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this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2024
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Do you know off the top if it's intact if I "fully wiped" it during the installation of a different OS?
The key is stored in the BIOS (UEFI flash chip) - you can install 10 or 11 from the downloaded installers MS offers; as long as the Home or Pro is correct it'll activate just fine.
You can verify the key exists by running
hexdump -C /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM
Microsoft just lets you create install media now.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
Like mentioned, if the machine was registered before you should be able to click that in a radio button during install and it should just work^TM^.
Edit: I see you mentioned 10 but I think same applies and the media tool is also available.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Microsoft "fingerprints" your machine when you activate windows on it. You can completely replace the hard drive and reinstall windows from scratch, and they'll figure out your activation on their end.
It depends on how you do the installation. Some OS allows you to modify the partition where the OS will be installed into. Some will just wipe up the whole disk.
It's probably gone. But maybe you could have some luck looking for it in your BIOS like others suggested.