Windows 7 activation period. Does Windows 7 impose a performance penalty for not activating Windows with a Product Key? Let's say you have a very old installation of Windows 7 that has not been activated. The number of days they give you to activate is long expired. You've already used up your free slmgr rearms. So long as you had the correct version of the key for the install you intended to use, such as Home or Pro, plugging a Windows 7 key into a Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or even 11 install after upgrading would activate that new copy of Windows. Microsoft originally allowed this as a means to entice users away from Windows 7 and onto their newer operating Generic product keys allow users to install any version of Windows on their machines. Each version of Windows has its own key. To find the latest KMS generic keys (aka, default keys) for all editions of Windows 10, it is wise to check Microsoft's official list. They are prone to change from time to time. You can find the full list of generic Click on the ACPI Table button at the top. After that click on the MSDM tab. Your BIOS's product key is at the bottom. When the program opens just remember to close the bottom windows first - having two windows open can cause the program to crash. To start off, visit and download both the Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 setup installers. Once completed, launch the Windows 8 installer and enter the product key upon prompting. When the download 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 11 and Windows 10: In most cases, Windows 11 and Windows 10 activates automatically using a digital license and doesn’t require you to enter a product key According to Microsoft, I need the Windows-8 key in order for Windows 10 to be activated. To retrieve the Windows-8 key, I used this command. wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey. in "powershell (Admin)", (so at a command prompt). It returned with "OA3xOriginalProductKey". and that's it. When I had to reinstall windows, it wouldn't accept my Windows 8 product key, which I am assuming is because Windows 10 won't take a Windows 8 key. I tried working with Microsoft Support but all they managed to do was reinstall windows again without the activation. Do the following: Close all running programs. Click on Start and type Run in the search bar. Open Run and enter slui2 and hit enter. A new window will open and ask you to provide a genuine Windows product key 8.1. Grab a Win 8.1 product key on this post and use it. Step 2:Click the Change product key button. Step 4: Enter your Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 product key and then click the Next button to activate your Windows 10. While clean installing Windows 10 from bootable USB, DVD or ISO, when you are prompted to enter the product key, enter the genuine product key of Windows 7, Windows 8, or 8.1 to activate your 73Ar1q.