Solved How do I find my Product Key?

V

valdriz

New Member
Messages
6
I activated Windows 8 via phone. I gave them the 9 groups of digits and activated successfully. How do I find out my product key? I'm trying to "Add features to Windows 8"
 
The numbers that you gave Microsoft to activate Win8 was a product ID number, generated by Windows after a license key was entered.

The 25 character license key is included with the confirmation email, if you bought Win8 by download. If you have a retail package, it's on the COA (certificate of authenticity).

Make sure that you keep a safe copy of that code. It contains the whole value of the Windows license.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
[DEL]Magic Jellybean Keyfinder still works well with windows 8.[/DEL]

Interesting, the key shown by Magic Jellybean Keyfinder does not match the key I was given by Microsoft, which is also the key I entered during the install. I guess that is no longer a valid way to find a product key.
 
Last edited:
Theog, you seem to know the ins and out of this stuff so I'll ask you a question.
Activating by phone doesn't actually change your product code does it?
So in the OP's case, the product code is the one he or she entered originally right?

Now if that's true, I have a question for the OP. Did you not write down or record the product code you used during the install?
Also, why do you need it to add features? It can't be used to add any features, you need a new special code for that.
 
By activating the product code, code is replaced with a non-usable code.
 
Ztruker said:
Interesting, the key shown by Magic Jellybean Keyfinder does not match the key I was given by Microsoft, which is also the key I entered during the install. I guess that is no longer a valid way to find a product key.
Click to expand...
Some older keyfinder use the old decryption method which don't fit to Windows 8.

Copy the following to a text file and rename the text file to *.vbs. With double click on this vbs file the correct product key is shown:
Code: 
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Key = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\"
DigitalID = WshShell.RegRead(key & "DigitalProductId")

ProductName = "Product Name: " & WshShell.RegRead(Key & "ProductName") & vbNewLine
ProductID = "Product ID: " & WshShell.RegRead(Key & "ProductID") & vbNewLine
ProductKey = "Installed Key: " & ConvertToKey(DigitalID)
ProductID = ProductName & ProductID & ProductKey

If vbYes = MsgBox(ProductId & vblf & vblf & "Save to a file?", vbYesNo + vbQuestion, "Windows Key Information") then
   Save ProductID
End if

Function ConvertToKey(Key)
    Const KeyOffset = 52
    isWin8 = (Key(66) \ 6) And 1
    Key(66) = (Key(66) And &HF7) Or ((isWin8 And 2) * 4)
    i = 24
    Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
    Do
        Cur = 0
        X = 14
        Do
            Cur = Cur * 256
            Cur = Key(X + KeyOffset) + Cur
            Key(X + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24)
            Cur = Cur Mod 24
            X = X -1
        Loop While X >= 0
        i = i -1
        KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
        Last = Cur
    Loop While i >= 0
    If (isWin8 = 1) Then
        keypart1 = Mid(KeyOutput, 2, Last)
        insert = "N"
        KeyOutput = Replace(KeyOutput, keypart1, keypart1 & insert, 2, 1, 0)
        If Last = 0 Then KeyOutput = insert & KeyOutput
    End If
    a = Mid(KeyOutput, 1, 5)
    b = Mid(KeyOutput, 6, 5)
    c = Mid(KeyOutput, 11, 5)
    d = Mid(KeyOutput, 16, 5)
    e = Mid(KeyOutput, 21, 5)
    ConvertToKey = a & "-" & b & "-" & c & "-" & d & "-" & e
End Function

Function Save(Data)
    Const ForWRITING = 2
    Const asASCII = 0
    Dim fso, f, fName, ts
    fName = "Windows Key.txt"
    Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
    fso.CreateTextFile fName
    Set f = fso.GetFile(fName)
    Set f = f.OpenAsTextStream(ForWRITING, asASCII)
    f.Writeline Data
    f.Close
End Function

theog said:
By activating the product code, code is replaced with a non-usable code.
Click to expand...
Not with retail keys, but only with MAK and KMS keys.
 
On a related note, if you took Microsoft's offer of a free code to add Windows Media Center to Windows 8 Pro, your OS will now report its activation code as the new code Microsoft emailed to you for WMC.
 
rchris said:
On a related note, if you took Microsoft's offer of a free code to add Windows Media Center to Windows 8 Pro, your OS will now report its activation code as the new code Microsoft emailed to you for WMC.
Click to expand...
Wait, so I've recently got the free code, Will that be my product key for now on? sorry just making sure

Edit:

So can i use the "Add Features" code as a product key if i need to reinstall windows 8?
 
You will reinstall PRO - you need the PRO key for that.

Then you upgrade the edition to PRO with media centre - you need the MC free key for that.
 
What SIW2 said. Your Windows 8 Pro install media will not accept the Media center key during the install. You still have to install 8 Pro and then go to add features and enter the Media Center key. You have to do the two step process. Both product Codes are yours forever.
I read something the other day that stated. Once you enter your Media Center key, that key becomes your new product code and is the one your PC activates by. I'm not going to link to the article because it also talked about that being used to cheat windows activation. I only mention it because if its true, you don't want to use your Media Center key on more than one PC. It would be the same as trying to use your 8 Pro key on more than one PC. It's not allowed and Microsoft's activation server will detect it.
 
I know this thread is already "solved" but I felt that this should be mentioned.... Piriform Speccy is able to pull up your original product key that was used to install windows. It is free and it's simple to use. Open it, and click the "OS" tab on the left and the "serial number" will come up that states your original product key that was used to install Windows 8. This isn't the key that is used to add the Media Center Pack, which is in the attached screen shot that shows the last 5 digits of that key.... Reference the screenshots, and I hope this also helps future users with this issue!
 

Attachments

  • speccykey.jpg
    speccykey.jpg
    75 KB · Views: 770
  • activate.jpg
    activate.jpg
    24.9 KB · Views: 870
jtmal0723 said:
I know this thread is already "solved" but I felt that this should be mentioned.... Piriform Speccy is able to pull up your original product key that was used to install windows. It is free and it's simple to use. Open it, and click the "OS" tab on the left and the "serial number" will come up that states your original product key that was used to install Windows 8. This isn't the key that is used to add the Media Center Pack, which is in the attached screen shot that shows the last 5 digits of that key.... Reference the screenshots, and I hope this also helps future users with this issue!
Click to expand...

This gets more and more confusing (to me). I use Speccy, but on Windows 8 Pro, the Serial Number shown in Speccy is NOT the license code I entered to activate, nor is it the free Media Center code I received (which is the one shown on the "Activation" screen--last five digits).
 
Some key finders use an old code to decrypt the key which only works till Windows 7.

  • Piriform Speccy v1.19.411: Shows wrong key
  • Belarc Advisor - Free Personal v8.3: Shows correct key (but must be installed)
  • Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v2.0.9.5: Shows wrong key
  • NirSoft ProduKey v1.54: Shows wrong key
  • RockXP 4.0 Beta: Shows no key
  • Windows 8 Product Key Viewer, v1.4.2: Shows correct key (simple portable program)
  • This simple script: Shows correct key (simple portable vbs-script)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Where do I find 8.1 product key? Digital Download?
Replies
6
Views
10K
Brink
Brink
Hairy Scot
Solved Can't find product key for Windows 8.1 upgrade from store
Replies
6
Views
40K
David Bailey
David Bailey
L
How can I find the right Windows 8 ISO for my product key?
Replies
10
Views
40K
alphanumeric
alphanumeric
T
How to find Ms-Office 2013 Product Key, which is already i
Replies
3
Views
186K
Ex_Brit
Ex_Brit
Brink
  • Article Article
Product Key - Find for Windows 8
2 3 4
Replies
67
Views
1M
Cliff S
Cliff S
Back
Top