Solved Would my real product key please stand up?

[ToughDiamond]

I've got a sticker on my computer with a product key on it. I've also used Magical Jellybean, Win Key Finder, and ShowKey Plus to determine the key, and the weird thing is, none of them show the key that I can see on the sticker, though they all show the same key as each other. They also give this key different names - Jellybean calls it the "CD Key," WinKey Finder doesn't call it anything, and ShowKey Plus calls it the "Installed Key." All these keys are of the form xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

So I'm confused. Why don't any of these tools show the key that's shown on the sticker, and given that they show a different key, what two different purposes would I use these two different keys for?

 

[oscer1]

this should explain it for you. Product Key Number for Windows 7 - Find and See

 

[Bree]

So I'm confused. Why don't any of these tools show the key that's shown on the sticker...

The key in the CoA sticker isn't actually used. An OEM install of Windows 10 uses a generic key, specific to each OEM. This key is in the OEM recovery DVD media and in the OEM factory reset image. If this key matches an SLP marker that the OEM placed in the bios, then Windows self-activates without the need to contact the activation servers. This is why a factory reset will always be activated even if you are not on the internet.

If you still have the original Windows 7 as installed by the OEM then the installed key would be their generic key.

The CoA key is an emergency backup. This key is only ever used if you loose the OEM DVD or the factory image in the recovery partition. It allows you to do a clean install with MS install media. If it's ever used, the CoA key will need to contact the activation servers in order to activate Windows.

Only if the CoA key has been used to reinstall Windows will the installed key match the CoA key.

 

[Golden]

It depends on the type of Windows licence (retail, OEM etc.). oscers link should help you clarify things.

 

[Bree]

ShowKey Plus calls it the "Installed Key."...

Your specs say you have an HP and that it has W7 Pro.


The HP generic System Locked Pre-installation key (SLP) for W7 Pro is *****-*****-788W3-H689G-6P6GT. The product ID is *****-OEM-8992671-00008. If that's the key you are seeing, then your W7 Pro is the original OEM install with an installed SLP key.

 

[ToughDiamond]

Thanks chaps The product key reported by the tools does indeed end in H689G-6P6GT, Bree, (and that product ID is as you said), and yes I still have the original W7 OS that HP installed, so that makes sense. If I were to install W10, would that self-activate without bothering the MS servers, or does only W7 do that?

Reading the info in Oscer's link I saw this:
"The sticker key number may be different than the key number reported in one of the programs below. If so, the key number on the sticker is the one that's unique to your computer, and that's the one you'll need to input should you ever clean install Windows. The different extracted key is just a master key used at the OEM factory."
That's good, clear practical information It was all very confusing when I first saw those different codes yesterday on my computer. I wonder why they don't store the CoA sticker code on the computer itself? Security?

 

[Barman58]

The CoA ticket is attached to the outside rather than in the software on the system due to the method used to load the software onto the system at the factory. The factory use an Image based system - Every system is loaded with the same image of the OS and bloatware, "Added Features", at a stage where first run will commence the finalisation of the installation routine, (using the built in standardised Key).

This system means that there is no need to customise the software on the system at the factory, each one is identical. A valid Licence Key on a sticker is one of the final items added during packaging process (for security Reasons)

 

[ToughDiamond]

The CoA ticket is attached to the outside rather than in the software on the system due to the method used to load the software onto the system at the factory. The factory use an Image based system - Every system is loaded with the same image of the OS and bloatware, "Added Features", at a stage where first run will commence the finalisation of the installation routine, (using the built in standardised Key).

This system means that there is no need to customise the software on the system at the factory, each one is identical. A valid Licence Key on a sticker is one of the final items added during packaging process (for security Reasons)

Good answer, Barman. Thanks