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I'm not sure I understand the point of these keys. "These make it possible to install the operating system or upgrade to the operating system in question, but t

I'm not sure I understand the point of these keys. "These make it possible to install the operating system or upgrade to the operating system in question, but they are not the same as activation keys. You can use the OS, but it will run in an unactivated mode with limited features." Last time I checked, I was able to download a bootable ISO of Windows 10, I boot from that disc/USB, and I install the OS. I didn't need no key for that. Are they saying that some sort of key is required just for an install to go forward now? Separately from the activation process? Is the generic key supposed to cost money or something? It doesn't represent an OS license though, just license to install? This is all new news to me.

scarface_74 3y ago
Microsoft gave away Windows 10 for the longest to anyone who had Windows 7 and even when that was officially cut off, you could still use an official link to download it if you needed it for “accessibility”
ocdtrekkie 3y ago
So most computers sold with Windows have their actual key embedded in the BIOS on the motherboard. Others, which were upgraded to Windows 10, send Microsoft's servers their hardware ID, and are activated based on a digital license stored server side. So the generic keys will allow the installer to proceed, but won't actually provide a Windows license... but most computers already have that anyways and will activate themselves when they go online using one of the above ways.
kotaKat 3y ago
There are what Microsoft calls "generic volume license keys" or GVLKs which are used to target a specific edition to install from Windows media that holds multiple edition images (eg, Home, Pro, etc). GVLKs only install but don't activate Windows -- they tell Windows to begin the Key Management Services client activation procedure and look for a corporate KMS server on your network to activate against. Most of the time if a home user is reinstalling Windows the setup is picking up on the license 'embedded' on the device in the BIOS/EFI so you don't ever get the key prompt. If you're using multi-edition and volume license ISOs you're often asked for the key to select edition. They're also not a secret by any stretch of the means -- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/jj612867(v=ws.11) https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/...
- Filligree 3y ago
  > Most of the time if a home user is reinstalling Windows the setup is picking up on the license 'embedded' on the device in the BIOS/EFI so you don't ever get the key prompt. If you're using multi-edition and volume license ISOs you're often asked for the key to select edition. Moreover, doesn't give you the option. This is a bugbear of mine—it took me half a day to install 10 Pro on a laptop that came with a key for Home.
- ComputerGuru 3y ago
  Our free Oem Key Tool [0] will retrieve the key encoded in the MDSM firmware table for Windows 8, 10, and 11, if anyone needs such facilities. [0]: https://neosmart.net/OemKey/ https://neosmart.net/OemKey/
  - tetris11 3y ago
    `sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM`
bakugo 3y ago
In addition to what's already been said, these keys can be used to change SKU on an existing install of Windows. For example, if you have Windows 11 Pro but your volume licensing supports Enterprise, you can go into the activation settings and enter the generic key for Windows 11 Enterprise to upgrade to it on the fly.
herbst 3y ago
I only used windows in throwaway VMs in the past years und whatever 'unactivated mode' means it's definitely enough for me.

scarface_74 3y ago

Microsoft gave away Windows 10 for the longest to anyone who had Windows 7 and even when that was officially cut off, you could still use an official link to download it if you needed it for “accessibility”

ocdtrekkie 3y ago

So most computers sold with Windows have their actual key embedded in the BIOS on the motherboard. Others, which were upgraded to Windows 10, send Microsoft's servers their hardware ID, and are activated based on a digital license stored server side. So the generic keys will allow the installer to proceed, but won't actually provide a Windows license... but most computers already have that anyways and will activate themselves when they go online using one of the above ways.

kotaKat 3y ago

There are what Microsoft calls "generic volume license keys" or GVLKs which are used to target a specific edition to install from Windows media that holds multiple edition images (eg, Home, Pro, etc). GVLKs only install but don't activate Windows -- they tell Windows to begin the Key Management Services client activation procedure and look for a corporate KMS server on your network to activate against. Most of the time if a home user is reinstalling Windows the setup is picking up on the license 'embedded' on the device in the BIOS/EFI so you don't ever get the key prompt. If you're using multi-edition and volume license ISOs you're often asked for the key to select edition. They're also not a secret by any stretch of the means -- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/jj612867(v=ws.11) https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/...

Filligree 3y ago
> Most of the time if a home user is reinstalling Windows the setup is picking up on the license 'embedded' on the device in the BIOS/EFI so you don't ever get the key prompt. If you're using multi-edition and volume license ISOs you're often asked for the key to select edition. Moreover, doesn't give you the option. This is a bugbear of mine—it took me half a day to install 10 Pro on a laptop that came with a key for Home.
ComputerGuru 3y ago
Our free Oem Key Tool [0] will retrieve the key encoded in the MDSM firmware table for Windows 8, 10, and 11, if anyone needs such facilities. [0]: https://neosmart.net/OemKey/ https://neosmart.net/OemKey/
- tetris11 3y ago
  `sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM`

bakugo 3y ago

In addition to what's already been said, these keys can be used to change SKU on an existing install of Windows. For example, if you have Windows 11 Pro but your volume licensing supports Enterprise, you can go into the activation settings and enter the generic key for Windows 11 Enterprise to upgrade to it on the fly.

herbst 3y ago

I only used windows in throwaway VMs in the past years und whatever 'unactivated mode' means it's definitely enough for me.