Product keys for Windows 8 computers aren't printed on a sticker. They're encrypted in the BIOS. How might that affect you? Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT ...

Those purchasing Windows 8 PCs are noticing that the small "Certificate of Authenticity" that is normally home to the product key is missing, and instead a "Genuine Microsoft" label has replaced it.

To recall, Microsoft launched Windows 10 in 2015. At the time, it promised to provide users with a free upgrade to Windows 10 within one year. This offer ended on July 29, 2016. In fact, even after ...

Microsoft's decision to move to hardware embedded product keys for Windows as part of its Activation 3.0 system is creating difficulties for users wanting to reuse the keys for further installations.

All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Let's say you want ...

Microsoft closed a Windows 7 / 8 key loophole last month, and now people are experiencing issues reactivating some Windows 10 / 11 installs. Microsoft closed a Windows 7 / 8 key loophole last month, ...

When you buy a copy of Windows 11/10, you get a product key. This key is used to activate Windows on your computer. It’s a 25-character product key, and it’s important that you keep it noted somewhere ...

Downgrading Windows 10 to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 isn’t as easy as it used to be. When Windows 10 launched in summer 2015, Microsoft offered the operating system as a free upgrade for existing ...