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 multi

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/...