How to retrieve old windows key?

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by bishopzero, Jun 19, 2021.

  1. bishopzero

    bishopzero MDL Novice

    Mar 19, 2015
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    Hello!
    So a friend of mine somehow upgraded my windows 10 pro installation to workstation. I don't know where is my original key for this PC. He somehow logged his account and upgraded. Is there a way I could retrieve the older key for my original win 10 pro install?
     
  2. sonic9

    sonic9 MDL Member

    Aug 4, 2009
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    no way to retrieve the previous key
     
  3. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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  4. yes digitalid4 reg binary hex: xxxxxx will let know the current installed OS key.
     
  5. bishopzero

    bishopzero MDL Novice

    Mar 19, 2015
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    To explain it with more details, it activated normally by Microsoft for the Win 10 Pro version, now my friend used his MS account with a Win 10 Pro for Ws license and seems that the motherboard is now bound to it even if I nuke the install and start over
     
  6. bishopzero

    bishopzero MDL Novice

    Mar 19, 2015
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    Could there be a tool that lists all MS product keys used? There must be somewhere that key went just saying :confused:
     
  7. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    Actually you can have a HWID for ALL HWID capable SKUs from home to LTSB/C on the same hardware.

    It will switch the license to Pro and pickup the OEM activation (which has turned into a HWID and now uses the generic HWID Pro key)
    Run the command i mentioned.
     
  8. murphy78

    murphy78 MDL DISM Enthusiast

    Nov 18, 2012
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    Open admin cmd prompt:
    type: "wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey"

    That should return a Windows 10 oem key
     
  9. Super Spartan

    Super Spartan MDL Expert

    May 30, 2014
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  10. Michel

    Michel MDL Expert

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #13 Michel, Jun 22, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2021
    ^Thanks for the tip!, now i retreived my Windows 10 Home key. I lost it after i upgraded to Windows 10 Pro

    Is it possible to inject the pro key by default ?
     
  11. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    1. the msdm key is never lost, unless you screwed up the bios by tinkering with it.
    2. If you want to install pro on your home system you can install Pro from the business ISO, or when you want to use a consumer iso, use a generic ei.cfg like:
    Code:
    [Channel]
    _Default
    [VL]
    0
    
    This will allow you to skip the auto sku selection at initial setup from boot (and skips the question for a key) and enables you to select any sku available on the ISO.

    or use a pid.txt with the generic pro key and setup will directly select pro from the available skus on the ISO.
     
  12. Michel

    Michel MDL Expert

    Jul 29, 2009
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    I was more thinking about the bios, is it possible to add the pro key and delete the home key ?