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Trying to reinstall Windows 7 without a Product Key--Please help
Hi, my computer originally came with windows vista 64 bit. Last year, I was able to download a free upgrade to windows 7 through my university. I did a custom install and it upgraded without any problems. I am trying to re install windows 7 now, but I don't have a product key. I can't recall if I used one. I tried running the various key finders--jelly bean, speccy, etc-- and they all say "no key found." They show my MS Office key and windows 7 product ID-- but not a serial number. I've run about five key-finding programs and none can find a key. How is this possible? Did I not need one when I upgraded?
I made a copy of the windows 7 download on a dvd-- I still have that. Is it going to prompt me for a product key or is it somehow already integrated into the installation? Sorry, I am really computer illiterate and probably sound really stupid. I looked all over to see if I wrote a key down somewhere or send myself an email with the key-- but no luck. Is it possible I don't need a key, and can just put the win7 boot disk in and run the custom install? Will that work? The only other thing I can think of would be to download it again through my university, but unfortunately I am no longer a student there so I can't access their website.
Any help would much be appreciated!
Thanks!