Solved How do I find the Win7 key of an installation that will not boot?

[xlirate]

I have a 100gb hdd from a laptop plugged into an external hdd bay, mounted and working from another win7 laptop. How do I fetch the key used to install the windows on the 100gb hdd?

 

[mitchell65]

It will be on a Sticker called a COA sticker on the underside of the laptop from which it came.

 

[xlirate]

It has worn off that was were I looked first.

 

[mitchell65]

As you have removed the HD from the laptop you obviusly cannot re-install the OS to that machine and it will be an OEM version of Windows 7 so you cannot use it on any other machine.
That said you can follow this to find the key:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/153626-product-key-number-windows-7-find-see.html

 

[xlirate]

It was not an oem version, this is a refurbished laptop.

 

[YoYo155]

As mitchell65 suggested you can use KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean.
But since it's an offline OS you might need to load the hive.

In the browse window, navigate to:

[B]X[/B]:\Windows\system32\config\software

   Information

"X:\" -Being the letter of the offline OS's C:\ partition.

 

[SIW2]

Produkey is easier.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

( Also comes in 64 bit - useful to just throw into simple 64 pe.)

 

[xlirate]

It is coming up empty, I think the drive may be worse off then I first thought. Thanks for the help.