Window Product Key confusion, Please Advise me why there are two separate unique Product Keys

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Window Product Key confusion, Please Advise me why there are two separate unique Product Keys

Anonymous

Hello Igor, and the community, I read all your replies concerning CD Keys / Product Keys. However, my situation is different and needs some explaining in detail to educate myself and others who might find the same scenario. I know for a fact all software and machine license are authentic and legit, as they were just purchased, and I open the factory sealed box.

1st off, CMD Prompt command "wmic path softwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey" display's one unique 25-character key, which was also confirmed by a powershell command "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey" that also provided me with the same unique 25-character key. So, here's the rub and the question which deserves a detailed explanation.

REGEDIT Discovery Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform and once you navigate to the given path, select “SoftwareProtectionPlatform” and check the registry keys on the right-pane. Check the value for the “BackupProductKeyDefault” registry key. Double click on it and copy the value data, this unique 25-digit string is the product key that is displayed. However, that unique key is very different from the key that was previously provided by the 2 two commands and was also confirmed and provided by magic jellybean that the same 25 key that was generated by the previous commands was identical to the first two leys.

So, I pose this question to you and the community which of the two unique keys are correct and truly authentic and Valid, and why are there two Authentic and unique keys at all?

Any advice that leads to the validity of the two unique keys would be greatly appreciated.

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1 answer

Answer 1

Hi Robb I'm Greg, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, here to help you.

The OEM key is the one embedded at the factory in BIOS chip for preinstalled WIndows. It doesn't get lodged in the registry, only detected during install to determine version being installed and then activate. Very rarely does it ever need to be inserted.

The key in registry is likely the Generic Version key which is what is present when Windows is installed without a key, and the only key that can be present when there is a Digital LIcense, Microsoft's new method to activate 80% of installs by linking the hardware signature in their activation server to compare when you reinstall.

It's a little complicated because retail keys can convert to Digital Licenses, so that if you need to move to new hardware it can be done automatically using your MS Account and the Activation Troubleshooter. It doesn't replace the Retail key, just supplements it for this purpose. If you ever cannot move to new hardware for any reason you will still need the retail key to give to Support, who are the only ones who can do this now if Activation Troubleshooter cannot.

So my best guess is the key you found in the registry is the generic version key for your version. You can check this against the generic key list here:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/95922-gener...

The only other keys I see sometimes found by keyfinders are Volume License keys which are meant for organizations but sometimes are used by shops or others to illegally activate Windows or upgrade to Pro Version. These keys must check in with the organization's on site server regularly or they expire. Once they are activated using a server by the shop or an activation ploy, its just a matter of time before they expire. The VLK then needs to be removed using slmgr -upk command and legal activation restored.

Feel free to ask back any questions. Based on the results you post back I may have other suggestions if necessary.

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Window Product Key confusion, Please Advise me why there are two separate unique Product Keys

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