Recover Windows 7 Key from Windows 8 upgrade?

[Alyssa Smith]

Hi,

I've recently upgraded my PC to Windows 8 (via upgrade not clean install). Is it possible to recover the Windows 7 Key i used before? I have 2 uses remaining on that key and have lost the disk / key. I've just built a new computer and have 4 days remaining until the 30day trail of Win7Pro expires. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Aly =]

 

[edwar]

None that I have ever heard of.

Just how do you lose the DVD and jacket/package the operating system came in?

When you say you have 2 uses left what exactly do you mean by that? Did you buy a 3 License pack of some type? If not then once you installed Win 8 over the top of your Licensed Win 7 install that license for Win 7 is no longer any good for installing on some other hardware.

So whether or not you find the original packing and license key for Win 7 you may have to buy another license.

 

[bobkn]

Hi,

I've recently upgraded my PC to Windows 8 (via upgrade not clean install). Is it possible to recover the Windows 7 Key i used before? I have 2 uses remaining on that key and have lost the disk / key. I've just built a new computer and have 4 days remaining until the 30day trail of Win7Pro expires. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Aly =]

I believe that the Win7 key isn't retained anywhere in the Win8 copy. (I'm not completely certain.)

You're probably out the price of the Win7 license, just like everyone else who loses their key. Funny how valuable a 25 character can be.

If your license was a Family Pack, I'm not sure that package is still available.

 

[Alyssa Smith]

Well that sucks =/ I cant afford another licence -.- sigh guess I'm reformatting for another 30day trail.

Will call MS tomorrow and see what they say.


Thanks anyway

 

[gregrocker]

Alyssa, are you under the impression you can only use a Win7 Product Key 3 times? This is incorrect.

You can use a retail Win7 Product Key, except for OEM version, as often as you want to reinstall wherever you want. Only an OEM version must remain on the same mobo first installed upon but can also be reinstalled as often as you want.

If you bought Family 3-pack then you should have the key with the packaging or it can be audited off another installation using Belarc Advisor.

If not then look in Windows 8 C folder to see if there is a windows.old folder. If so you can roll it back to Win7 this way: How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder

Then audit the key with Belarc.

 

[Alyssa Smith]

Hi,

It is an OEM version, through my university developer network (computer science student). Unfortunately I can't get another key until march which is why I'm trying to recover this one.

Since I got it through the university (which is now closed due to Christmas holidays), I don't have any retail packaging. I have 3 uses of the licence, I had used one and now need to use the second. Unfortunately because I have upgraded to Windows 8 I can't simply check the registry for the key.

I'm not trying to rollback Win8 to Win7. I've installed Win7 on another computer, and need the key which I lost when I upgraded.

Hope this makes a bit more sense. Thanks for the advise thus far, greatly appreciated!

Alyssa =]

 

[edwar]

If it's an OEM version then it can't be moved from the original system it was installed on anyway. So you will need to buy another license.

All your posts make sense. You had a license key for a version of Win 7, which happens to be an OEM version, that you never saved the key info for future use. You would still be in the same situation if you tried to reinstall 7 on that original system. You don't have the key and the 30 day grace period would run out.

Maybe in the future you will take better care of license information from Operating Systems and software you buy. Then again maybe not. Only time will tell.

 

[mitchell65]

Maybe in the future you will take better care of license information from Operating Systems and software you buy. Then again maybe not. Only time will tell.

Come, come now. See my signature!

 

[Alyssa Smith]

I take very good care of my licences. I didn't lose it to misplacement it was hardware failure and other circumstances. Can't control everything.

Also it was a multiuse OEM. Had 3 uses for 3 separate computers (Or motherboard switches).

Anyway guess im out of luck. Thanks =[

 

[DavidE]

If you have the Windows.old folder you MIGHT be able to retrieve the key with
ProduKey - Recover lost product key (CD-Key) of Windows/MS-Office/SQL Server

It's free, so might be worth trying...

 

[theog]

You could reimage from your backup.

• Make sure you’re on the PC you want to upgrade. This must be a PC that is currently running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3), Windows 8 Release Preview, Windows 8 Consumer Preview, or Windows Developer Preview. (Windows 8 Setup checks that your PC meets all system requirements before it installs Windows 8.)

• Have your product key handy. You can find it in your online order information, in the confirmation email for your purchase, or on the packaging. The product key will look something like this:
XXXXX- XXXXX- XXXXX- XXXXX- XXXXX

• Make a backup of everything you want to keep. Save it somewhere you can get to it later, like an external drive or a DVD.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I take very good care of my licences. I didn't lose it to misplacement it was hardware failure and other circumstances. Can't control everything.

Also it was a multiuse OEM. Had 3 uses for 3 separate computers (Or motherboard switches).

Anyway guess im out of luck. Thanks =[

I've never heard of a multi-use OEM, or even a university giving out OEM keys at all. Those keys are usualy retail, which can be transferred. I've never heard of the 3 use limit, either.

Normally these license can be obtained online, or have been sent to you through e-mail, or with paperwork when you obtained the license.

 

[mitchell65]

I've never heard of a multi-use OEM, or even a university giving out OEM keys at all. Those keys are usualy retail, which can be transferred. I've never heard of the 3 use limit, either.

Normally these license can be obtained online, or have been sent to you through e-mail, or with paperwork when you obtained the license.

Surely you can't have a multiuse OEM. OEM means one specific PC surely or have I got that all wrong!

 

[bobkn]

Well that sucks =/ I cant afford another licence -.- sigh guess I'm reformatting for another 30day trail.

Will call MS tomorrow and see what they say.


Thanks anyway

Are you aware of the rearm procedure?

How to Rearm and Extend Free Usage (Activation Grace Period) of Windows 7 to 120 Days « My Digital Life

I'm not sure if it applies to the version of Win7 that you have, but it might. It's not a hack, although I doubt that it's intended for use by end users. It allows the period before Windows must be activated to be reset 3 times, giving a maximum unactivated period of 120 days.

That might be long enough to get you through the holidays.