Does Windows 10 use a Windows 8 key from UEFI?

Does Windows 10 use a Windows 8 key from UEFI?

KleinesSinchen
Sep 24, 2019
I’ve not done anything with Windows for years so I need some help here:

Tonight I will get a laptop that came with Windows 8 or 8.1 and has a product key within the UEFI. The HDD is broken; I will have to replace it and reinstall Windows for the owner.

Will Win 10 be "happy" with the embedded Win 8 key?

» 11 Answers

  • gameboy Best answer
    Sep 24, 2019
    yea, it'll work
  • Hayato213
    Sep 24, 2019
    The key should work, but you might have to enter it manually.
  • alexander1970
    Sep 24, 2019
    Please note:

    Windows 8/8.1/Core -> Windows 10 Home
    Wndows 8/8.1 Pro -> Windows 10 Pro

    Thank you.
  • KleinesSinchen
    Sep 24, 2019
    Okay, thank you all. I seriously hope it just works – because there is nothing to enter manually (no key sticker like with Win 7 and older)

    Might take a few days until I get the new SSD but I will post an update then.
  • LiveLatios
    Sep 24, 2019
    you can get a piece of software that can extract the key and tell you what it is, i forget what it's called but it's an easy search away
  • alexander1970
    Sep 24, 2019
    RWEverything maybe.
    You can install Windows 10 without entering a Key and do the search after the Installation.
  • LiveLatios
    Sep 24, 2019
    i just did a quick google search and there's this tool called "OEMKey" or "Windows 10 OEM Product Key Tool", it's a quick download and run tool that spits out your key in plaintext, doesn't work if there is no key in the bios and shows a "Unable to open MSDM table! This PC does not contain an embedded product key" error
  • Missingphy
    Sep 24, 2019
    woah, so my windows 7 product key will work with windows 8.1 and 10?
  • alexander1970
    Sep 24, 2019
    @Missingphy If you never used it for a Windows 10 installation,yes.
  • KleinesSinchen
    Sep 28, 2019
    Sorry for the delay. The SSD arrived late.

    The easiest answer was correct and sufficient: It just works. Windows 10 Home used the embedded Windows 8 (Core) key automatically and activation was successful seconds after connecting the Ethernet cable.

    Thank you all for your answers! You gave me much more information than I had asked for. Although everything worked, I still will extract the key with OEMKey. Somehow this gives a better feeling.

    ================
    The hardest part was creating a bootable USB medium because the version "1903" ISO does not fit on single layer DVD and install.wim is just above the 4GB limit of FAT32.
  • FoxMcloud5655
    Sep 28, 2019
    I have had the same issue with Windows 10 and trying to find a flash drive or DVD big enough to hold it. Glad you got it working!