Question Clarification on finding my products keys

[MaxT2]

On my oldest two computers, I currently have Windows 10 Pro (all my computers are using local accounts).

I wanted to find back their installation product keys.
I tried command wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey but OA3xOriginalProductKey show as a blank field.
I read that I should check "Activation settings", and there "Activation" reads "Windows is activated with a digital license."

Now, I remember something: these computers initially used Windows 7 Pro (or Enterprise or something) and I think that I upgraded them when MS offered free upgrades to Win 10. (I clearly remember the free upgrades to Win 11... but wasn't there also a free upgrade period to Win 10?)

Does this mean that my Windows 7 installation keys have become Windows 10 installation keys ? Or the my Windows 10 installations on these computers are a "dead-end" with nothing to recover?

 

[Ralston18]

Try this:

https://windowsreport.com/find-windows-product-key-cmd-powershell/

 

[MaxT2]

Try this:

https://windowsreport.com/find-windows-product-key-cmd-powershell/

Thank you for your reply. Did you actually read my question ? I can't find any key using this method. My question is something else.

 

[Ralston18]

I was responding to:

"I tried command wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey but OA3xOriginalProductKey show as a blank field."

The Powershell cmdlet I linked worked very well on my PC. (Copy & Paste as Admin.)

Results:

Windows PowerShell

Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Install the latest PowerShell for new features and improvements! https://aka.ms/PSWindows

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"

XXXH9-6TXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX (X's being my redactions.)

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32>

= = = =

The Powershell cmdlet is a bit different than the "wmic...." method which is also presented in the provided link.

If no key is being found and the Windows history uncertain then the results may be indicating that the Windows installations are not licensed.

There may be other ideas, suggestions, or comments posted.

 

[SkyNetRising]

I wanted to find back their installation product keys.
Does this mean that my Windows 7 installation keys have become Windows 10 installation keys ?
Or the my Windows 10 installations on these computers are a "dead-end" with nothing to recover?

If you upgraded from windows 7 to windows 10, then
you have generic windows 10 key now.

If you want to transfer windows license to another computer, then you have to use microsoft account and link license to your microsoft account.
With local accounts only you can not transfer your license.

 

[MaxT2]

The Powershell cmdlet is a bit different than the "wmic...." method which is also presented in the provided link.

Thank you. Doing too many thing at the same time preparing this computer transition, I missed the "bit different part".
I tried the Powershell command, but the result is still blank.

... may be indicating that the Windows installations are not licensed.

All my computers always had licenses, usually retail licences. Except for these two Win 7 Ultimate to Win 10 Pro upgrades, which I don't if they should be considered "retail".

If you upgraded from windows 7 to windows 10, then
you have generic windows 10 key now. If you want to transfer windows license to another computer...

I found that software ShowKeyPlus is able to retrieve something. It does actually retrieve
- Oldest computer:

• An "Installed key" : which may be the Win10 key. (this one has a remark that says"Default key - require a Digital license for activation".
• An "Original key" : which is my Windows 7 Ultimate key (I can confirm this for the oldest computer as I have tin Win7 key written down.

- On less-oldest computer:

• An "Installed key" (with no remark).

So, you mean that I can't use Win7 key to installed Win10 Pro on some other computer?
I would like to avoid Microsoft account linking if I can by the way.

 

[punkncat]

Be aware that the loophole that was so common for the 'free' upgrade from 7-10 is closed. Since it is impossible for you to have hardware that was on 7, then 10, and still meet the requirements for W11 it is going to be highly doubtful that path will work anyway.
There was a thing you could do where you tied the key to your account and then used that key on a new install hitting the "I changed hardware" button where MS would let you slide. This process in itself has pretty much closed as well. There are quite a few posters here who have had both 7-10 and 10-11 PC go deactivated or refuse to activate on what were well known methods.

I suspect that even if you try installing the 7 key into the new OS that it is probably going to throw wrong version error. I would further posit that this is by design to force you into purchasing new OS licenses. As a side note, this has also been going on with the pre-subscription keys for Office Suite as well.

 

[MaxT2]

Thank you. I update my last reply with some more precision.

Be aware that the loophole that was so common for the 'free' upgrade from 7-10 is closed. Since it is impossible for you to have hardware that was on 7, then 10, and still meet the requirements for W11 it is going to be highly doubtful that path will work anyway.

The plan is that the oldest PC gets replaced with recent hardware and become my new main computer. And none of licenses were OEM, so I'm exploring to know if there are ways to keep them going.

There was a thing you could do where you tied the key to your account and then used that key on a new install

This is a path I though about. I am currently thinking about two path:
- A. Trying to move the current license to a MS Account (but ideally I would like to remaining independent from MS accounts).
- B. Not trying to move to MS Account, trying to activate Win 10 Pro on the new computer with the "Installed Key" or the "Original key" mentioned in my last reply. Then upgrade to Win 11 Pro (But if B fails, there may be no way back and I may have to purchase a new license. (Because I don't think that I will unbuild/rebuild stuff again to make the oldest-computer system drive work again an transfer the license...)

hitting the "I changed hardware" button where MS would let you slide.

Even if my licenses were "retail", I need to tell that I changed hardware?

This process in itself has pretty much closed as well. There are quite a few posters here who have had both 7-10 and 10-11 PC go deactivated or refuse to activate on what were well known methods.

They got deactivated after activating?

I suspect that even if you try installing the 7 key into the new OS that it is probably going to throw wrong version error. I would further posit that this is by design to force you into purchasing new OS licenses. As a side note, this has also been going on with the pre-subscription keys for Office Suite as well.

Probably right it's by design. Though I hope that always going with "retail" licenses could still provide me the possibility to move from a computer to another, and benefitting from the upgrade path that were offered based on Windows versions...
Couldn't the Win10 "Installed key" work to install Win10 on that PC? Does "require a Digital license for activation" mean that is can not be used as an install key?

 

[SkyNetRising]

Couldn't the Win10 "Installed key" work to install Win10 on that PC?
Does "require a Digital license for activation" mean that is can not be used as an install key?

You have generic windows 10 key after upgrade now.
You can install with generic key, but it will not allow to activate.

As said before - only way to transfer such license is by using microsoft account.
If you're against using this method, then purchase a new license.

 

[MaxT2]

You have generic windows 10 key after upgrade now.
You can install with generic key, but it will not allow to activate.

Yes thank you. In the mean time, I read some more information about "generic keys" and got that.

As said before - only way to transfer such license is by using microsoft account.
If you're against using this method, then purchase a new license.

If I purchase a license, will I get key independent that will be independent MS Account? Or is that not possible anymore?

 

[SkyNetRising]

If I purchase a license, will I get key independent that will be independent MS Account? Or is that not possible anymore?

If you use your pc with local accounts only, then there's no way to link license to a microsoft account.
But why is that important for you?

I'm not sure, if windows 11 allows installation without using microsoft account.
I think, it was quite tricky to do that.

 

[MaxT2]

If you use your pc with local accounts only, then there's no way to link license to a microsoft account.
But why is that important for you?

Various reasons. I know there may come a time when this because 100% impossible, but while I can keep things unlinked, I prefer.

I'm not sure, if windows 11 allows installation without using microsoft account.
I think, it was quite tricky to do that.

There is a trick to perform during intallation and restart it using "Out Of The Box Experience (or something like that)". I was also told that a software named "Rufus" can created install with options that allow installation with local acount (haven't tried).

 

[punkncat]

They got deactivated after activating?

In a nutshell, yes.

 

[MaxT2]

Something got even more confusing.

I went on the oldest-pc, from which the hardware will be upgraded.
From my local admin account there, I logged my Microsoft account.

How can I see that my windows key is now linked to my Microsoft Account?
- Am I missing a step?
- I expected to see some place on my Microsoft Account that would tell me what windows licences I have.
(I can see it from the PC, but the link has to be somewhere independent from the PC since the PC will be unbuilt and another PC built instead...)
(I found back from some notes that the Win10 license of one of my PC was linked to my MS Account, but I don't even find where to see this one, other than knowing it from my own notes.)

(I'm starting to wonder just purchasing the licence isn't cheaper the cost in time of thinking about these solutions and hoping they work...)

 

[MaxT2]

Found some hint on my last question.
On my MS Account (I mean https://account.microsoft.com/ ) I was looking for something like "Prodcuts > Windows Licenses".
What I found instead is "Devices" and there is a list of some of my computers that have a linked license.
But this is a list of devices, not a list of licenses.

(One of them on a more recent computers says "To Be Filled By O.E.M." ... not sure why that is. Didn't even remember I any OEM license on a non-laptop computer ...)

 

[Ralston18]

As another way to learn more about the system and licenses in question is to use BelArc Advisor (free).

https://www.belarc.com/products/belarc-advisor/download

The results are easily printed out and can prove very handy for future reference....

My licenses are all listed in the Software Licenses section.

 

[MJS WARLORD]

As another way to learn more about the system and licenses in question is to use BelArc Advisor (free).

https://www.belarc.com/products/belarc-advisor/download

The results are easily printed out and can prove very handy for future reference....

My licenses are all listed in the Software Licenses section.

i was just about to type the same as you lol

 

[stonecarver]

https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/belarc_advisor.html

As another way to learn more about the system and licenses in question is to use BelArc Advisor (free).

https://www.belarc.com/products/belarc-advisor/download

Just another place to get belarc without having to register. Belarc is awesome.

 

[SkyNetRising]

How can I see that my windows key is now linked to my Microsoft Account?

You go to Settings/Update&Security/Activation
and check activation status.

 

[MaxT2]

You go to Settings/Update&Security/Activation
and check activation status.

Thank you. Well, as I already explained above, I was looking for a license list at my Microsoft Account level. Not anything "inside" the computer, since that computer is going to be unbuilt and a new one built in his place (I'm re-using the case and some part). At Microsoft Account level, I found a list of "Device" but not a list of Windows Licenses.
(And in "Subscriptions" the only things I see is a permanent license for Office Home 2021.)

 

[stonecarver]

I wanted to find back their installation product keys.

Everyone has answered that question.

I was looking for a license list at my Microsoft Account level. Not anything "inside" the computer,

Your original product key/ license IS inside your computer,

 

[SkyNetRising]

At Microsoft Account level, I found a list of "Device" but not a list of Windows Licenses.

Every license will have a device associated with it.
That is one-to one-relation. Single license can have only single device associated with it.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Your original product key/ license IS inside your computer,

License is NOT inside user computer.
License is linked to hardware identification of the computer.
This information (association of hardware id and license) is stored on microsoft servers.

 

[MaxT2]

Your original product key/ license IS inside your computer,

Yes, and I got the keys, but it was suggested the the license should be linked to the MS Account to (maybe) be transferrable to a new computer.
The computer that has the key will be unbuilt and new computer built instead --> so I need to be able to get my license at account level (since the old computed won't exist anymore).

Well, SkyNetRising clarified this to some extent while I was writing. But now, all I can say is I'll try this way and if it doesn't work I'll get a new license. (I would have preferred to spare the price of a license but if it get too complicated I can also afford it.)

 

[stonecarver]

Yes, and I got the keys, but it was suggested the the license should be linked to the MS Account to (maybe) be transferrable to a new computer.

Question have you linked said computer to a Microsoft Account in the past? If so than there are a few member who have great read Me's on how to go into Microsoft and delist your License from old computer so you can move it forward to new PC.


Me I keep away from linking my PC's to Microsoft so I keep control of that part or at least Microsoft lets me think I do .