Member Avatar for Jessica_16

Hi again, i'm really confused between Product Id and Product Key.
It is good when you're Product Id changed when you reinstall the OS?but still the same Product Key? Is Product ID really important when it comes in Legal Issue.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by rproffitt

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Quick sanity check: the Product ID (PID) shown in System/Properties is just an install/support identifier. It is not your license. Seeing it change after a reinstall is normal and has no legal impact. What matters for ownership is your Product Key (plus proof of purchase/COA). For Windows 7, the key is typically on the COA sticker; for Windows 8/8.1, OEM keys are usually embedded in the PC’s firmware and read automatically during setup. See Microsoft’s guidance on where keys live for Windows 7/8.1 and newer. Find your Windows product key. Also note Microsoft explicitly says the PID is not unique to the key being used (it mostly reflects the edition/channel), so don’t try to use it as proof of license. Microsoft: Product ID is not unique to the key.

Quick checks and tips (builds on ’s note):

  • Confirm activation: run slmgr /xpr. If it says the machine is permanently activated, you are fine.
  • View the current PID (for reference only):
    reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" /v ProductId
  • On Windows 8/8.1 OEM PCs, you can read the firmware-embedded key if needed:
    wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
    (Do not post this key publicly.)
  • If reinstalling, use the same edition that matches your key/COA to avoid activation errors. Windows 8/8.1 on OEM hardware will usually self-activate from the embedded key. For OEM activation background and MSDM firmware table details, see Microsoft’s OEM activation note. Validate the OEM activation key.
Member Avatar for rproffitt

I think this was summed up at

Product Keys and Product IDs are two completely different things,

despite the similarity of the terms.
The 20 character Product ID is created during the installation
process and is prominently displayed towards the bottom (in the
Activation section) on the opening panel window resulting from
right-clicking the Computer icon and selecting "Properties" from the
context menu. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support
(limited though that may be) from Microsoft; it is of no use during the
installation process.
The 25 character Product Key is used to "prove" ownership of a
legitimate license and is required to perform the installation, and is
either stored on the DVD packaging on a sticker that says "Do not lose
this number," or is on a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA) label affixed
to an OEM computer.

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