Windows 7 fresh install - lost MSDN product key

[hkg]

Hi there, I've just bought a SSD and had planned to do a fresh install of windows on it rather than transferring straight from my current hard drive. The problem is that I can no longer find my windows 7 product key. I orginally got the key through MSDNAA while at university but as I have now graduated I can no longer log into their website and retrieve my key. I did have a written copy of the key but I've lost it, although I did find the installation disc.

I've tried using several pieces of software to retrieve the key but the most I've been able to get is the last 5 digits (this seems to a common issue with MSDN keys?).

I'm not terribly familiar with these things but given I currently have an activated windows installation on my old hard drive, is there any work around that will allow to do a clean install on my new SSD?

 

[derekimo]

Welcome to the forum,

I know what you mean, I have a 7 Pro install on my laptop from an MSDNAA and the key finders don't work.

Without that key, I don't see you doing a clean install. I have mine written down in a few places just in case.

We do have an excellent tutorial for transferring your OS to a SSD,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/149969-ssd-install-transfer-operating-system.html

 

[OldMX]

Unless its a MAK key i dont see why you cant retrieve the key, try KeyFinder | Magical Jelly Bean

 

[derekimo]

This is what you get with Magic Jelly Bean...BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB

 

[kegobeer]

Product key for products that you download from the MSDN subscriber downloads site

However, I believe that you may have problems recovering your lost key. Most colleges will not, under any circumstances, recover your key once you leave the college. But, it doesn't hurt to contact Microsoft using the instructions above.

 

[derekimo]

Product key for products that you download from the MSDN subscriber downloads site

However, I believe that you may have problems recovering your lost key. Most colleges will not, under any circumstances, recover your key once you leave the college. But, it doesn't hurt to contact Microsoft using the instructions above.

That's a possibility, but as in my case, they checked my eligibility after each semester, and product keys I got from two semesters ago are no longer shown on my account page.