Retail Channel and Generic Keys questions


Rethink

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Hello everyone. I would like some help.

I work for a company and I have a client who requested 10 computers with Windows 11 Pro installed.
I bought 10x Windows 10 Pro Digital Licenses from Retail and I used them to activate Windows on each PC.

Now, the problem is my client wants to check the key that was installed on each machine. The thing is when he uses a command like "slmgr /dli" or a third-party software he just sees the generic key (the one ending in "3V66T") and that the key is retail_channel.

We tried various commands and software, as well as try to see if the key was installed in the firmware but we cannot find it anywhere. So now, he believes that we tricked him and used pirated keys or something.
I even tried "slmgr /ipk key" but there is an error that says the key is invalid. The machines are costumed built with hardware I bought myself. (if that plays any role). Of course Windows 11 control panel says that Windows are activated with a digital license and everything works correctly.

My questions are:
1) Is it possible to see exactly what key I used for each machine so we can solve this, I have saved all the keys I used but we just can't find it anywhere on the machine so I cannot prove to him that these keys are genuine...
2) Why is that retail channel shows a generic key but the other machines I have are OEM channel with the correct key?
3) If there is no way to see the key I used (cause it is just saved on Microsoft servers for example) is there an official document by Microsoft that I can use it as proof that, let's say, retail keys are not shown in OS or firmware.
4) Is it possible that I just bought bad keys or something? I live in Europe btw and there are many lawful stores that sell such keys.
5) Is there a problem that I used Windows 10 keys to activate Windows 11 OS?

Thank you in advance..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
1. Use showkeyplus - it may identify keys you used

2. If the pc does not have an embedded oem key, you will only see the generic key. Activation changed years ago from key licences to digital licences stored online. The key is only really used now to confirm you have a valid licence and activation is by digital licence.

3.Unlikely but it is well explained on many websites.

4. Hard to say - if they were full price almost certainly legit. If they were very cheap, who knows. The main point is key only has to work once and when you get a digital licence (tied to hardware), it is there forever even if qualifying key you used to get the digital licence gets blocked.

5. No - Windows 10/11 digital licences are 100% interchangeable.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
I guess I would say to the customer, look here is the receipt and the proof that I bought these licenses. Provide the end-user with those license keys, perhaps a copy of the receipt to purchase them.

End of the day, I would expect your Company to stand behind the service and the products that you sold to the customer. If they have a problem, seems like they would reach out to your company to address the issue if they later aren't working.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
Thank you for your replies.
I will try the showkeyplus when I go back at work in a few days.

So If I understand this correctly, and please someone correct me if I am wrong.
There are two kind of keys (except volume licenses and stuff like that). The OEM and the retails ones.

OEM keys are tied to the hardware and can only be used there, these are the ones I usually find on prebuilt computers from major brands. Many times they are stored in the firmware if the firmware supports it, and these are the ones you can easily identify with commands and software.

Retail keys on the other hand are now digital licenses? You use it once, a digital license is created and your hardware is linked with this key on the Microsoft Activation servers. Windows OS stores a generic key for.. reasons. You can though transfer it to another computer if you deactivate it from the first one and then use it to the new one (?).

The keys I bought were not that cheap, but I was just provided with the keys from the retailer, no microsoft package or sticker, is there a problem with that? Correct me again if I am wrong but I think that you can also resell keys if you don't use them anymore? In europe at least? So.. if I was successful on activating them, there was noone else using them right? Just in case there is some foul play.

What happens when I use a retail key on a second computer? Will I get an error? I am also gonna try this one at work and see what happens.

Of course my company will take responsibility if something goes wrong, and I already supplied the receipt as proof that I bought them, but if there is an official document explaining how digital licenses work (and that they are not appearing in the OS) I would really like to see it. In the future I might have more clients with the same questions and I want to be able to handle that correctly.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
Piggybacking off this thread, as I found an interesting situation at home on my little BeeLink Mini-PC.

So i bought a Beelink mini PC from Amazon about 18 months ago. It came with Windows 10 Pro pre-installled on it. I've had no issues whatsoever installing WIndows 10 Pro or Windows 11 Pro. Both activate just fine. If I check Activation status it's activated with a digital license linked to my MS account.

What surprised me a bit today, is I ran slrmgr.vbs /dli and was a little surprised that my OEM hardware has a Retail key on it. I figure it's a small Chinese outfit and the key is potentially not completely legit. (it really can't be for the price of the Mini-pc...but that's another story).

Anyway, since it's retail, I guess i "could" move it to another computer if I chose to do so. I would think my only option would be to work with the online Microsoft activation thing, since I don't have the original product key used on this device to activate it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
Your customer is just going to have to accept the fact that that is the way Microsoft Digital Licensing works for Windows 10/11. It is extremely rare that the computer will retrain unique product keys entered by the user to activate Windows 10 or 11 with. In most situations, Microsoft will discard the original product key used to activate Windows 10/11 and assign the generic product key instead. If the customer insists on claiming that you illegitimately activated Windows 10/11 on the computers, then tell them to take it up with Microsoft. Microsoft will tell them that everything is normal and acting in the way that Microsoft has intended it to work. Find Microsoft's number for your location and give it to them.

BTW - regarding the OEM v. Retail issue - you can change activation channels simply by changing the generic product key. Change the product key to VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T and your activated Windows 10/11 Pro will move to the retail channel. Change the product key to NF6HC-QH89W-F8WYV-WWXV4-WFG6P, and your activated Windows 10/11 Pro will move to the OEM channel.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
2. If the pc does not have an embedded oem key, you will only see the generic key.

Are there situations where this does not apply, say an upgrade from 10-11? I have no OEM key and still see my original Win 10 key.

1685751434661.png
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Me Myself and I
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-12700F
    Motherboard
    ASUS TUF GAMING Z690-PLUS WIFI
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws S5 Series 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 XC Black Gaming
    Sound Card
    RealTek on-board 7.1
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming 27" 2K HDR Gaming
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 Pro 1TB NVMe (Win 11)
    SK hynix P41 500GB NVMe (Win 10)
    SK hynix P41 2TB NVMe (x3)
    Crucial P3 Plus 4TB
    PSU
    Corsair RM850x Shift
    Case
    Antec Dark Phantom DP502 FLUX
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12A chromax.black + 7 Phantek T-30's
    Keyboard
    Logitech MK 320
    Mouse
    Razer Basilisk V3
    Internet Speed
    350Mbs
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Winows Security
    Other Info
    Windows 10 22H2 19045.4170
    On System One
  • Operating System
    Win 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Me Myself and I
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-11700F
    Motherboard
    Asus TUF Gaming Z590 Plus WiFi
    Memory
    64 GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2060 KO Ultra Gaming
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung F27T350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 980 Pro 1TB
    Samsung 970 EVO Plus 2TB
    Samsung 870 EVO 500GB SSD
    PSU
    Corsair HX750
    Case
    Cougar MX330-G Window
    Cooling
    Hyper 212 EVO
    Internet Speed
    350Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
What happens when I use a retail key on a second computer? Will I get an error? I am also gonna try this one at work and see what happens.
First, you need to remove the product key from the current machine if you want to use it on another computer:

Run Command Prompt (Admin)

slmgr.vbs /dlv


You will see a Windows Script Host window open up giving you details about your Windows licensing and activation status. Here look for Activation ID and note it down

Now in the same command prompt window, type the following and hit Enter:

slmgr /upk <Activation ID>

example: slmgr /upk e558417a-5123-4f6f-91e7-385c1c7ca9d4

===========================================================
To install a product key"

slmgr /ipk <Windows Product Key>

===========================================================
To remove a product key from the registry:

slmgr /cpky
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware m18 R1
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
    Motherboard
    Alienware
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Impact 64 GB 5200 MHz DDR5 RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4090 16 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18" QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 165Hz, 3ms 300-Nit Screen + LG 32GQ850-B 32" UltraGear QHD 240hz Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    WQHD (3440 x 1440)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 PRO 2TB + 4TB SSDs
    PSU
    330W AC Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Noctua NT-H2 + Fujipoly Extreme Thermal Pads
    Keyboard
    Alienware CherryMX mechanical keyboard (Laptop) + AW510K Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (external)
    Mouse
    Alienware Tri-Mode Wireless Gaming Mouse AW720M
    Internet Speed
    1 GBPS Down / 350 MBPS Up
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9500
    CPU
    Intel i7-10875H
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Impact 64 GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q w/ 4 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6 UHD+ Touch, InfinityEdge, 500-nits, Anti-Reflecitve
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 PRO 2TB + 4TB SSDs
    PSU
    Dell 130W Laptop Charger USB C Type C AC Adapter
    Cooling
    Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste on CPU + GPU
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Anywhere 3
    Internet Speed
    1 GBPS Down / 350 MBPS Up
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Free Antivirus
I work for a company and I have a client who requested 10 computers with Windows 11 Pro installed.
That line sounds like the requests I got from time to time from scammers that want the computers either shipped to them or will have their carrier pick them up and want to send you a check to pay for them and they want to send you a large payment and have you refund the difference.

The check will bounce or be canceled after you send them the refund.

Were these custom-built computers ao name-brand Dell or the like?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
Were these custom-built computers ao name-brand Dell or the like?
No, there is definitely no scam involved between us. The computers were custom-built with specific parts because the client had specific requirements(cpu, gpu etc). Our only problem is to prove to him I didn't scam him in any way concerning the keys. I will follow your advice though, I already have sent him the invoice which shows I bought them legally and I will give him Microsoft's phone number if he wants to ask them how licenses work.

It is extremely rare that the computer will retrain unique product keys entered by the user to activate Windows 10 or 11 with. In most situations, Microsoft will discard the original product key used to activate Windows 10/11 and assign the generic product key instead.
I really don't understand these sentences. If I use a product key I bought, is there a small chance that it will be used as is and a bigger chance that it will assign a generic key?


This is really confusing for me. I see that there are different ways to acquire product keys. I see retailers selling cheap ones, I see retailers selling more expensive ones, I see small packets with stickers called Windows 11 Pro DSP. What is the difference between them? Do all these keys belong to the retail channel? Does every channel has its own keys? Or maybe every key can be used differently?

I have a laptop with a key here, activated with a digital license, slmgr /dli says that I am on retail channel and shows generic key. I just run slmgr /ipk "key", now it shows I am on OEM channel and shows the correct key? What is going on? Did I just made the key permanent on my laptop and wrote it in firmware? Why this didn't work on their computers when my client tried it?

I really hoped that there must be some good official documention from Microsoft regarding all of this..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
Hello everyone. I would like some help.
I work for a company and I have a client who requested 10 computers with Windows 11 Pro installed.
I bought 10x Windows 10 Pro Digital Licenses from Retail and I used them to activate Windows on each PC.

Now, the problem is my client wants to check the key that was installed on each machine. The thing is when he uses a command like "slmgr /dli" or a third-party software he just sees the generic key (the one ending in "3V66T") and that the key is retail_channel.

We tried various commands and software, as well as try to see if the key was installed in the firmware but we cannot find it anywhere. So now, he believes that we tricked him and used pirated keys or something.
I even tried "slmgr /ipk key" but there is an error that says the key is invalid. The machines are costumed built with hardware I bought myself. (if that plays any role). Of course Windows 11 control panel says that Windows are activated with a digital license and everything works correctly.

My questions are:
1) Is it possible to see exactly what key I used for each machine so we can solve this, I have saved all the keys I used but we just can't find it anywhere on the machine so I cannot prove to him that these keys are genuine...
2) Why is that retail channel shows a generic key but the other machines I have are OEM channel with the correct key?
3) If there is no way to see the key I used (cause it is just saved on Microsoft servers for example) is there an official document by Microsoft that I can use it as proof that, let's say, retail keys are not shown in OS or firmware.
4) Is it possible that I just bought bad keys or something? I live in Europe btw and there are many lawful stores that sell such keys.
5) Is there a problem that I used Windows 10 keys to activate Windows 11 OS?

Thank you in advance..

By Windows 10 Pro Digital License did you get Win 10 keys (if so, check in ShowKeyPlus - and from whom did you purchase them? .. or is this the MS online digital upgrade without a key thingy? Anyway the client should get the Full Packaged Product (FPP) if retail or COA if system builder.

FYI: BTW the key does not get written to the firmware - it's OS based... only OEM factories (not even their service centres) can update the key in the firmware.
Are there situations where this does not apply, say an upgrade from 10-11? I have no OEM key and still see my original Win 10 key.

View attachment 61534
This is interesting - I can't recall testing this.. but given the Product ID that definitely is a Win 10 Pro retail key displayed ..

...not sure if MS changed the activation process, but if so, good on them for retaining the key.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows

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