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On a Surface 3 tablet, how do I determine, from the console, the product key for Windows 10?

Microsoft says:

Product keys for Windows

A product key is a 25-character code that's used to activate Windows and helps verify that Windows hasn't been used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Windows 10: In most cases, Windows 10 activates automatically using a digital license and doesn’t require you to enter a product key. However, if a product key is required, it can usually be found in the confirmation email you received after purchasing Windows, or in the box Windows came in. Microsoft doesn't keep a record of purchased product keys—visit the Microsoft Support site to learn more about activating Windows 10.

Some initial googling suggests:

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Windows PowerShell transcript start
Start time: 20200412065627
Username: DESKTOP-9AKB65V\thufir
RunAs User: DESKTOP-9AKB65V\thufir
Configuration Name: 
Machine: DESKTOP-9AKB65V (Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.18362.0)
Host Application: C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe
Process ID: 27096
PSVersion: 5.1.18362.628
PSEdition: Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1.18362.628
BuildVersion: 10.0.18362.628
CLRVersion: 4.0.30319.42000
WSManStackVersion: 3.0
PSRemotingProtocolVersion: 2.3
SerializationVersion: 1.1.0.1
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Transcript started, output file is key
PS C:\Users\thufir> winver
PS C:\Users\thufir> wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
OA3xOriginalProductKey
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
PS C:\Users\thufir> cmd
Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.720]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\thufir>
C:\Users\thufir>slui.exe

C:\Users\thufir>
C:\Users\thufir>exit
PS C:\Users\thufir> stop-transcript
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Windows PowerShell transcript end
End time: 20200412065743
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firstly, is that above key valid? Or, rather, how would I determine its validity?

see also:

https://stackoverflow.com/q/7330187/262852

Thufir
  • 1,808

1 Answers1

1

You can compare the key obtained using the wmic command you posted to the one obtained from the NirSoft ProduKey utility. I've used that quite a few times across different systems and found the key it extracts to be good for reinstalling.

If in doubt, use "Control Panel -> Backup and Restore (Windows 7) -> Create a system image" in case you need to do a full restore to your current system state. It says Windows 7 but it's for Windows 10 too.

g491
  • 604