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Serial Key Vs Product Key

Hi guys,

another question, I was looking for my windows 10 pro serial key and downloaded the Microsoft genuine advantage tool.

It shows my product key, which contains 5 sets of random letters and numbers.

I also have a program which displays system information. This doesn't show my product key, but shows a serial key, which is different to the product key.

What I would like to know, is why do I have both?

I asked a question in a separate post on whether I could clean install my windows 10 pro as I am getting a new motherboard and cpu as the one I currently have is faulty. Someone said not if it is an OEM. I have checked and cannot find any reference in the product key that it is an OEM copy.

If I use the product key or the serial key, will it still activate?

Please someone clear this up. I don't really want to fork out for another copy of windows 10 pro if I don't need to.

Many thanks in advance

Tony

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Your product key consist of 25 alphanumeric characters. The product key can be found in various places depending on how Windows 10 was configured on your computer.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/find-your-windows-10-product-key/

Best,
Andre
twitter/adacosta
groovypost.com

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Whether it's OEM or Retail will depend on where you got the original licence from. Was the device originally Windows 7 or 8 or was it always Windows 10.

If the licence came pre-installed on the device then it is OEM, and cannot be transferred.

You could buy Windows 7 or 8 OEM on disc, and that cannot be transferred.

If you bought a boxed retail disc that you knew to be retail of Windows 7 or 8 then you have a one time transfer. (as I understand it)

If you bought Windows 10 retail then it can be transferred.

A guy called Andre Da Costa has the best info on this and hopefully he will answer soon. He will be able to answer your question re Serial or Product key. (I think they are the same thing) But the program you are using may be finding a previous key if it was part of an upgrade.

PS just seen Andre beat me to it.

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Thanks for replying, 

It was a free upgrade and I really can't remember if it was windows 7 or wins 8.1 as I was messing with both and I've had windows 10 pro installed for a couple of years now. 

It's a pity that there isn't a way to find out what it was upgraded from.

Surely if it was an oem, then oem will be displayed at the end of the product key, won't it?

Both serial key and product key contain 25 alphanumeric characters.

Looks like i'm gonna have to find the discs. These were iso files that was made by the media creation tool and was just burnt to dvd and never wrote the serial key, jeez I'm so disorganised LOL

Many thanks

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Sorry, my reply was to the both of you guys.

Thanks...

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Windows 8.0, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 came preinstalled on my computer, how do I find the product key?

Press Windows key + X

Click Command Prompt (admin)

Enter the following command:

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

Hit Enter

The product key will be revealed, copy the product key then enter it

Click Start > Settings > Update & security > Activation > Change the product key then enter the new product key then click Next to Activate

If you are unable to activate Windows 10 after all the above and you are certain you have the correct edition installed, then please attempt phone activation:

Activate Your Windows 10 License via Microsoft Chat Support

Windows 7 came preinstalled on my computer, how do I find the product key?

The product key is usually located on the COA sticker attached to the bottom of your laptop or in the battery compartment. In some rare cases it can also be found in the memory compartment. For tower systems, look at the top or the side of the system unit. It looks like the following:

If the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker is damaged or letters or not legible, you will have to consider the following options:

  • Use a digital camera to capture a picture of the COA then enlarge it on your computer.
  • If the COA sticker is damaged, then you would need to use the recovery partition to reinstall Windows 7, this will exempt the need to use the product key to activate your Windows 7 installation.


I bought a retail box copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8 or Windows 8.1; where do I find the product key?

For Windows 7, the product key can be located on a pamphlet in inside the Windows 7 box.

For Windows 8 or Windows 8.1, the product key can found on a small business size card inside the Windows 8 box.
Best,
Andre
twitter/adacosta
groovypost.com

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Thank you for replying,

I tried it in command prompt and nothing comes up, well actually just this - OA3xOriginalProductKey.

Nothing else is shown.

I've been trying to cast my mind back and it was 8.1 pro, but don't think it was oem. I suppose if it was oem, then that would be at the end of product key, which it isn't.

Thanks..... Tony

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I bought Windows 7 OEM and the key for that doesn't have OEM in it anywhere.

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Another thought, have you tried ShowKeyPlus https://github.com/Superfly-Inc/ShowKeyPlus/releases to see how it reports your current keys.

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Yeah, I've used a program called produkey.

I've got a feeling that serial key will be from when i had windows 8.1.

I think I'm going to wait till i get my motherboard, anyday now and then see what happens. I suppose if i have to purchase one, i know a source where i can get it cheap.

Thanks

 

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Try ShowKeyPlus to see if it gives anymore information.

Be careful of cheap (or good value) licence keys as they can cause activation problems later.

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Last updated January 11, 2024 Views 7,479 Applies to: