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Does anyone know of a way to get the product key that was used to activate Windows 8?
Bonus points for an updated algorithm to extract the product key from the registry key.
While I realize this question has been asked for other versions of Windows, it looks like like many of the older activation key detection tools do not work with Windows 8. Most seem to return strings of the right form (e.g. 5 x 5 characters) but they do not match the actual product key.
UPDATE : This question was originally asked when Windows 8 was first released. It seems most of the tools now handle Win8 properly . . .
ernie
Posted 2012-10-29T20:25:46.420
Reputation: 5 938
I have to issue a downvote because of the edit. 1) We don't need to know you edited your question 2) its not relevant the question was asked when Windows 8 was new because the answer has not changed 3) its not required to explain the when the question was asked its already protected nobody can provide a new answer anyways – Ramhound – 2014-11-12T18:53:30.543
Fair. I was more thinking the question is no longer relevant, and no particular tools is better than any other now as they all seem to support Win8. The history was such that when Win8 was first release, many did not support the new key algorithm. Arguably the question is offtopic as a product recommendation now . . . – ernie – 2014-11-12T19:04:26.373
1It's not off topic and still relevant to anyone with an OEM machine with 8.0 still installed – Ramhound – 2014-11-12T19:33:40.670
1As most of Windows 8 product keys will be digital, can't you look at the email that was sent, or this more of a placeholder question? – Ramhound – 2012-10-29T21:26:31.803
3@Ramhound sure, if I have that email . . . but plenty of cases where I won't have that, e.g. working on a friend's system, lost email, system with Windows pre-installed, computer lab with dozens of systems, etc – ernie – 2012-10-29T21:47:29.420