WIndows 10 Key Code Recovery

[DEE_84007]

Can someone please help me find the recovery key code for a laptop I just purchased and would like to
use Microsoft Word, Excet etc.  It use to be easy to find this on older laptops as it was posted underneath the

laptop on a Microsoft Sticker.  I am looking all over my laptop for a Microsoft Key code and I cannot find it.

Doesn't Microsoft offer free service for 1 year when you purchase a new lap top with windows 10 on it and

then after the year of registering you will need to purchase? Please someone let me know how this works...

[IT_WinSec]

Hello @DEE_84007

Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

Microsoft forced a change since Windows 8. Windows 8 and 10 do not come with a COA sticker with the Windows key. Instead, the key is bundled with the BIOS. Here is more info >> https://www.cnet.com/news/windows-8-moves-to-bios-based-product-keys/

Generally speaking you do not need this code as OEM Windows is automatically activated. Also, Windows 10 offers other means of activation, as well.

There are several ways to activate Windows 10 - in your case specifically - and it depends on the way it was activated initially. Here they are:

1) No code - no key - just Digital entitlement  - if you previously performed upgrade from Win 8 to Win 10 on this very same computer, if Windows 8 was activated fine and if you used Win 10 for a while, and if Windows 10 was activated eventually (it's licence was activated), then your computer has a Digital entitlement option stored on Microsoft servers. Because of this, you will no longer need a code/lic key to activate Windows if you need to reinstall it.  It will activate itself without you entering any key - it will connect online and detect your PC hardware.  More info:

>> https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12440/windows-10-activation

>> http://www.winbeta.org/news/digital-entitlement-a-new-method-of-activation-in-windows-10

2)  Use of key - if Windows 10 was activated initially with a Microsoft licensing key, you will need to enter this key again and re-activate this Windows using the key again. Only retail type of keys are accepted, aka retail licenses - not OEM/DSP types.

3) Activation using Microsoft account - Digital license - starting with Anniversary update built from last year, if you used MS account to login to the PC and if you enabled a special option, you no longer need a license key to activate your Windows - just login and use your Microsoft account - here is more info >> http://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change

*** *** ***  If you still want to check your code, please use this free utility >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/produkey.zip

Source >> http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

[IT_WinSec]

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@DEE_84007 wrote:

Can someone please help me find the recovery key code for a laptop I just purchased and would like to
use Microsoft Word, Excet etc.  It use to be easy to find this on older laptops as it was posted underneath the

laptop on a Microsoft Sticker.  I am looking all over my laptop for a Microsoft Key code and I cannot find it.

Doesn't Microsoft offer free service for 1 year when you purchase a new lap top with windows 10 on it and

then after the year of registering you will need to purchase? Please someone let me know how this works...

---

Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, etc... Most computers come with Office preinstalled but you can use them for free for 30 days. Some models offer full 1 year subscription but this is well indicated somewhere on the PC, on the box, etc.

If your comes with just the version of Office 365 installed, you can use it for free for 30 days after registration with Microsoft or directly purchase Office license or Office subscription from Microsoft >> https://www.office.com/

More info >> https://www.howtogeek.com/136343/whats-the-difference-between-office-365-and-office-2013/

Let me know how it goes.