Dell Product Key sticker Worn!

steve1978 · 16 Mar 2013

hello to all, i wonder if someone can help.

I have recently got a used Dell Latitude 13 laptop. The previous owner had downgraded the OS from Windows 7 pro to Windows XP pro, When i got the laptop i formatted it and installed Windows 7 Pro again,

The problem i have is i only have 3 days before i need to activate and the sticker on the bottom is so badly faded i cant make out what the product key is!

is there any way i can recover this product key to legally activate this OEM laptop?

pebbly · 16 Mar 2013

hi steve1978, you have a few options either ring Microsoft and explain to them ,order a set of recovery discs from Dell that will have the inbuilt product key or download belarc advisor and see if that shows the key Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more. :)

NoelDP · 17 Mar 2013

The Key in the current install will almost certainly be the Default Key - which can never be activated, and which will be the one that Belarc and any other Keyfinder will find.

You need to contact Dell and order a set of Recovery disks for that machine - they are usually fairly cheap, and certainly a lot cheaper than buying a new license!

AC · 17 Mar 2013

Since you've done a clean install of Windows 7, and didn't enter a key, the key being used now is the default key. I'd recommend buying Dell recovery discs here.
Dell - Support

NoelDP · 28 May 2014

Dell's US site isn't much good for a UK customer

techtitan100 · 28 May 2014

Recovery disks from Lenovo are not cheap i paid $60 to get my recovery disks for Windows 7

Lady Fitzgerald · 28 May 2014

I've seen this in the past. Some people have been able to contact M$ and talk them into issuing a new key after sending them a photo of the worn out key. You may have to call more than once to find a rep that is willing and/or capable of doing this.

Barman58 · 28 May 2014

NoelDP said:

Dell's US site isn't much good for a UK customer

http://www.dell.com/support/my-suppo...n&s=gen&~ck=mn