You should not have to buy a new key for a machine that came with windows. That will most likely automatically activate back to whichever edition you had before the wipe.
this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2024
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I haven't used windows in quite a while, but while I did, on laptops sold with windows there was a recovery partition on them you could reinstall windows from. If you removed that partition you had no legal way of reinstalling, because no key was made available to you at any point.
This is not true. OEM serial key is usually tied to the motherboard. I once had to replace my HDD, but granted i downloaded the Windows recovery file from the laptop manufacturer's website. That way it will recreate the recovery partition for you.
It is no longer true, but it was at one time (the key thing, it was never illegal to reinstall). It also wasn’t too uncommon for systems to have a sticker with the OEM key listed on it (then verified during activation), because without it you were SOL. Manufacturer recovery discs had their own way around it.
Nowadays the key is embedded in the firmware and applied automagically, even if you use a normal iso.
This must have been xp or earlier. Since vista there was a shared key and certificate for each OEM that paired with a code on the motherboard. And since 8 or 10 there is now a key in the motherboard that has been pre-registered with the activation servers. Now when you activate a retail key, it registers the motherboard not the install, so a reinstall gets activated automatically.
Do you know off the top if it's intact if I "fully wiped" it during the installation of a different OS?
The key is stored in the BIOS (UEFI flash chip) - you can install 10 or 11 from the downloaded installers MS offers; as long as the Home or Pro is correct it'll activate just fine.
You can verify the key exists by running
hexdump -C /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM
Microsoft just lets you create install media now.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
Like mentioned, if the machine was registered before you should be able to click that in a radio button during install and it should just work^TM^.
Edit: I see you mentioned 10 but I think same applies and the media tool is also available.
Microsoft "fingerprints" your machine when you activate windows on it. You can completely replace the hard drive and reinstall windows from scratch, and they'll figure out your activation on their end.
It depends on how you do the installation. Some OS allows you to modify the partition where the OS will be installed into. Some will just wipe up the whole disk.
It's probably gone. But maybe you could have some luck looking for it in your BIOS like others suggested.
You can use Windows 10 indefinitely without using a key. You'll lose out on a few settings, mainly to do with personalisation, and you'll have a watermark on your screen - but if it's just for one game, then perhaps that's something you can live with.
...there are also Certain Methods to permanently activate Windows without a key at all if necessary.
Don't go to https://massgrave.dev/ and follow the instructions there, that would be copyright infringement and would deprive an already insanely wealthy corporation of some funds.
Don't buy a Windows key. If Windows was installed initially it should remember your hardware and activate. If it doesn't, there's numerous ways to pirate Windows.
One tip, if Windows 11 is what you want, you can install W10 and it may prompt you to upgrade to W11.
Sorry if this post isn’t fit for this community - I’ll delete it if it isn’t.
You're asking a Linux community about what key you should buy for Windows, how is this at all relevant?
That's a windows issue. Go ask windows people.
Whatever key you had before should work just fine.
If you want another key, I don't have any recommendations, I don't hate Windows 11 as far as the UI is concerned, and I'm not sure you stay any more private with Windows 10, just pick what you like.
If you are asking is it OK to use unsupported Windows 10 just for gaming, then probably. If you are using it for the regular stuff probably not.
Your system will be more vulnerable but unless you are torrenting/downloading random stuff you should be OK I guess.
If you get a windows 10 key, windows 11 gets included for free. But you should not need a new license if you already had it on your device. If you really need it, resellers on aukro.cz are your friend. I got a windows 10 pro key for about 3.5 € lol