But it may help you plead your case to Microsoft for a free new key, if your Win 8 was a Retail version. And again, you would lose everything by reinstalling 8. There are utilities that pull the CD-Key out of the registry but your Win 8 key may have been replaced in there by the generic Win 10 key in there which is good for nothing as it's the same key as everyone else has. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktopĭouble-click AutoColorization in the right panel, and change the Value Data field to 1. The product key will be revealed, copy the product key then enter it. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalizeĭouble-click ColorPrevalence in the right panel, and change the Value Data field to 1 Click Windows PowerShell (admin) Enter the following command: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey. The personalizations like the Background Picture are indeed disabled without activation but the ridiculously easy workaround is to rightclick on the image itself and 'Set as desktop background.' The workaround for the taskbar color at least for previous builds was: No settings are changed by just entering a new key.
