useless or not, I feel better when I have the Product Key. :-)
Upgrade to Windows 10 via Windows Update from Windows 7/8/8.1 registers your computers hardware with a Microsoft Product Activation Server and then this system is considered a Windows 10 device.
reinstallation can be done by making a Recovery Drive which is an inbuilt function in Windows 10. The devices hardware is again resubmitted to the Microsoft and it is automatically activated.
reinstallation can be done by making a Recovery Drive which is an inbuilt function in Windows 10. The devices hardware is again resubmitted to the Microsoft and it is automatically activated.
Having the Product Key will NOT allow you to do a bare metal install of the Upgrade ISO. So you need a complete backup.
ASKER
Right, thanks, backing up the operating system to a bootable thumbdrive using its internal tool was of course the first thing I did after installing it. :-)
And it's nice to hear that MS is able to use UEFI to "match" the OS to the machine, so that you don't have to make a note of your product key anymore.... but old habits die hard, and I like to have the product key written down somewhere anyway.
And it's nice to hear that MS is able to use UEFI to "match" the OS to the machine, so that you don't have to make a note of your product key anymore.... but old habits die hard, and I like to have the product key written down somewhere anyway.
"but old habits die hard, and I like to have the product key written down somewhere anyway" ? although you won't need it ever again?
ASKER
Yes. That is what "but old habits die hard" means.
I'm not convinced yet that I won't ever need it.
I'm not convinced yet that I won't ever need it.
Good day,
If you have an image of working Operating System, all one has to do , if anything went wrong, is to restore the image.
One may use imaging software from Acronis or Backupper.
Acronis Web site is: http://www.acronis.com/
Backupper web site is: http://www.backup-utility.com/
It is much better than having a product key, because all applications and drivers will be restored with the image.
BTW, The image can be stored on USB, DVDs, another partition, or External Hard disk.
If you have an image of working Operating System, all one has to do , if anything went wrong, is to restore the image.
One may use imaging software from Acronis or Backupper.
Acronis Web site is: http://www.acronis.com/
Backupper web site is: http://www.backup-utility.com/
It is much better than having a product key, because all applications and drivers will be restored with the image.
BTW, The image can be stored on USB, DVDs, another partition, or External Hard disk.
ASKER
I was more interested in reinstalling from scratch, but thanks. I keep a current image backed up at all times.
Your upgrade was only free with a base Windows 8 system so you need to capture the system with the Windows Backup (look in Action Center).