Worn out COA Label

[JKla]

I am supporting a disabled user.


The user in question has a HP Laptop using Windows7 Home Premium.

It was behaving well until some idiot (not me) tried to load some rubbish onto it. We need to get things back to out of the box status roll back is not working for some reason.

The Laptop has been used as a Lap Top and sweaty thigh s have worn down the surface of the COA label to the point where it is unreadable.

Original disks are long since lost in a house move.

I have recovered the Product ID: from the system properties.

Is there any way to recover the COA Activation key from the installed software.

BTW. We are looking at recovering from an install partition but it appears to require one of the lost original CD's

I do have an install CD for Windows7 so I figure all I really need is an install key.

I do wish HP had put the label inside the battery enclosure and not where it can be rubbed off.

 

[NoelDP]

Your best option is to order a set of Recovery disks from HP - thesehave the manufacturer's Key built-in together with the proper licenses to allow self-activation.
It's almost certain that the Key you have is the OEM_SLP Key which will not work with any other diskIf the Key found ends in 3Q6C9 then it's the OEM_SLP Key - if it's anything else, you can probably use a Retail disk for the install.

Failing that, read on...


There *may* be an alternative solution though, if you are patient and persistent.
Attempt Telephone Activation, and speak to an operator - they will tell you that your current Key is blocked (they should then ask for confirmation of your Product Key). Explain to them your problem, that you need to change the Key to the one on your sticker, but that the sticker is unreadable (could they please supply a replacement Key?). Hopefully they will ask for documentary proof of the sticker, in the form of an email with a picture of the affected sticker - and you can proceed from there.
Sometimes it takes two or three calls before you get an operator who actually knows and uses this procedure - but I know that it can and does happen.

 

[bassfisher6522]

There's a good chance that the product key is located in the hard drive bay area or in the RAM area, good places to check.

There are several third party software apps the will locate product keys...I use Belarc Advisor.
Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit, for software, hardware and security configuration information on your computer. Software license management, IT asset management, cyber security audits, and more.

 

[JKla]

Thanks Noel I think I will be trying that phone option.

And bassfisher6522 thats a non starter I have the label it's just ureadable there's nothing anywhere else. The drive bay or ram or battery bays would have been good but I have the Product ID so I recon it's phone time.

 

[NoelDP]

Good luck!