Doen't seem to detect Original Key and Edition on all PCs
SumatraPeter opened this issue · comments
On a Dell desktop that had Windows 7 on it and now runs Windows 10 1511, ShowKeyPlus says OEM Key: Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware and correctly shows me the Original Key and Original Edition.
However on an Acer laptop that also had Windows 7 on it and now runs Windows 10 1607, ShowKeyPlus says OEM Key: Windows 7 OEM marker present in firmware but does not show me either the Original Key or the Original Edition.
Why is this? Is it because the desktop was upgraded from Windows 7 to 10 (using the 1511 ISO), but the laptop was formatted and had Windows 10 clean installed on it (also using the 1511 ISO but then updated to 1607 via Windows Update)?
Yes, that is correct. A clean install erases all traces of the original key. An upgrade stores the previous key in the new registry as well as retaining it in the old (Windows.old)
Thanx, I appreciate your feedback.
Cheers.
Thanks for the explanation. So since with Windows 8 onwards there are no more stickers with keys on them and the keys are stored in the BIOS, does that mean that even with a clean install of Windows 10 on a Windows 8/8.1 system ShowKeyPlus will be able to successfully display the Original Key and Original Edition?
Kindof... The Win 8 OEM key will be the 'original' key and it's edition will be displayed there... in ShowKeyPlus land, original means previously installed.
We have seen downgraded Win 8 to Win 7 PC's still having the Win 8 OEM key in the firmware.... so in a way that was the original key...
Got it. Closing this issue now but will continue to monitor the other one I opened. Thanks.