Windows 10 Product Key Retrieval

[labtech]

I hardly do any computer repair, but I got requests recently about retrieving product keys from fresh install and upgraded machines to Win 10, once the data recovery process has been completed. I know there are some utilities, like magicjellybean, that could retrieve the product key on Win 7/8.

Anything out there for Win 10? Especially on a drive that does not have the ability to boot on its own?

Thanks

 

[nlinecomputers]

You don't need to do that. Windows 10 OEM is stored in the BIOS just like Windows 8 was so it will get the key from the BIOS during the install. If this is an upgrade to Windows 10 and you have to reinstall it will get the key from Microsoft's servers. Every upgrade of Windows 10 creates a hash code of the hardware that is unique to the device. No keys are needed to reinstall. If you are prompted for one just hit skip. It will activate again once the system is back online.

 

[labtech]

Nice explanation, thanks.

 

[fincoder]

One other tip:

If you use a product key retrieval tool (I use Produkey) on a computer or HDD with the Windows 10 upgrade, the key displayed for Internet Explorer is actually the previous OS key (7 or 8). This can sometimes come in handy to re-activate the 10 upgrade if it won't automatically activate for some reason.

 

[labtech]

One other tip:
the key displayed for Internet Explorer is actually the previous OS key (7 or 8).

Have a picture/snapshot of this? Don't have any older machines to check out at this time.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[fincoder]

Have a picture/snapshot of this?

In this article, the first example using Produkey shows the screenshot with Windows 10 key, and a different key for Internet Explorer. If the IE key is different it's because it originates from a previous OS that's had an in-place upgrade.
http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-view-your-windows-10-product-key/

 

[GTP]

Windows Key Finder by Antonio Campos works great, very simple.

http://antoniocampos.net/software-works/windows-key-finder/

Other good stuff here as well.

 

[labtech]

Thanks for the links fellas.

 

[Diggs]

I've been using Lazesoft Suite a lot lately. Finds all keys, resets password (even Win10), even has a one-click reset for all the Win10 no-boot problems happening lately. Makes so many things so easy.

 

[JoeTech]

Have you ever got Lazesoft to boot in UEFI mode without having to disable secure boot? It says it is supposed to be able to but still get errors that drivers aren't signed and fails.

 

[Diggs]

It's rare that it doesn't boot but a tweak to the BIOS is all that I've ever needed to do. Never received any driver signing errors.