serial number

[ab_Fa]

HP Z6 G4. I can’t find the serial number, it’s not in the BIOS. I have SKU and UUID . How can I restore my serial number from HP Z6 G4? 

[BeemerBiker]

The serial number of the system is recorded by Microsoft when windows is activated.

Log into your microsoft account and click on "devices"

If by serial number you mean the windows key then go to the microsoft store and download and run the

showkeyplus

[SDH]

It is a bit complicated...

If you really mean your true serial number it is on one (or more) of the labels on your Z6 G4. So, what is it you are really looking for?

Let's say you are trying to FrankenHP together a Z6 G4 and don't have a case... difficult issue. If you bought a used motherboard that might not have a serial number shown in BIOS, as you indicate. Those can be cleared off from within BIOS.

Let's say someone removed that from BIOS and also removed the case label(s) that had the serial number on them but the case still has a Windows logo sticker on the backplane, and still has its original motherboard. That would mean it came from the factory with W10Pro64 and is factory "branded" (a firmware thing) in BIOS to be licensed to use the original HP Recovery installer DVDs and to use the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (you may not know about) to download an official HP-tuned W10 Recovery installer (onto a USB stick), and legally use that. That was presented by HP with the Zx40 generation and is available for all Windows-licensed HP workstations thereafter (plus some business class PCs and laptops).

However, if you don't have a case serial number from your case or from BIOS what do you do then? Turns out you can download and use the Cloud Recovery Tool pathway if you have a valid serial number from any Z6G4 that is "branded" for Windows. This is not unethical... your hardware is already licensed to use that HP installer. However, if your current motherboard is "branded" for Linux the installer will not work, and if the other workstation you got a stunt serial number from was not branded for Windows that serial number will not work to download a Cloud Recovery installer. The installer checks the motherboard's "branding" first.

When a Z6 G4 is activated by HP at the factory (or by you with a purchased W10Pro64 license) its UUID gets registered in the HP combined W10/W11 licensing servers so that in the future after a clean install on its first net-connected boot the OS checks in and gets the approval to be toggled to activated status. It has a "digital license" registered on those servers from that point on so you don't need to go find your license codes. Almost never do you know if a used eBay motherboard is "branded" for use of Windows... usually they are, but I've gotten some that were for Linux, and even a few that were "virgin" (never branded). So I had to learn how to do that... it is not a fun project but can be done. There are codes on the case stickers for doing that.