Guide to Finding/Transferring/Upgrading Windows Key (7/8/8.1)

[Sloth]

How to find your windows key

• http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-retrieve-windows-8-oem-product-key-from-bios
• http://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

Find the type of windows key

Download: http://janek2012.eu/ultimate-pid-checker/

Just enter the key and then it will show all details.

You can transfer your keys to a new machines only if you have a retail key. So if you have retail key then it will show,

Key Type : Retail
EULA : Retail

else it will show

Key Type : Volume
EULA : Volume

which means that you have a OEM key and it can't be transferred to a new machine.


How to Uninstall windows key in old machine

• http://www.howtogeek.com/124286/how-to-uninstall-your-windows-product-key-before-you-sell-your-pc/

Transferring key to new machine

1. OEM - Can't use the key in a new machine
2. Retail - Can deactivate the key in the old machine & activate it in the new machine (If you face issues transferring the key to a new machines, then you can activate using phone activation)

Upgrading to Windows 10

Both retail & OEM can be upgraded to Windows 10. But after upgrading, if you have

1. OEM - Can't use the key (old key or the new win 10 key) in a new machine
2. Retail - Can deactivate the key in the old machine & activate it in the new machine (If you face issues transferring the key to a new machines, then you can activate using phone activation)

Microsoft new license terms for Windows 10

Transfer rights. I heard some observers speculate that the new terms would limit Windows 10 transfer rights. Nope. The new license agreement preserves the longstanding transfer rights:

• OEM copies are locked to the device on which they're sold
• retail copies can be transferred to a different device as long as the old copy is removed first

The Windows 10 EULA includes a specific exception for PC buyers in Germany, who are allowed to transfer OEM software thanks to a court ruling.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-releases-new-license-terms-for-windows-10-no-surprises


Hope this helps.