Lost my Windows 7 Product Key, but have Certificate of Authenticity

I reinstalled Windows 7 earlier today with the backup disc I received from Digital River, part of a student discount deal in 2009. However, the product key (I know, stupid of me not to write it down) and the confirmation e-mail are now long gone. I've tried calling Microsoft directly but they keep redirecting me to different departments in hopes of getting me to buy a whole new copy of Windows 7 rather than simply asking me to verify the product with the certificate of authenticity and handing me my product key.

I was wondering if anyone could assist me. I'm just looking to get Windows 7 activated as soon as possible.

Thanks guys.


EDIT 1: I e-mailed Digital River, though their online student store has been discontinued since 2010 I am hoping their customer service is still intact. So I e-mailed them hoping to find a way for them to re-send my confirmation e-mail from three years ago (unlikely, but worth a shot).

EDIT 2: I managed to get in touch with a helpful Microsoft representative who said I should call Customer Support during business hours. He didn't give me the number when I asked though, so I guess I'll go fishing for it on google...

It should be on the certificate of authenticity. Mine is anyway.

It should be on the certificate of authenticity. Mine is anyway.

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Do you happen to have an image of your certificate of authenticity? I recall the product keys are a string of 5 sets, each set with 5 characters each (excluding 0's). My certificate of authenticity only has a few numbers below the bar code highlighted in pink, a string of numbers above the words "Win Home Prem 7 64-bit English Disk" and another set of numbers above another bar code.

EDIT: I think you're talking about the old versions of windows, I recall XP having the product key on the same sticker as the certificate of authenticity. Windows 7 doesn't seem to though.

Mine says, 'Product key', followed by all the numbers. If yours doesn't have that then don't know.

Hipster Doofus said:

Mine says, 'Product key', followed by all the numbers. If yours doesn't have that then don't know.

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I know what you're talking about. That's not the certificate of authenticity, it's the product key sticker that comes with retail versions of Windows 7 that you purchase from the store.

I don't have a retail version of Windows 7, I purchased an online "upgrade" of Windows 7 from Digital River's Student store that was part of a promotion in Fall '09. There was an option of ordering a backup disc with my purchase. The backup disc came in a folded envelope with a different certificate of authenticity with a light blue/green background that has no useful numbers on it.

Thank you though, but it appears that I'll have to wait until I can reach another customer support specialist from Bali.

Have you tried here, towards the bottom of the page...

How do I re-download software or obtain the product key that I have already purchased?

https://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM...InformationPage&SiteID=msshus&Locale=en_US#q4

derekimo said:

Have you tried here, towards the bottom of the page...

How do I re-download software or obtain the product key that I have already purchased?

https://store.digitalriver.com/DRHM...InformationPage&SiteID=msshus&Locale=en_US#q4

Click to expand...

Yeah I was looking at that before I came here, but the service can't seem to find any purchases made under my student e-mail (which I know I used). I sent them an e-mail so I guess that's all I can hope for. Otherwise I'll have to purchase Windows 7 again for $64 :/