Windows 10: I didn't input a product key during installation but Windows seems to be activated anyway?

I installed Windows 10 using boot camp since I wanted to play a few games unavailable on MacOS. I skipped activation during installation because I don't have a product key, but after installing it, it seems to be activated anyway. I vaguely remember having an "activate windows" watermark on other PC's desktop a few years ago because I had to wait a week to buy the license. Quick Google search confirms that it indeed should be there. I also should not be able to use the Personalization option in settings, but I can. No one could have installed Windows on this Mac before since I got it brand new in 2017.

submitted by /u/Muffinmaker457
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:)

 

Activate windows 10 after re-installing (I have lost my product key)

I own a Lenovo T430 laptop. In 2017, I installed Windows 10 using my original Windows 7 product key. Unfortunately, I cannot find that product key anymore. I need to re-install windows 10. Will it be automatically activated after the installation, if I skip the step of asking the product key during the installation?

In my opinion, I believe that my laptop will have a digital entitlement stored on the Microsoft Activation Servers and this will not be a problem. Is that true?

If not, please suggest me a solution or a workaround.

 

my windows 10 oem didn't come with a product key

windows 10 can also activate solely based on HWID no key required how do you think the microsoft store activation works it installs a generic key and activates based on hwid

 

Installing Windows 10 using Windows 7 key

Nope, you need to install Windows 10 first and make sure the Windows 7 key is transferred to your Windows account after you've installed Windows 10 (not quite sure how that works). I missed the last step and I could not activate Windows 10 after a re-install... Microsoft seem to have done everything they can to make it a PITA. Also, it's technically too late to do this now anyhow, as the upgrade offer has expired. But KMSPico works quite well...

As for getting rid of Windows, delete the Windows folder.