Does Windows 10 use a Windows 8 key from UEFI?

[KleinesSinchen]

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?

 

[Hayato213]

The key should work, but you might have to enter it manually.

 

[gameboy]

yea, it'll work

 

[Alexander1970]

Please note:

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

Thank you.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

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.

 

[Alexander1970]

RWEverything maybe.
You can install Windows 10 without entering a Key and do the search after the Installation.

 

[Alexander1970]

@Missingphy If you never used it for a Windows 10 installation,yes.

 

[KleinesSinchen]

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]

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!