2024-01-27

Retrieving your Windows OEM key from the BIOS

While an OEM license doesn't allow you to use it in a VM, there may be other reasons why you might want the keys. The following are how to access this value from a Windows system and a Linux system.

Using a command prompty with admin privileges (per How-To Geek, nixCraft doesn't mention needing admin) on Windows…
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

From nixCraft:
Using a terminal or terminal emulator…
sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM

The original articles cover extra topics as well. I just wanted my own instructions on how to do it in case they linkrot away.