Lost Product Key?

[clarknova]

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: N/A, hr = 0xc004f012
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-788W3-H689G-6P6GT
Windows Product Key Hash: yr8OHoeXhbT4dc6MxGYjdAStSPY=
Windows Product ID: 00371-OEM-8992671-00008
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {8AF1F8CA-BCA7-4EEB-977A-26279654C0B8}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_gdr.150316-1654
TTS Error: 
Validation Diagnostic: 
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

Windows XP Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
File Exists: No
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaTray.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
WgaLogon.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Notifications Data-->
Cached Result: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAExec.exe Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
OGAAddin.dll Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

OGA Data-->
Office Status: 109 N/A
OGA Version: N/A, 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Office Diagnostics: 025D1FF3-364-80041010_025D1FF3-229-80041010_025D1FF3-230-1_025D1FF3-517-80040154_025D1FF3-237-80040154_025D1FF3-238-2_025D1FF3-244-80070002_025D1FF3-258-3

Browser Data-->
Proxy settings: N/A
User Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Win32)
Default Browser: C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe
Download signed ActiveX controls: Prompt
Download unsigned ActiveX controls: Disabled
Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins: Allowed
Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe: Disabled
Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control: Disabled
Active scripting: Allowed
Script ActiveX controls marked as safe for scripting: Allowed

File Scan Data-->

Other data-->
Office Details: <GenuineResults><MachineData><UGUID>{8AF1F8CA-BCA7-4EEB-977A-26279654C0B8}</UGUID><Version>1.9.0027.0</Version><OS>6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048</OS><Architecture>x64</Architecture><PKey>*****-*****-*****-*****-6P6GT</PKey><PID>00371-OEM-8992671-00008</PID><PIDType>2</PIDType><SID>S-1-5-21-1187481153-1306224121-2038609829</SID><SYSTEM><Manufacturer>VMware, Inc.</Manufacturer><Model>VMware7,1</Model></SYSTEM><BIOS><Manufacturer>VMware, Inc.</Manufacturer><Version>VMW71.00V.0.B64.1410210136</Version><SMBIOSVersion major="2" minor="7"/><Date>20141021000000.000000+000</Date></BIOS><HWID>CA740F00018400F4</HWID><UserLCID>0409</UserLCID><SystemLCID>0409</SystemLCID><TimeZone>Mountain Standard Time(GMT-07:00)</TimeZone><iJoin>0</iJoin><SBID><stat>3</stat><msppid></msppid><name></name><model></model></SBID><OEM/><GANotification/></MachineData><Software><Office><Result>109</Result><Products/><Applications/></Office></Software></GenuineResults>  

Spsys.log Content: 0x80070002

Licensing Data-->
Software licensing service version: 6.1.7601.17514

Name: Windows(R) 7, Professional edition
Description: Windows Operating System - Windows(R) 7, OEM_SLP channel
Activation ID: 50e329f7-a5fa-46b2-85fd-f224e5da7764
Application ID: 55c92734-d682-4d71-983e-d6ec3f16059f
Extended PID: 00371-00178-926-700008-02-1033-7601.0000-1122015
Installation ID: 010644056586899146811154697105842570883481265192791983
Processor Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88338
Machine Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88339
Use License URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88341
Product Key Certificate URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=88340
Partial Product Key: 6P6GT
License Status: Initial grace period
Time remaining: 36960 minute(s) (25 day(s))
Remaining Windows rearm count: 1
Trusted time: 4/22/2015 12:37:12 AM

Windows Activation Technologies-->
HrOffline: 0x00000000
HrOnline: N/A
HealthStatus: 0x0000000000000000
Event Time Stamp: N/A
ActiveX: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
Admin Service: Registered, Version: 7.1.7600.16395
HealthStatus Bitmask Output:


HWID Data-->
HWID Hash Current: MAAAAAAABAABAAEAAQABAAAAAQABAAEAln3aPdmC5rff4Axciuv8FOchY6k1XIg4

OEM Activation 1.0 Data-->
N/A

OEM Activation 2.0 Data-->
BIOS valid for OA 2.0: yes, but no SLIC table
Windows marker version: N/A
OEMID and OEMTableID Consistent: N/A
BIOS Information: 
  ACPI Table Name	OEMID Value	OEMTableID Value
  APIC			VMWARE		EFIAPIC 
  FACP			INTEL 		440BX   
  SRAT			VMWARE		EFISRAT 
  WAET			VMWARE		VMW WAET
  HPET			VMWARE		VMW HPET
  MCFG			VMWARE		EFIMCFG

We had an SSD go unreadable on us in an HP workstation. Fortunately, there were backups. Unfortunately, the Windows 7 product key that I was able to recover from the backup is the standard HP OEM key, and not useful for activating a new install.

I checked the chassis for a product key sticker, and all I found was a sticker stating that the product was licensed for Windows 8, with Windows 7 downgrade rights. There is no valid Windows 7 key printed on the physical product, nor in the accessible backup image.

I don't know where to go from here. What is the procedure for obtaining a backup key for this computer so that I can re-activate Windows?

 

[NoelDP]

The installed Product Key is an OEM_SLP one - and can never be activated either by phone or over the internet - it is designed for use ONLY on bare-metal installs on the original computer on which it was pre-installed. This install is in a VM.

For downgrades from Windows 8 Pro to Windows 7 Pre/Enterprise you must use bare-metal installs with the original manufacturer's Recovery media, or Volume Licensing (or Full product licenses).

 

[clarknova]

I don't know if the product included recovery media, aside from what might have been on the drive. I will have to check.

I sure don't agree with the new practice of not printing the product key on the chassis, but I suppose that has been debated elsewhere

Thanks for your response.

 

[NoelDP]

The Product Key for Windows 8 preinstalled by large manufacturers is embedded in the BIOS - a much more resilient system (in theory).

The product Key for pre-installed Windows 8 from smaller manufacturers is still on a COA sticker.

There is no Downgrade COA sticker such as used to be present on machines - that's controlled by the BIOS again.

 

[whs]

But what about that 'backup'. Can't you restore that.

 

[clarknova]

The Product Key for Windows 8 preinstalled by large manufacturers is embedded in the BIOS

So is it recoverable from an intact BIOS? It seems an interesting way to ensure that the product key follows the motherboard to the scrap yard.

But what about that 'backup'. Can't you restore that.

I was able to mount the only backup and get most of what I needed from it, but the backup software won't perform a full restore from it, reporting that the backup file is corrupt.

 

[NoelDP]

So is it recoverable from an intact BIOS? It seems an interesting way to ensure that the product key follows the motherboard to the scrap yard.

That's been the theoretical stance on OEM licenses since 2001.

 

[clarknova]

It appears I may be able to recover the key from the BIOS yet.

How To Retrieve Windows 8 OEM Product Key From BIOS | Next of Windows

Then to see if the 8 key will work on the 7 product.

 

[NoelDP]

It won't - they have different formats, apart from anything else!

 

[clarknova]

So my Windows 7 downgrade rights are truly lost with the SSD? Is there an activation token that might be extracted from the backup?

 

[NoelDP]

HD/SSD has nothing to do with it. It's simply that you MUST use the manufacturer's Recovery media for the install.

 

[clarknova]

That may yet be an option. Thanks for the info.

 

[alphanumeric]

Windows 7 uses a SLIC table in the BIOS. It has OEM activation info but no actual product code. To make use of it you need custom OEM install media that has extra code added to make use of the SLIC table. Regular Windows 7 install media doesn't have the extra code added. Knowing the OEM manufacturers Product code is only half the battle. As mentioned, by itself it will not activate online. Use anything other than the custom OEM media and you'll get prompted to enter a product code. That changed with Windows 8. Now the actual product code is stored in the BIOS. Even Retail DVD's will read and use it automatically. That's why its not printed on the COA sticker, no need to. If your PC had shipped with Windows 7 installed from the factory it would have had a Windows 7 COA sticker with an actual product code on it. That's the code you would enter if you were using regular off the shelf install media. You have downgrade rights but no usable COA sticker. That sucks.

 

[NoelDP]

Not quite, Alpha...
Windows 8Pro machines shipped with downgrade rights have BOTH the Windows 8 Key in BIOS, and a Windows7-compliant SLIC table. They will ONLY have the Windows 8 Sticker - and no Windows 7 COA.

 

[alphanumeric]

Not quite, Alpha...
Windows 8Pro machines shipped with downgrade rights have BOTH the Windows 8 Key in BIOS, and a Windows7-compliant SLIC table. They will ONLY have the Windows 8 Sticker - and no Windows 7 COA.

Yes, I think that's what I said, or was trying to say anyway. His PC has the SLIC table but he doesn't have the required install media to use it. He also doesn't have a Windows 7 COA sticker with a usable code he could enter manually.
I guess my "if it had shipped with Windows 7" comment confused things. What I meant was if it had shipped with Windows 7 installed from the factory, it would have had a usable Windows 7 COA sticker. But since it didn't, it doesn't. That's all. I can see why they don't add the extra sticker. Some people would try to use it on another PC to save a buck, etc.