Windows 10 Professional OEM Product Key

[casstk]

Desktop 790-0050t. HP OEM Windows 10 Professional was installed on the SSD drive, separate HDDrive contains all the files. I'm no longer able to boot : "Hard disk - 3FO, please boot device not found, please install and operating system on your hard disk"

I ran a diagnostic and the SSD drive failed the smart check. Changing the boot order did not F

fix the problem, mainly because the operating system was installed on the SSD drive which failed.

I'm taking it to a technician to get a new SSD drive installed, however, we do not know where to locate the product activation key for the Windows 10 Professional.  He says I have to buy a new windows license.  Also, when we reinstall Windows 10 on the SSD drive, I want to make sure not to erase the data on the HDD drive which still is good according to the diagnostic smart check.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If the PC came with W10 Pro from HP, the Windows product key is encrypted in your PC's BIOS.

You don't need it to reinstall W10.

When you go to install W10, and there are two drives, they will be listed when you get to the screen that asks 'Where do you want to install Windows?'

The new drive should be all unallocated space.

[casstk]

This is what I thought. It's only the SDD drive that's dead as far as I know not the motherboard. But the technician kept insisting that I needed to purchase a new license. He pointed out that Microsoft is no longer selling them online and I have to buy a disc which he would sell to me

https://www.pcworld.com/article/1477078/microsoft-will-stop-selling-windows-10-licenses-in-a-few-day...

[Paul_Tikkanen]

I suggest that you find a new PC repair shop.

Windows product keys have been encrypted in the BIOS since 2012 when W8 came out.

That was over 10 years ago.

Any halfway knowledgeable PC repair tech should know that.

Windows product key stickers ceased with W7.

You do not need to buy anything other than a new SSD.

You use the Media creation tool to create a bootable USB installation flash drive to reinstall W10.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

It will automatically pick up the W10 product key in the PC's BIOS, install and activate after you are connected to the internet.

After W10 has completed installing, you can install the drivers and available software from ypur PC's support page.

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