Member Avatar for mreza

Do any body know, how to retrieve Produck Key from windows 10 after upgrading it?

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Short summary and practical steps based on the thread: saw the same key reported after upgrade and suggested firmware as a possible source. Both points are useful. There are three common cases to distinguish (and different ways to read whatever exists): an OEM key embedded in firmware, a retail key that was upgraded to a digital license, or a generic installation key that some tools report but which is not the unique licence for your device.

To check for an OEM key embedded in UEFI/ACPI (MSDM) try these read-only commands. Run one from an elevated command prompt or PowerShell:

wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

or from PowerShell:

(Get-WmiObject -Class SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKey

On a Linux live USB you can look for the MSDM table with:

sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM

If those return a key, that is the OEM key baked into firmware. If they return nothing, the upgrade probably produced a “digital license” (Microsoft records a hardware fingerprint on their servers) and the OS may show a generic install key — that explains identical-looking keys reported by some utilities.

Practical notes and troubleshooting:

  • For reinstalling on the same PC, choose the same Windows edition, skip entering a key during setup, and let Windows activate online; linking your Microsoft account to the device (Settings → Update & Security → Activation → Add an account) makes reactivation easier.
  • OEM keys are tied to the original motherboard and usually non-transferable; retail keys can be moved.
  • If activation fails after reinstall or hardware change, run the Activation Troubleshooter or contact Microsoft with proof of purchase.
  • Do not modify UEFI/ACPI tables; only read them. For future upgrades, record the original product key beforehand with a trusted key-recovery tool.

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Member Avatar for rubberman

Are you sure it isn't using the same product key that your old Windows OS used? Have you looked in the registry?

Member Avatar for mreza

@ rubberman, Yes the old Windows OS and Windows 10's product key is different, I did retrieve the win 10 product key by using a Sofware and it gave me this: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM- But the problem is that, all upgraded product key of win 10 are same. According to expert, Microsoft keeped their unique registration key information to somewhere in Motherboard. That I couldn't retrieve.
Well, If someone could then pls share the retrievel process :)

Edited by mreza
Member Avatar for rubberman

If it is on the MB, then it is likely stored in the BIOS flash area. There are tools on the web that can read that data, but it may be encrypted as well, in which case you are SOL.

Member Avatar for mreza 
Yes it may  stored in the BIOS flash area, And Thank you     for your informatin. Well, Have a great day :)
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