Is this license valid

ICIT2LOL · Jun 8, 2023

I have just setup an older laptop for my granddaughter and installed the version of Windows 11 Pro on it. Now to activate it I went to a site called CDSales and purchased a key and "activated" the install with that key.
However on looking at it with Showkey I have got this result (see pic) and see that it is giving me this message. So can I rest assured that the installation is licensed or not.
I would really appreciate any help on knowing what the go is.

bobkn · Jun 8, 2023

Check:

Settings, System, Activation.

If it shows "active", I presume that all is good.

Presumably the laptop came with Windows 8.1 key embedded in its firmware.

SIW2 · Jun 8, 2023

Does win11 not pick up the firmware key automatically ? If so he didn't need to buy a license.

idgat · Jun 8, 2023

Settings > System > About > Product key activation > Activation state ... what's it say?

ICIT2LOL said:
I went to a site called CDSales

I can't find a site called that? Exact name ? Or was that the sellers ID name on Amazon/eBay/etc ?

(I don't have a good feeling about this ..... )

Bree · Jun 8, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
I have just setup an older laptop for my granddaughter and installed the version of Windows 11 Pro on it. Now to activate it I went to a site called CDSales and purchased a key and "activated" the install with that key.
However on looking at it with Showkey I have got this result (see pic) and see that it is giving me this message. So can I rest assured that the installation is licensed or not.
I would really appreciate any help on knowing what the go is.

You are seeing the generic key NF6HC-QH89W-F8WYV-WWXV4-WFG6P in ShowKeyPlus. This is the generic Windows 10/11 Pro 'Default Product Keys to be used with OEM Activation 3.0 - for manufacturers'. See the list here:

Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

List of Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

www.tenforums.com

If you use a W7/W8 Pro key to activate Win10/11 Pro that key does not get installed. What happens is that Windows first checks that the key is valid, if so then a digital licence is granted to the PC. Then an appropriate generic Win10/11 key is installed. It looks like the key you bought was likely to be an OEM Win7/8 one, hence the unusual OEM generic key.

If it says 'Activated with a digital licence' in System > Activation then you have activated successfully and the PC has a digital licence for Pro. This is the definitive test of whether Windows has been successfully activated.

If so, you could, if you like, now change the installed key to the more usual generic Pro key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T which will also activate from the existing digital licence.

SIW2 said:
Does win11 not pick up the firmware key automatically ? If so he didn't need to buy a license.

Sometimes when installing Windows it fails to read the embedded key. If so installing Pro without a key, then changing the installed key to the embedded OEM W8 Pro key shown in ShowKeyPlus would have activated it.

ICIT2LOL · Jun 8, 2023

Thanks for all of the replies and I checked System/Activation and it shows up as active with a digital license. The machine was probably an 8.1 OS originally but I had Windows 7 on it for most of the time I was using it. I only asked because I used a site that is featured in one YouTube channel where the authour (Britech09) uses that site for licensing purposes and I have followed him since Windows 7 and have no qualms about why he does use this site -
Buy MS Windows 10 Pro OEM CD-KEY GLOBAL-Lifetime at cdkeysales.com - for obtaining keys for activation.
I was aware that not all of the licenses issued by that type of site are actual Windows 11 keys but still concerned that this one is a Windows 8.1 one and could leave well enough alone.
Again thanks for the heads up to you all :thumbsup:

idgat · Jun 8, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
I was aware that not all of the licenses issued by that type of site are actual Windows 11 keys but still concerned that this one is a Windows 8.1 one and could leave well enough alone.

Whether it's a Windows 7/8.x/10/11 key, they will all work with 10/11. There is no differentiation with 10/11

The problem lies in the legitimacy of the key. Whilst activation might work on installation, this simply means that a fake key meets Microsoft's algorithmic requirements for a key - alpha and numeric characters are in the right sequence and the right order. The problem comes later ...

Frequently, keys sold on the web are illegal for any number of reasons ... already licensed/installed, keys for business use, etc etc. It only happens sometime later that Microsoft checks - often during a major update - that the key is not suit for purpose (already used, not the right Windows installation, etc etc). It may then become de-activated.

On the other hand, there are many anecdotal instances of ... "Well I bought a key off FakeWindowsKeys.com for $1.50 and it's been going for years now."

If the device came with 8.x but you were using 7, either of those keys could have been used - you didn't need to buy anything. If the keys weren't emebedded, you can add it after installation for activation. Provided that it was like for like versions ... Pro installed > Pro key to activate.

ICIT2LOL · Jun 8, 2023

Ok ignat mate I see that it states that the licence is a digitally valid one plus I don't know how to retrieve the 8.1 or the 7 keys when I am using a brand new hard drive. Anyway it is done now but I shall use original keys in the future. The system is so convoluted as you know and I find it hard to get my old head around some of the rules and regs pertaining to MS keys. It only cost me a few dollars and if I know for nest tiem how to find the original key it will help me dealing with this issue if and when it should arise again

idgat · Jun 8, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
the 8.1 or the 7 keys

The originally installed version key will be on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop. If not, another usual place will be in the battery compartment.

The subsequent version installation key would have been on its packaging.

Note that there are more anecdotal examples on multiple forums that when an installation has been deactivated, a phone call to Microsoft (without the gory details of how/where you bought a cheap key, feign ignorance as to why the system was suddenly deactivated after so long ...

) has resulted in (re)activation anyway.

ICIT2LOL · Jun 8, 2023

No mate I cannot find any sticker except one that says Windows Pro and that is all it states. I don't have the original packing as I bought it as a refurbed machine way back.

glasskuter · Jun 8, 2023

idgat said:
The originally installed version key will be on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

Since 8, OEM product keys are not printed on the device. They are embedded into the UEFI.You do not have to enter a key to install windows 10 or 11. (You select "I don't have a product key.") The installation processes reads the embedded key and installs the corresponding version of Windows that the key is for. If that device EVER had Windows 8 Pro , then 11 Pro would be automatically installed using the underlying embedded key. Windows servers would then automatically activate the device with a digital license.

In this particular case there was no need to purchase another Windows license.

ICIT2LOL · Jun 9, 2023

glasskuter said:
In this particular case there was no need to purchase another Windows license.

Thanks Glasskuter if only I knew then what I know now then I would have hit the don't have product key but one lives and learns eh? As I said the machine was a refurbed one and it came with Windows 7 which I upgraded to Windows 10 Pro and then slipped in a brand new hard drive and then installed Windows 11 Pro. The only problem I have with it is that I cannot get into the BIOS no matter how any times I try as she likes the touchpad and it is disabled from a long time ago as I really do not like the feature myself and prefer a mouse. I suppose I could take the hard drive back out and then get into the BIOS but am loathe to do that really.

Porthos · Jun 9, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
No mate I cannot find any sticker except one that says Windows Pro and that is all it states.

That is the COA for Windows 8-current. A stamp-sized sticker. It means the license is imbedded in the bios as others have said.

Porthos · Jun 9, 2023

But keep in mind, that computer is not officially compatible with Winn 11 and you will have to keep using workarounds for each feature update in Oct of each year.

ICIT2LOL · Jun 9, 2023

Porthos said:
That is the COA for Windows 8-current. A stamp-sized sticker. It means the license is imbedded in the bios as others have said.

Yes Porthos that is the sticker on the bottom of the machine (the Blue one) so it was definitely an 8.1 machine then. Yes I have it set with the not supported hardware reg entries which my main desktop is also setup for and I have had no issues with that computer to date. If things go belly up with the install then I shall just set it with Windows 10 Pro or even a Linux Mint OS if I really have to depends on Microsoft leaving things as they are I suppose.
I hope so because she is only ten years old but fairly tech savvy for her age and has had a lifetime of medical problems and she always smiles through the bad times, and my son says she is so excited about getting that machine..

idgat · Jun 9, 2023

glasskuter said:
OEM product keys ... are embedded into the UEFI.

There's the rub. Not for my old Asus with 8, nor Acer with 8.1. Both clean install installations required manual input of the OEM keys as per 1 x packaging and 1x plastic card that came with devices.

cereberus · Jun 9, 2023

ICIT2LOL said:
Yes Porthos that is the sticker on the bottom of the machine (the Blue one) so it was definitely an 8.1 machine then. Yes I have it set with the not supported hardware reg entries which my main desktop is also setup for and I have had no issues with that computer to date. If things go belly up with the install then I shall just set it with Windows 10 Pro or even a Linux Mint OS if I really have to depends on Microsoft leaving things as they are I suppose.
I hope so because she is only ten years old but fairly tech savvy for her age and has had a lifetime of medical problems and she always smiles through the bad times, and my son says she is so excited about getting that machine..

As an aside, as your grand daughter is only 10 years old, you should set her up with a child account, and not give her admin rights (your or your son should manage that). Then you can put surfing protections in place and (discreetly) monitor her internet usage. There are a lot of evil ba*tards out there.

Of course, education of surfing dangers is so important as well (basically "don't talk to strangers" applies online as well as in real life).

Good luck.

glasskuter · Jun 9, 2023

idgat said:
Not for my old Asus with 8, nor Acer with 8.1.

If you have keys stamped on your machines, you are an exception to the rule. I guess it could happen if those OEM machines came from the factory either partitioned as MBR rather than GPT or they originally had Windows 7 upgraded to 8/8.1 through that $40 upgrade offer MS made at the time. An upgrade key is not embedded.
In all the Windows 8/8.1 OEM machines I've worked with ...luckily not too many since 8 didn't last long, thank God...Every one of them had stickers like @Porthos posted and every one of them were partitioned GPT...ie used UEFI. Right now I have 2 windows 8 machines on my desk that were donated to the advocacy center I work with. I'll rebuild them as Windows 10. Stickers only, no product keys listed.

idgat · Jun 9, 2023

glasskuter said:
If you have keys stamped on your machines, you are an exception to the rule. I guess it could happen if those OEM machines came from the factory either partitioned as MBR rather than GPT or they originally had Windows 7 upgraded to 8/8.1 through that $40 upgrade offer MS made at the time. An upgrade key is not embedded.

Yeh, probably. In those days, I left that level of knowledge to the "geeks" and "nerds".

Now lookit me, I'm one of them .....

NavyLCDR · Jun 9, 2023

idgat said:
Whether it's a Windows 7/8.x/10/11 key, they will all work with 10/11. There is no differentiation with 10/11

The problem lies in the legitimacy of the key. Whilst activation might work on installation, this simply means that a fake key meets Microsoft's algorithmic requirements for a key - alpha and numeric characters are in the right sequence and the right order. The problem comes later ...

Frequently, keys sold on the web are illegal for any number of reasons ... already licensed/installed, keys for business use, etc etc. It only happens sometime later that Microsoft checks - often during a major update - that the key is not suit for purpose (already used, not the right Windows installation, etc etc). It may then become de-activated.

With Microsoft's digital licensing for Windows 10/11, the product key only needs to work once to achieve a PERMANENT digital license. After the digital license is obtained, the questionable product key can be removed from the computer and replaced with a generic product key. There has never been an instance of Microsoft revoking a digital license for Windows 10/11 once it has been created. They product key may not work for new activations on different computers, but to date there is no evidence to suggest any danger of a digital license being revoked. Windows 10/11 digital licensing is completely different than product key based activations of Windows 7 and 8 in the past.

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