Windows 8 PCs now embed their product keys in the BIOS, a move that offers both pros and cons. In the past, a new Windows PC would display its product key on a sticker, usually on the side of a ...

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.

With Windows 8, Microsoft has changed from stickers that have the product key that the user has to type in when installing the operating system to new BIOS embedded product keys.

Computer manufacturers have been able to write product keys to the BIOS since Windows 7 and Activation 2.1 for each system they shipped, but a sticker still had to be affixed to the computers.

Until the Windows 8 Setup prompted him for a product key. "The product key should be with the box the DVD came in or on your email receipt," the prompt politely informed him. Kravets looked all ...

From today's mailbox: I've noticed that when I install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview I have to enter a product key during installation. There doesn't seem to be an option to install the operating ...

At least for now, though, it seems like this change will only apply to future Windows versions. We were able to activate a fresh Windows 11 Pro 22H2 install with a Windows 8 Pro product key as of ...

I'm in an ongoing argument elsewhere about the circumstances under which Windows product keys can be stored in the BIOS of a system. [My Position] Only OEMs can actually store a product key in the ...