How to find product key of my Windows?

[Manoj_215713]

My laptop is equipped with Win10 Home preinstalled. OS is corrupted and recovery partition is not working. When I requested for recovery media, HP sent me only Win 8.1 and asked me to upgrade to Win10 as it is free now. I was able to recover.

Golden days are gone. July 29, 2016 is last for free Windows 10 upgrade. If I face the same issue then, I can only install Windows 8.1 and cannot upgrade. Meaning, I bought Windows 10, but can use only 8.1.

If I can know the product key for my Windows I assume I can even after the free upgrade deadline as my product key is for Windows10 itself.

So, I would like to know how to find it.

[Huffer]

It is not as bad as you fear. July 29, 2016 is the last day for a free upgrade to Windows 10 for the first time. Once you do the upgrade, the Windows Authentication Server will know your machine and you will be able to clean install Windows 10 after that back onto your machine even after a hard drive replacement. 

You can also read the Key from the BIOS using a few different apps:

http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can make your own W10 installation DVD or USB flash drive from the link below (Media Creation Tool).

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Then if you need to install W10 you can use the media you created.

When you get to the install screen, you will be asked to enter a product key, or there will be a choice to select "I don't have a product key."

You select the I don't have a product key option, and W10 will install and automatically activate once you are reconnected to the internet.

That is because Microsoft has a record of your PC being satisfactorily upgraded to W10 previously.

I went through the process myself on 2 PC's and it worked just fine.

[banhien · Accepted solution]

Hi,
 
The key is in the BIOS of your machine, please use the following tool to get it:

   http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

When run this tool, it produces a report, scroll down to Software Management section. Windows 8 or 8.1 product key is in there.

You can also use the following tool to find out:

  https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

You can do a clean install after the upgrade, this is one way:

    http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

Regards,

[LLL2]

go to control panel / system ,security / system .  and should be at the buttom

[Huffer]

Don't think there is such a path and the Key Code is not visible to the end user in the OS. 

[LLL2]

mine is visable

[Huffer]

You mean this?

Moderators do not redact this is not a Key Code it is not useable to activate Windows. 

[Manoj_215713]

Thank you Huffer and Banhien. Your reply works!