Windows 10: ProduKey is showing the same key after a clean install and activation with a different key

Discus and support ProduKey is showing the same key after a clean install and activation with a different key in Windows 10 Ask Insider to solve the problem; My laptop originally came with Windows 7, but I later bought and upgraded it to Windows 8.1 using a different product key, which I then upgraded to... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Ask Insider' started by /u/suade10, Feb 19, 2020.

  1. /U/SUADE10
    /u/suade10 Win User

    ProduKey is showing the same key after a clean install and activation with a different key


    My laptop originally came with Windows 7, but I later bought and upgraded it to Windows 8.1 using a different product key, which I then upgraded to Windows 10 for free. I eventually lost both the Windows 7 product key sticker and 8.1 box. Now I'm selling this laptop, so the other day while looking for its packaging I found the laptop accessory bag which had my Windows 7 sticker inside. I still can't find the 8.1 box, so I decided to just look up the key that it became after upgrading to Windows 10 using ProduKey and wrote it down. I secure erased all my drives, did a clean install of Windows 10, and used my Windows 7 product key to activate it because I want to sell the laptop activated with the key it came with. But when I double checked ProduKey after the fresh install, it was still using the same key as before!

    I'm guessing my motherboard was still activated from the previous installation so it didn't matter what product key I entered during the installation? If so, does that mean the Windows 7 product key is the one not currently in use and won't give me any issues if I want to activate another Windows 10 installation using it? Thanks!

    submitted by /u/suade10
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    :)
     
    /u/suade10, Feb 19, 2020
    #1
  2. ENCOM45
    encom45 Win User

    Windows 10 Prod key shows different


    I have installed windows 10 pro on newly installed pc, I purchased a key while back i used an app called prodkey to find what the prod key is so i could use the same key for new pc. however when i activate with key that i bought Prod key reports it as a different key all together *Confused I guess im little confused on this as well with how it handles License keys like it is activated but not - lot different than Win7. Does windows 10 actually require a key after a fresh install, the step where it asks to put in product key I skipped that step as i would do it later but when i go to System in control panel it says Windows is activated huh? so i selected change product key and put in the key i purchased not sure why the app prod key shows a totally different prod key from C:\windows.
     
    encom45, Feb 19, 2020
    #2
  3. MILFORD
    milford Win User
    Strange Key Problem. Curious.


    • P.S. Produkey is showing me a BIOS OEM key and a Windows 10 Home key. Both different.
    • Mabe I should quit while I'm ahead.
     
    milford, Feb 19, 2020
    #3
  4. SQUIBBON
    squibbon Win User

    ProduKey is showing the same key after a clean install and activation with a different key

    Key Viewer Programs Show Different Win 10 Product Key?


    I downloaded & ran a program from majorgeeks.com called 'Easily Retrieve Your Windows Product Key' (Download Easily Retrieve Your Windows Product Key - MajorGeeks). The site administrator said he used it to successfully activate a clean Windows 10 install.

    This program showed an entirely different key than the generic one I got using Belarc Advisor and Nirsoft ProduKey. (I did the upgrade to Win 10 Pro from Win 8.1 Pro.)

    Out of curiosity, I downloaded another key viewer program called MSKeyViewer Plus. It showed the same key as the majorgeeks.com program. Apparently, this key is being pulled from within the Windows 10 Registry.

    Could this be the actual individual Windows 10 Product Key?
     
    squibbon, Feb 19, 2020
    #4
Thema:

ProduKey is showing the same key after a clean install and activation with a different key

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