Windows 10: Another Activation Problem

Using the key from the OEM COA sticker switches activation from OEM-SLP to OEM-COA. OEM-SLP doesn't activate online, OEM-COA does though. Normally, entering an OEM-SLP key manually will fail activation, those key are blacklisted from online activation. They only work with the custom OEM install media that activates against the BIOS SLIC table. And even then, they are entered automatically during setup with a script.

 

Just to double check, does showkey show a Windows 8 or 8.1 embedded BIOS key?

 

No, and when I run RWEverything there is no MSDM table tab. I don't really know what that means, but I'm assuming it's missing because there's no table to read. I also tried upgrading the BIOS (there was a newer version) but it changed nothing.

 

Flashing the BIOS won't change/add an embedded key. It's stored in a section not overwritten by a BIOS upgrade. OK, just wanted to make sure. If you buy the official Windows 7 recovery media from HP, that one copy can be used on all 4 or those PC's to restore the original OEM activation. They would have originally had the same HP OEM-SLP key. If they were all 7 Pro. It will likely be a lot cheaper than buying 4 Windows 10 licenses. Or 4 Windows 7 etc licenses. It will make them all legally activated again too.

 

If you're sure the recovery media would cover all four, that's a no brainer! That would sure be a relief, thank you. *Smile

 

As far as I know yes. HP can confirm it when you order it. If those 4 PC's all have the HP SLIC table entries for Windows 7, it will work. If they all have the same downgraded to 7 stickers on them, they should all have the same HP SLIC table entries. That info is stored in the BIOS and updated by a BIOS flash. If you get the official OEM BIOS from HP for that make model, it has the SLIC table in it.. showkey will tell you if there is an OEM marker in the BIOS for Windows 7. Just swap the drive you have Windows 7 installed to now from PC to PC. And run showkey to confirm things before you order the media. No need to install windows on each one just to run showkey.

 

OK so I'll boot up one that I didn't do stupid things with and run showkey, looking for the marker. I guess if there's no marker that changes things but I'll hope. If it's there I'll call HP to order media but make sure they tell me it will work on all four. I think I have a plan. *Smile

 

If you click on the product code, all but the last 5 will be X'd out. You may want to pull the image and post a new one with the codes X'd out. It looks like that PC actually has an OEM embedded key?

EDIT: Looks like you fixed it while I was typing my post.

 

Well this is a surprise. Booted another of the 4. Still no activation with digital entitlement though.

Attachment 86887

 

Yes it does look like this one has the key. Why doesn't it activate with digital entitlement?

 

attachment now shows as invalid.

EDIT: I don't know what's going on? It showed and invalid message when I clicked on it, but now it's showing in my quoted message?

 

IDK, I tried editing when I realized I'd exposed the key, but got both pics, so I deleted and started over with a copy/paste. Hopefully it's sorted now.

 

If I read that correctly, that PC has a Windows 8.1 Pro OEM embedded key. Clean install Windows 10 and it should read and use it automatically. The download listed as "Windows 10" in the tool downloaded from here, https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html will install Home or Pro, depending on the key found in the BIOS. It will use Windows 8/8.1 OEM embedded keys with no need to do the upgrade first.

 

With showkey open, just click on the listed product code and it will X out most of it for you. Then take your screen shoot. *Wink