Windows 10: Where in the BIOS does MS store the Win10 key

I have had my BIOS locked with a password ever since I started testing Windows 10 Builds.
I have not had to enter the password and have updated to the latest CB build. How does MS do this?
or if it can do this How?
I run a ASUS P9X79 LE motherboard.

:)

 

location of the dowloaded win10 ISO-file

I accepted the download of the WIN10 but only want to download and not immediately install.

Where does MS stores the dowloaded file on my PC ?

what is the name of the file ?

Is it a ISO-file ?

Thanks in advance

 

Purchased Windows 10 from store, Key not accepted

Yesterday I purchased a copy of Win10 Pro from the MS store. I received the key and the download link sent me to the tool, where I selected Windows 10 Pro to create a USB. When I want to install, it won't accept my key:

The installation was cancelled

The product key entered does not match any of the windows images available for installation. Enter a different product key

When I continue my installation and try to install the key later, it's says the key is not valid for this version of windows. When I click on the 'Store' button, it says this version of windows is not for sale...

So many regrets...

 

This is not new. Bios embedded keys were introduced in Window 8. They are hard coded into the bios (like a permanent ROM) and even a bios firmware update would not affect it.

 

You do not have a Windows key in your BIOS. Only OEM boards have that.

 

MS does not update BIOS with a Win10 key.
The "Win10 license" is saved on a Microsoft Activation Server, for that PC/device.

Here are some tutorials that might help:
Activate Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
Activation of Windows 10 - Check - Windows 10 Forums

 

Thanks for the info.
So what is it that MS uses to differentiate one VM from another?

 

There are various details about a hardware computer or virtual machine that are unique and can uniquely identify it. I doubt that the details have been published.

 

As far as i know each unique VM would be considered a "different device" on the MS Activation Server.
Others may know for sure, and correct me if i'm wrong.

 

You are exactly correct.

 

Hi,

Vista actually.

Cheers, *Wink

 

That's news to me.
Win 7 and earlier use a COA sticker for the license.
Win 8 and later don't have a COA sticker, and use the key in the bios.

 

Hi,

Surprised me too but I have a Dell OptiPlex 745 which has a Vista key embedded in ROM which now runs W10.

Superfly's Showkey Plus revealed it. Funny thing is that the machine was delivered with XP pre-installed and a XP COA sticker on the bottom of its casing. Go figure....

Cheers, *Wink

 

That's bizarre, i never heard of that before.
I have home-builts, so i don't have any BIOS key.
I never ran Showkey Plus, i know my keys, they are purchased licenses, manually entered.
When i have time i'll have to play with it and see what it shows, i wonder if Showkey Plus is reliable and accurate ?
*Wink

 

Hi,

I see no reason to doubt Showkey Plus.
My machine was bought as a refurbished pc from a certified MS company so I guess it was used in a company that preferred to run XP on it instead of Vista. Makes sense to me.

Cheers, *Wink