How can I get my Windows 7 Product Key?

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simon14

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#107518 13-Aug-2012 20:35

Hi guys,

I purchased a Dell laptop from DSE probably about 2 1/2 years ago now and I'm having a few issues with it so i figure it will just be easier to completely reinstall a fresh copy of Windows, however I've just moved house and appear to have lost the installation CD and info that came with it.

I do have another copy of Windows 7 for my desktop PC, so i figured i would reinstall Windows 7 using this but i still somehow need to find the product key for my laptop...

A quick google search revealed a program called Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder which can reveal the product key for Windows 7 (which is in the register but encrypted)

My question is, is this legal to use this software to find the product key for my copy of windows 7? And will it actually show the correct key?

Stu

Hammered
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#671954 13-Aug-2012 20:47

Should be on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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nitrotech

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#671956 13-Aug-2012 20:52

Dell's now put their COA's under the battery to stop them wearing off.

The install was most likely with a DELL VLK which will let you install it off a retail disk but you most likely wont be able to activate it.

Do you still have the restore partition intact? if so it would solve all your problems.

simon14

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#672015 13-Aug-2012 22:20

nitrotech: Dell's now put their COA's under the battery to stop them wearing off.

The install was most likely with a DELL VLK which will let you install it off a retail disk but you most likely wont be able to activate it.

Do you still have the restore partition intact? if so it would solve all your problems.

You, my friend, are a legend.

Product key is under battery! Thanks

Wade

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#672419 14-Aug-2012 18:58

I had similar issue, used generic win7 disc entered key and then was prompted to ring some Microsoft automated line to re-authorise key circ.

Took 5min and worked fine ever since

Gilco2

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#672453 14-Aug-2012 19:34

simon14:
nitrotech: Dell's now put their COA's under the battery to stop them wearing off.

The install was most likely with a DELL VLK which will let you install it off a retail disk but you most likely wont be able to activate it.

Do you still have the restore partition intact? if so it would solve all your problems.

You, my friend, are a legend.

Product key is under battery! Thanks

I did clean install on my HP. The Windows licence was under the battery. BUT enter the key and when go to activate it says invalid and to purchase new key. And before someone asks yes it was correct key and typed correctly and for the same version of Windows 7 and service pack.

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ChevronX

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#672476 14-Aug-2012 20:21

Interesting to know, being someone who deals with portable machines, ie Laptops on a daily basis I have yet to come across one with a product key underneath the battery. My own personal experience with Jellybean Keyfinder has revealed that it does infact reveal the correct key, I also use a bootable version of Produkey which is great.

If the Windows install is not accepting the product key, either the key is wrong, some 8s look like b's etc or you are installing the wrong Windows 7 version.

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heretohelp

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#679439 30-Aug-2012 19:53

ChevronX: Interesting to know, being someone who deals with portable machines, ie Laptops on a daily basis I have yet to come across one with a product key underneath the battery. My own personal experience with Jellybean Keyfinder has revealed that it does infact reveal the correct key, I also use a bootable version of Produkey which is great.

If the Windows install is not accepting the product key, either the key is wrong, some 8s look like b's etc or you are installing the wrong Windows 7 version.

just a side note; in the day of vista, somtimes when you did an upgrade repair or a fresh install on some branded laptops i think it was HP and dell were the worst, the code would be locked down to say an HP OEM disk often would have to enter another key off a dead laptop to get past it. Have not come accross this with windows 7 though. didnt happen often just a bugger when it did

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richms

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#679452 30-Aug-2012 20:28

Nice change to putting them under the battery. I have a dell inspiron here that I am using a dodgey non activated key of vista on because its rubbed off the sticker.

Richard rich.ms

blakamin

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#679469 30-Aug-2012 21:23

1st thing I usually do with laptops is take a photo of the sticker.

2nd thing I do is forget which portable HDD I saved it on.

richms

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#679481 30-Aug-2012 21:48

This was warn off before I bought it used for $100 because it had a dickky trackpad button ;)

Richard rich.ms