Find my Windows product key from Linux

[lamontc]

My computer crashed. Windows won't start but I can start it and access the hard drive from a Linux live CD (Linux Mint 12). I need to re-load Windows. I have a disc but how can I find my product key from Linux? My Windows copy is legit but the disc is not from Microsoft.

 

[Joan Archer]

What do you mean when you say the disc is not from Microsoft, who is it from ? Is it a recovery disc that came with the computer ?

What type of computer is it, laptop or desktop, if the OS came preloaded you should have a sticker on the machine with your product key.

If you can post back with a few more details I'm sure that one of the experts will be able to help you and Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Golden]

My Windows copy is legit but the disc is not from Microsoft.

Hi,

Try this:

Download the exact same Windows ISO version as that which is installed on your system from this site:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

Burn it to a 4GB flash/thumb drive using this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html

Boot from this USB drive, and choose to do a Startup Repair, using this tutorial as a guide:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

If you manage to boot into Windows, you should be able to see your product key on the screen shown below.

Regards,
Golden

 

[Joan Archer]

My Windows copy is legit but the disc is not from Microsoft.

Hi,

Try this:

Download the exact same Windows ISO version as that which is installed on your system from this site:
http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

Burn it to a 4GB flash/thumb drive using this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html

Boot from this USB drive, and choose to do a Startup Repair, using this tutorial as a guide:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

If you manage to boot into Windows, you should be able to see your product key on the screen shown below.

Regards,
Golden

Golden I don't believe that is the product key but the Product ID, if the OS was preloaded he should have a sticker on his machine with the Product number.

 

[seavixen32]

You are quite correct Joan.

It is the product ID and it is this number that Microsoft use to confirm whether you are using an OEM version of Windows or a retail version.

It cannot be used to activate Windows. For that you need the product key. An OEM version will display the product key on the COA sticker. A retail version will have a product key attached to the disc packaging.

 

[Golden]

My mistake - well spotted Joan

 

[lamontc]

More details

I bought the computer with Windows Vista and a free upgrade to Windows 7 came in the mail a few months later. I lost the 7 upgrade disc. I have 2 hard drives so the one that crashed has 7 loaded on it. I loaded Vista on the other one so that my computer would work but now I need to get 7 going again. I have a product key on the side of my computer but I think that is only for Vista. I downloaded the same version of 7 (home premium) from somewhere (I think it was mydigitallife but I can't remember) so I have a version of 7 but I can't load it. I think I will try putting it on a flash drive and booting from that, then trying to let Windows fix the errors on the drive. If that works I may not even have to re-load the whole OS. Thanks for your help and I will let you know if it works. I am not that techie so wish me luck!

 

[jimbo45]

Hi guys

You are talking what *Might be* total B/S here.

Just download the version of Windows you need to recover from the M/S site (even in "Trial mode") and after installation go to the ==> change product key and enter YOUR ORIGINAL KEY.

Windows should then activate totally normally and without any problems whatsoever. (If there IS a problem use the phone activation method -=- explain the problem and you are good to go again).

cheers
jimbo

 

[karlsnooks]

My computer crashed. Windows won't start but I can start it and access the hard drive from a Linux live CD (Linux Mint 12). I need to re-load Windows. I have a disc but how can I find my product key from Linux? My Windows copy is legit but the disc is not from Microsoft.

Let's get your disk to working.

Since you have no COA, you have no Product Key, no DVD, then either we get that one working or you go buy a Win 7 DVD.

When the unit "crashed", what happened?

More detail, no matter how insignficant, will be helpful.

 

[lamontc]

As far as the crash, I am not much help. It gave me an error message that I didn't understand or write down so now I don't remember it. It told me to restart. I did that and it started disc checking. It said "Invalid security code for sector xxxx. replacing with default security code." It did that for every sector on the drive but I stopped it partway through with a hard reset because I thought I was smarter than then computer. After that it wouldn't start windows. After I loaded windows vista on the other hard drive it couldn't access the first hard drive. When I started it with a Linux live CD I could access both drives. I saved my photos and stuff to the drive that is working but Windows still won't access the drive.

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[rvbfan]

http://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/ekeyfinder/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4

 

[windude99]

Also, when you are in Windows, you can use this program to see your product key: Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder - Download.com
Use the above poster's program to read the key from Linux. Also, is there a sticker on the case of your pc (on laptops it is on the bottom or behind the battery, desktops are on the case, most likely one of the sides)

 

[karlsnooks]

WINDOWS DEFENDER OFFLINE is NOT Windows Defender

I use that lead-in since Microsoft made an extremely poor choice in naming a product.

Click on WDO in my signature. There will be excellent instructions there. We also have a tutorial.
When finished, please upload all of the .LOG files in:
\Windows\Microsoft Antimalware\Support


I do recommend choosing the option to install to usb.

 

[windude99]

WINDOWS DEFENDER OFFLINE is NOT Windows Defender

I use that lead-in since Microsoft made an extremely poor choice in naming a product.

Click on WDO in my signature. There will be excellent instructions there. We also have a tutorial.
When finished, please upload all of the .LOG files in:
\Windows\Microsoft Antimalware\Support


I do recommend choosing the option to install to usb.

I think you posted this in the wrong thread

 

[karlsnooks]

Nope.

 

[lamontc]

Karlsnooks:
What does Windows Defender Offline do for this problem? How can I use it to help?

 

[karlsnooks]

give you a 100% clean system so that we can proceed with other measures.