Windows 10 Key Code Location

[Whisper2]

After I upgraded to Win 10, I had to run a utility to find the new key for Win 10. After I completed the clean install, I decided to locate where Windows keeps it. Here is where:

Regedit

Hkey_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

Click on SoftwareProtectionPlatform and the key appears on the right side next to "Backup Product"

 

[Mushkins]

Thanks.

I'm really glad they backed out of what they did with Win 8. Encrypting everything but the last chunk of the product key did nothing for license protection and made it a massive pain in the rear if you lost your documentation after installing. People pirating windows aren't doing it by pulling legit keys off of existing installs in the first place (at least not since they stopped putting them on a sticker on the outside of the box.)

 

[Anteaus]

The key is encrypted in the bios. Are you sure it's your actual key and not the generic key that discerns the windows version you have? I have multiple computers upgraded to Win10 and in each case the extractor gave me the generic key, but I know the real key is in the bios because I went so far as to swap hard drives and clean install to verify. For reinstallation you don't enter any keys and as long as you have the internet it will automatically activate from the bios key.

RTM:

Generic Windows 10 Home TX9XD-98N7V-6WMQ6-BX7FG-H8Q99
Generic Windows 10 Home Single Language 7HNRX-D7KGG-3K4RQ-4WPJ4-YTDFH
Generic WIndows 10 Pro VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Generic Windows 10 Enterprise NPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43

http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1828275-Windows-10-Generic-Product-Keys

 

[Ketchup]

A key CAN be encrypted into the BIOS by the manufacturer, but that doesn't mean DIY computers will be this way.

 

[Anteaus]

A key CAN be encrypted into the BIOS by the manufacturer, but that doesn't mean DIY computers will be this way.

Except for my laptop, all I have are DIY computers. It is my understanding that all recent EFI/BIOS tech has this functionality.

 

[Whisper2]

Anteaus,

The key I have matches what you listed, so it must be generic. I used it when I installed and assumed it led to the activation. My install process asked for it just like prior versions of Windows.

Is it possible to find the key in the BIOS?

 

[Mushkins]

Except for my laptop, all I have are DIY computers. It is my understanding that all recent EFI/BIOS tech has this functionality.

Installing Windows from a retail/OEM/Dreamspark/Technet/etc key does not automagically transpose it into your UEFI BIOS. Additional software is required to perform that pairing, which is typically software strictly distributed by motherboard manufacturers only to partner OEMs like Dell/HP/Lenovo.

 

[Anteaus]

Anteaus,

The key I have matches what you listed, so it must be generic. I used it when I installed and assumed it led to the activation. My install process asked for it just like prior versions of Windows.

Is it possible to find the key in the BIOS?

It is my understanding that MS encrypts the key and then copies it into reserved space in the BIOS, which is why it can't be read by extractors (at least current versions). My installer asks for it also, but it doesn't require it. As long as you had a previously successful upgrade and activation, the key will be read from the BIOS after installation is complete and thus activate. I can confirm it works exactly this way.

Presumably some older machines won't be able to store a BIOS key so I imagine in those cases activation will work as it did with Windows 8.1 and earlier. I would hope in that cases your actual key would be embedded with the OS but I have zero information about that.

 

[Anteaus]

Installing Windows from a retail/OEM/Dreamspark/Technet/etc key does not automagically transpose it into your UEFI BIOS. Additional software is required to perform that pairing, which is typically software strictly distributed by motherboard manufacturers only to partner OEMs like Dell/HP/Lenovo.

Well, one of the machines I installed Windows 10 on is a Lenovo T420 and the key embedded. While I can't refute your entire statement, I can state with experience that additional software was not required for it to work.

 

[TeknoBug]

Nope the key I extracted doesn't match any of the generic keys.

 

[Anteaus]

Nope the key I extracted doesn't match any of the generic keys.

What about these? These are the generic volume license keys.

KMS:

Windows 10 ProfessionalW269N-WFGWX-YVC9B-4J6C9-T83GXWindows 10 Professional NMH37W-N47XK-V7XM9-C7227-GCQG9Windows 10 EnterpriseNPPR9-FWDCX-D2C8J-H872K-2YT43Windows 10 Enterprise NDPH2V-TTNVB-4X9Q3-TJR4H-KHJW4Windows 10 EducationNW6C2-QMPVW-D7KKK-3GKT6-VCFB2Windows 10 Education N2WH4N-8QGBV-H22JP-CT43Q-MDWWJWindows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSBWNMTR-4C88C-JK8YV-HQ7T2-76DF9Windows 10 Enterprise 2015 LTSB2F77B-TNFGY-69QQF-B8YKP-D69TJ

 

[TeknoBug]

No not those either.

 

[Ketchup]

This may help:
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7745-product-key-view-windows-10-a.html

So if you have an UEFI BIOS with a Windows 8 key written to it from the OEM, Windows 10 will activate using that same key. Which is why some of you are seeing the same key used in Windows 10 that is listed in the BIOS.

 

[Anteaus]

This may help:
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7745-product-key-view-windows-10-a.html

So if you have an UEFI BIOS with a Windows 8 key written to it from the OEM, Windows 10 will activate using that same key. Which is why some of you are seeing the same key used in Windows 10 that is listed in the BIOS.

Thanks for the info. Since my T420 came with Windows 7 and both my desktops are DIY it makes sense that I got the same key for all three based on the way that website describes it.

 

[Whisper2]

It appears Microsoft is adding to the control of its OS's. I looked at the settings in my Microsoft account and it now contains a section for "Registered Devices". I have a custom system so it lists: Gigabyte (my MB), Win 10 Pro and some code number that does not resemble a key. It has a link to remove -- I guess this is for moving the OS to a different MB -- I have a retail license. It did not have any devices listed before.

 

[Puffnstuff]

My extractor gave me the generic key on my laptop and desktop but my tablet produced an entirely different key.