Windows 10: Same product key for all?

Ok I decided I would undergo some testing & I whipped out some unused laptops with windows 7 home on them. I upgraded all 5 to windows 10. I used a program called produkey to show me my product key with network disabled for safety. Well it displayed internet explorer product key # which is my windows 7 key then windows 10 key. On all 5 laptops the windows 10 key is identical. The product id are different but the product key are all the same.

Who else has product keys ending with 3V66T? This whole experience has left me wondering if MS know exactly what their doing because I'm starting to wonder if this supposed Free Upgrade doesn't have some hidden catches!

:)

 

Same Product Key for Multiple Devices

I have the same problem ..

what happens if you have to reinstall your windows 10 ? will Microsoft tell you this key is already used on another pc.

 

Same Product Key for Multiple Devices

That is a generic product key used to install Windows 10 on your three computers and several million other ones. Activation of those three computers and any others were done by sending the specific hardware information about each computer to Microsoft
Activation Servers.

 

the Pro keys and the Home keys are all the same..

 

They are all the same because it is a free upgrade.

 

Didn't know about that program? Download it to see it. Thanks for the advice! In deed we all have the same.

 

So after upgrading, if one were to do a clean install on the same hardware, I'm guessing a new license key would be issued?

 

Nope, you would get the same key. It has little or nothing to do with activation, that is all handled at the Microsoft server end where it checks you information collected when you upgraded with what you have now with a clean install.

At least that's how I understand it.

Edit: The only way you get a new key is to purchase a retail version.

 

Good to know - thanks for the info.

 

For Virtual Machines looks like they all finish with 6MT6Y

 

Not quite, you are never given one. What you need to do is download the exact copy of windows 10 that is on your pc and install it and skip any part that asks for the key. The windows servers have your pc config registered and will auto activate your fresh install.

If you have changed your motherboard or processor you will need to contact them. It will not work on a different win 10 version, even a minor difference.

To get the copy of the correct install media go to
Windows 10
download the tool run it (it is from the microsoft site) and follow the prompts. Oddly you select that you want media for another pc, but you will then see that you tick the auto select box to get the correct version and it tells about this being the one you need so a new key is not required.

When you make the media it may fail because of your anti-virus not letting it create auto run on the media.
This happened to me, so I had to disable my anti-virus and then turn defender off as it turned on automatically after I disabled the AV.

The way this works means you need to download the media NOW. This is incase your hdd crashs and you can't get it later. I have had to do it for 6 family computers, happily 8gb usb sticks are cheap (you only need 4gb but try and find one, lol)

 

You replied to a 15 month old post!