Lost activation key.

Type CMD in Start search box, rightclick result "Run as Admin" and type: slmgr -dlv for exact activation status.

If not activated, type: slmgr -ato to attempt activation.

If this fails, type: slmgr -upk to return activation back to trial state so key can be reinstalled.

Hello Mooneyham,

Well, since you formated the computer, you're not going to be able to see your product key number from within Windows 7. Did your Windows 7 installation disc come with any packaging or paperwork that has a product license key sticker with the number on it?

Product Key Number for Windows 7 - Find and See

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Unfortunately not. If you installed from a DVD, you have no recovery partition. And the reinstall wiped out the restore points. And I assume you did not make any images - that would have been an easy solution. Pretty sad story of unpreparedness. Sorry to be so blunt.

mooneyham said:

I lost the entire box and everything except the cd. The reformat went pretty quick so can't there be some left and is there a way to have the old installation boot?

I'm afraid not after you formatted the HDD and installed Windows 7. That pretty much wipes out all hopes unless you had previously created a system image that you can restore.

If not, then you might try contacting the company from where you got the Windows 7 from to see if they may be able to issue a new key number for it, or may be able to tell you what your key number is based on the serial number on the Windows 7 installation disc.