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

w1rex

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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...
 

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Windows 7 Home BasicE8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz18432 RAMATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
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Custom
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Windows 7 Home Basic
CPU
E8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz
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DFI Infinity P965-S
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18432 RAM
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ATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
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Razer Lachesis
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Road Runner DSL
It should be on the certificate of authenticity. Mine is anyway.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Pro x64 -- PCLinuxOS KDE4 FullMonty...i7-875k @ Turbo - 7,6,5,5 - 3.6ghzCorsair CMD8GX3M4A1600C8 8gbAsus EAH5850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Pro x64 -- PCLinuxOS KDE4 FullMonty 2011
CPU
i7-875k @ Turbo - 7,6,5,5 - 3.6ghz
Motherboard
Asus P7P55D-E Deluxe
Memory
Corsair CMD8GX3M4A1600C8 8gb
Graphics Card(s)
Asus EAH5850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster T220 - Panasonic VT30a 50"
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 -
Hard Drives
Corsair Force 3 SSD 120GB x 2 ::
WD VelociRaptor 150GB WD1500HLFS x 2
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Corsair HX-850 Power Supply
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Coolmaster HAF 932
Cooling
Corsair H50
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Logitech Wireless MK700
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Logitech Wireless MX620
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Good enough for now
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Voip. Insanely cheap phone calls.
It should be on the certificate of authenticity. Mine is anyway.

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.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home BasicE8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz18432 RAMATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Home Basic
CPU
E8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz
Motherboard
DFI Infinity P965-S
Memory
18432 RAM
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 19" LCD
Screen Resolution
1280 x 1024
Hard Drives
1.2TB Seagate
PSU
Thermaltake 700W
Case
Antec 900
Keyboard
Razer Pro Type
Mouse
Razer Lachesis
Internet Speed
Road Runner DSL
Mine says, 'Product key', followed by all the numbers. If yours doesn't have that then don't know.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Pro x64 -- PCLinuxOS KDE4 FullMonty...i7-875k @ Turbo - 7,6,5,5 - 3.6ghzCorsair CMD8GX3M4A1600C8 8gbAsus EAH5850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Pro x64 -- PCLinuxOS KDE4 FullMonty 2011
CPU
i7-875k @ Turbo - 7,6,5,5 - 3.6ghz
Motherboard
Asus P7P55D-E Deluxe
Memory
Corsair CMD8GX3M4A1600C8 8gb
Graphics Card(s)
Asus EAH5850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung SyncMaster T220 - Panasonic VT30a 50"
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 -
Hard Drives
Corsair Force 3 SSD 120GB x 2 ::
WD VelociRaptor 150GB WD1500HLFS x 2
PSU
Corsair HX-850 Power Supply
Case
Coolmaster HAF 932
Cooling
Corsair H50
Keyboard
Logitech Wireless MK700
Mouse
Logitech Wireless MX620
Internet Speed
Good enough for now
Other Info
Voip. Insanely cheap phone calls.
Mine says, 'Product key', followed by all the numbers. If yours doesn't have that then don't know.

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.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home BasicE8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz18432 RAMATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Home Basic
CPU
E8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz
Motherboard
DFI Infinity P965-S
Memory
18432 RAM
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 19" LCD
Screen Resolution
1280 x 1024
Hard Drives
1.2TB Seagate
PSU
Thermaltake 700W
Case
Antec 900
Keyboard
Razer Pro Type
Mouse
Razer Lachesis
Internet Speed
Road Runner DSL

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Win 10 Pro x64Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self Built
OS
Win 10 Pro x64
CPU
Intel I5-2500K @3.3GHz
Motherboard
Asrock P67 Extreme4
Memory
16GB G.Skill Ripjaws X (4x4GB)
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce 750 Ti SC 2GB
Sound Card
ASUS Xonar DG 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound
Monitor(s) Displays
auria eq2367
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
250GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD
1TB WD Blue
1TB Hitachi
PSU
SeaSonic X 650W 80 Plus Gold
Case
Corsair Obsidian 750D
Cooling
Corsair H60, Three 140mm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech Wireless Keyboard K520
Mouse
Logitech Wireless Mouse M310
Internet Speed
Wave Broadband ~ 100 dn 5 up
Antivirus
Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Premium
Browser
Edge, IE11, Chrome
Other Info
Laptop specs: HP g7-1365dx /
CPU: AMD A6-3420M APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics /
RAM: Crucial 8Gb (2x4Gb) /
SSD: Crucial M4-CT128M4SSD2 ATA Device/ FW 000F /
GFX: AMD Radeon HD 6520G /
OS: Windows 10 Pro x64
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


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 :/
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Home BasicE8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz18432 RAMATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 7 Home Basic
CPU
E8400 Core 2 Duo @ 3.00Ghz
Motherboard
DFI Infinity P965-S
Memory
18432 RAM
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 4800 x2 Crossfire Disabled
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell 19" LCD
Screen Resolution
1280 x 1024
Hard Drives
1.2TB Seagate
PSU
Thermaltake 700W
Case
Antec 900
Keyboard
Razer Pro Type
Mouse
Razer Lachesis
Internet Speed
Road Runner DSL
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