Recovering Windows Product Key

[cosmarchy]

I want to recover my Windows 7 product key but am not having much luck.

I have tried the following software(s):
speccy
magicaljellybean
nirsoft
produkey

but they have all recovered the wrong key. It is a laptop and the trouble is that half off the label has rubbed off where it rests on my lap. What is recovered is different from what I can see of the label.

Is there any software which will recover the correct product key?

Thanks

 

[strollin]

Do all the utilities return the same product key? If so, perhaps the key on the bottom of the laptop is the wrong one. For instance, maybe the OS was re-installed from a different disk or something like that.

 

[theog]

Order the Dell Recovery DVD, no product key need to reinstall.

How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Microsoft official Dell OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks.
Manuals | Dell US
RouteTo
Customer Support | Dell US

 

[DavidE]

If you are running the OS that was pre-installed with the PC, the product key will be different than the one that is on the COA label.
The pre-installed key is an OEM SLP (System Locked Pre-installation) key, and that is the key you find with those programs.
The key on the COA label is probably an OEM COA key.

If you want to do a clean install of Windows, you can not use the OEM SLP key.
For a clean install, you must use the key printed on the COA label, or purchase a new key.

I'm no installation or activation expert, but this is my understanding from my lurking here and reading about activation issues.

If you haven't done so, you should see if you can burn your own set of Recovery DVDs.
There should be a utility somewhere in Start Menu / All programs for this.
Most OEMs include this utility "out-of-the-box" and it's the Users responsibility to create these discs.
This would save you from having to order a set of recovery discs from Dell.
The first link theog gave you in post #3 should help you with recovery discs questions.

I've seen many threads here in SF where a user can not read the COA key because it is worn and unreadable.
Whenever someone buys a PC, they should record the COA key and keep it stored somewhere safe in case they ever need it.
Some people put plastic over the key, some manually type the key into a document, some scan it, ... whatever.
I think most people never save it, and later learn they need it.

I did read a thread a while ago where someone could not read the COA key.
In the end they scanned it, used "image program(s)" and edited so they could eventually get the key that was not "human readable".
I don't remember the details or know what program(s) they used, but I thought that was pretty cool.
I don't know if I could find that thread again, but if I do I'll post the link to it.

 

[gregrocker]

David's exactly right that you cannot use the key which activated factory preinstalled Win7.

If you can't read the COA sticker Product Key then make your Recovery Disks as a backup while the utility still works. I'd also save a backup image of your Win7.

Then when you need to reinstall try running Factory Recovery from its partition, saving the disks and image for backup. Or if you prefer you can apply the image.

If these fail you'll need to order your Recovery disks to use the preinstalled OS license that came with the PC, otherwise buy a new Key to insert.

 

[derekimo]

This one?

I don't know if I could find that thread again, but if I do I'll post the link to it.

Was able to read all the COA even though was unreadable with the naked eye.

I have an EPSON v500 scanner, using 800/1200 bpi and tweaking other settings, I scanned the COA sticker.

Then using ACDSEE (free trial), color changes, etc, and lots of zooming, you can see the number is: 6R778-Y2XMC ...................

that was invisible to the naked eye even with magnifying glass.

ACDSEE allows editing of jpg images with manipulations.

With a trial ACDSEE 6.0 and an EPSON scanner and lots of OLD fashion Missouri Mule Hardheadedness, I recovered my COA.

 

[DavidE]

This one?

I don't know if I could find that thread again, but if I do I'll post the link to it.

Was able to read all the COA even though was unreadable with the naked eye.

I have an EPSON v500 scanner, using 800/1200 bpi and tweaking other settings, I scanned the COA sticker.

Then using ACDSEE (free trial), color changes, etc, and lots of zooming, you can see the number is: 6R778-Y2XMC ...................

that was invisible to the naked eye even with magnifying glass.

ACDSEE allows editing of jpg images with manipulations.

With a trial ACDSEE 6.0 and an EPSON scanner and lots of OLD fashion Missouri Mule Hardheadedness, I recovered my COA.

That's it - You DA MAN! Great find...
If this technique works for recovering COA keys, maybe this could be a sticky ???

 

[derekimo]

Probably depends on the wear level too, someone else mentioned something about rubbing a pencil lead lightly on it too to see it.

 

[DocBrown]

What should be a "Sticky" is to make several backups of your COA - Key Codes. Printed copies & text files stored on HD's & USB flash drives, CD's, or even floppy discs

 

[gregrocker]

Sometimes we get reports that MS Phone Activation will collect enough information to activate with a partial OEM product key. If one was going to buy a key anyway then I think I'd give that a try first after reinstall.

There is also a method to back up the OEM SLP activation file before reinstall and then afterwards reinstall it to activate, but it is not supported here by decision of the Admins due to the possibility of it being misused somehow. But it is searchable.

 

[DavidE]

David's exactly right that you cannot use the key which activated factory preinstalled Win7.

If you can't read the COA sticker Product Key then make your Recovery Disks as a backup, try running Factory Recovery from its partition.

If these fail you'll need to order your Recovery disks to use the preinstalled OS license that came with the PC, otherwise buy a new Key to insert.

Thank you Greg for the follow up agreeing with what i posted...

I don't think the OP said re-installing is what is needed (now)...they just want the Win 7 key.
So I wouldn't advise to try any type of re-install now...

Having said that, I would advise to create a System Backup Image before doing anything such as re-install, "disk management change", well - any system change!
And with that, I'm really going off topic :shock:

 

[DavidE]

What should be a "Sticky" is to make several backups of your COA - Key Codes. Printed copies & text files stored on HD's & USB flash drives, CD's, or even floppy discs

The thing is that info won't help the new poster here that has not backed up the key and can't read it.
I was thinking try to help those that are in that situation (unreadable key) - it seems to happen all too often from the threads I've seen.
:huh:

 

[gregrocker]

Good point, David. If the OS doesn't need reinstall now then make your Dell - create backup discs and if it's is still in good shape save a Win7 backup image: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

This way if you need to recover you have multiple choices: Run System Image Recovery in 20 minutes and you'll be right back to where you were when the image was made, run Dell Windows 7 PC Restore from Win7 or boot into it if Win7 won't boot, and as a backup boot the Recovery disks which restore the OS and the Recovery partition if it fails.

With Dell they will also give you the option to order a Reinstallation DVD which is a clean copy of Win7 for reinstall with only a Dell logo on the Properties page and self-activation. I would probably order this now to do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which is a superior install anyway.

 

[cosmarchy]

Thanks guys for your replies.
I didn't have a scanner so I took a picture on my phone. After opening with paint.net and playing with the colours for a while, I got all but one character. Armed with a list of valid characters it was only a matter of trial and error entering them one by one until I got the right code.
Brilliant.

Thanks once again

 

[DavidE]

That's great to hear and nice work on getting the key!
Thanks for sharing that.

 

[EnigmaticMuse]

Used the MAG diagnostic as instructed and am simply following the additional instructions to fix this reinstall on an HP laptop. Can anyone tell me how half a COA code will work through this tool? Thanks!

 

[EnigmaticMuse]

Need help with COA from MGA download info and I also don't know how to start my own thread, I'm trying though.