From windows 8.1 to windows 10 license

Question

I bought a laptop with Windows 8.1 pre-installed and activated (I do not have the serial key written down somewhere).

Could I somehow keep the license and install Windows 10 (not upgrading)?

Solution 1

Legally... no. However, it is still fully possible to receive a free Windows 10 upgrade. See https://www.howtogeek.com/272201/all-the-ways-you-can-still-get-windows-10-for-free/. The OEM license, however, is for Windows 8.1. Unless Microsoft gives another free upgrade out, what you’re doing is technically wrong. Will they prosecute you? Probably not. In order to get the key, look for a sticker on the computer. You said you didn’t write it down, but it’s usually on a sticker. If it’s not on a sticker, this script will retrieve it:

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"))

Function ConvertToKey(Key)
Const KeyOffset = 52
i = 28
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
x = 14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur
Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255
Cur = Cur Mod 24
x = x -1
Loop While x >= 0
i = i -1
KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Then
i = i -1
KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput
End If
Loop While i >= 0
ConvertToKey = KeyOutput
End Function

Save it as a .vbs file, and it will open a box with a code you can write down.

Solution 2

Though the offer for free upgrade is theoretically past, it is still possible to get an upgrade from Windows 8 at no cost.

If you need the Windows 8.1 product key, there are tools such as Nirsoft's ProduKey to find it. Note that these applications may be viewed as "undesirable software" by some anti-malware suites because they expose information, but they are not malware per se... check any software at VirusTotal to be sure.

Comments

[Ramhound]

Windows 8.1 license is stored in the ACPI table. Why are you not upgrading? You can perform a clean install from within Windows, and the outcome, is identical to a “clean install” by booting to WinPE

[Ramhound]

Either method will require a Windows 10 license by the way

[yierstem]

So, it won't matter that I have windows 8.1 activated?

[Ramhound]

Why would it matter? You are doing a clean install when asked if you want to keep nothing, you are going to select that option.

[yierstem]

I asked if I could somehow keep the license for windows 10 with clean install. But I'm ok even with upgrading the windows if it will keep the license. If that works, problem solved.

[Ramhound]

Your Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 license are seperate. They are not connected in any way.

[yierstem]

Oh, I understand, so it was a silly question after all. Thanks! You can post the answer so I could mark it as a solution.