Windows 7: Windows 7 COA faded

So my notebook is an HP dv4 bought less than a year ago and the COA Product ID is only half visible, and as a precaution I spoke with some HP reps and they told me to download keyfinder and run it to find my Windows 7 Product key. I found the key, but I noticed that its different from the COA label(atleast the last 15 characters that were visible), which Product Key is the correct one? Will the one I found with keyfinder work for future restores?

Welcome to the forum,

I'm not sure which one you used but this Belarc Advisor - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

always works for me. See if it gives you the same one.

Thanks for the welcoming. I tried the Belarc Advisor and it gives me the same Key from Keyfinder which doesn't match my COA Product Key. Below is what I get from Berlac


*****-OEM-8992687-***** (Key:*****-*****-*****-WMF7J-3Q6C9)

Contact HP again and see what they say about this.
I vaguely recall reading something about a master OEM key and an Individual key am having a senior moment at present and can't locate any confirmation of that.

Doing a recovery using the HP recovery tools will not require a key. If recovery options are gone, because you formatted drive, you would have to contact HP and order a set of disc.

The specifics of OEM keys/ Microsoft keys I'm not positive about but it goes something like this: Using an OEM disc will not require a key during installation. It uses like a universal key that along with something put into the bios automatically activates Windows.

They key inside of Windows will always be different from the key on the sticker for manufactured PC's like Dell, HP.

That's why when you use another installation disc, like a retail DVD it won't activate on its own, and you have to enter key on the sticker and do a ROBO call to Microsoft to activate.

Again, I'm only slightly correct!

Since the key is no longer visible and if you require for installation, because your NOT using an OEM HP disc, HP will force you to buy one of their installation disc, where they key won't be necessary.

I doubt they will just give you a new key but maybe they could look it up.

I believe they call it SLP, system locked profile. The install media looks for a code embeded in the BIOS. If it sees it, it will install without ever asking you to enter a product code or activate windows. It just puts the activation files onto the harddrive since it knows the harware will match because the BIOS code was there. Every PC of that model of that manufacturer will have the same product code and it won't match the one on the sticker. All the DVD's ( recovery disks) shiped with the PC or created with the utility are identical. At the factory they just use the one image to install the OS. Any time I have ever tried to use the product code on the sticker it wouldn't work, the PC wouldn't activate online and I'd have to call Microsoft. I never had any problems activating once I explained what I did. Use the Key the keyfinder gave you and see what happens. If you have to call Microsoft tell them thats the key originally used to install from the factory. I'm sure they know that key when they see it, so i wouldn't think it would be a big deal.

Right click on Computer in start menu, click properties ... does the product identification match what is left of the OEM sticker?

I'm going say NO, most times it won't! As per responses above.

The "Product ID:" displayed on that page is not your windows 7 product code. For one thing aside from "OEM" there are no other letters in it, and its not in groups of five. In windows 98 it was, but Microsoft changed it at some point. XP and on I believe. Its just to easy to steal the code the other way.

On many factory OEM clean reinstalls, I've used either COA key or one audited by Belarc and either will activate, usually requiring a robocall to MS.

But first if possible make your Recovery disk set so you have as backup a method to reinstall that will self-activate, as will running the HP Recovery partition by tapping the F11 key at bootup: HP Backup and Recovery Manager