Achieve 10 successful OEM key reformats on the same hardware.
Achieve 10 successful OEM key reformats on the same hardware.
It’s possible to reinstall using the same hardware, but placing the same key won’t guarantee automatic detection. You’ll need to format the drive and ensure proper installation settings. Wiping and removing partitions is a good approach before reinstalling.
You'll see the choice "I don't have one" as a blue link. When prompted for the key, Windows will function properly once you're connected online, and you can verify updates at any time. The key is kept on Microsoft servers. If it's a custom or older system with BIOS, it resides in the UEFI chip. Modern pre-built systems store the key in the UEFI. Windows will handle everything automatically.