Lost Disc and Key

[Richard]

Hi,

I've lost my disc and key but urgently needed a reinstall of windows. I
wrote down the product ID which I thought would help me, and installed vista
(premium) from another disc. However, I have no key and so I now have no way
of activating it even though I possess a valid product ID.

Is there anything I can do or have I just got to spend money on another copy
of Vista?

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

Hi,

I've lost my disc and key but urgently needed a reinstall of windows. I
wrote down the product ID which I thought would help me, and installed
vista (premium) from another disc. However, I have no key and so I now
have no way of activating it even though I possess a valid product ID.

Is there anything I can do or have I just got to spend money on another
copy of Vista?

Since you already installed Vista, none of the free Product Key finders will
help you. The Product ID is useless in this case; you need the Product
*Key*.

If you have lost your XP product Key, the best option is to call Microsoft.
Call on Microsoft Licensing Fulfillment Center Toll Free Number (800)
248-0655 Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Pacific time.
Contact Microsoft page -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=csscontactfind

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,

I've lost my disc and key but urgently needed a reinstall of windows. I
wrote down the product ID which I thought would help me, and installed vista
(premium) from another disc. However, I have no key and so I now have no way
of activating it even though I possess a valid product ID.

The Product *ID* is created during the installation process and is
prominently displayed on the opening panel window resulting from
right-clicking the Computer icon and selecting "Properties" from the
context menu. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support
(limited though that may be) from Microsoft; it is of no use during the
installation process.

Is there anything I can do or have I just got to spend money on another copy
of Vista?

Thanks.

The Product *Key* is used to "prove" ownership of a legitimate
license and is required to perform the installation, and is either
stored on the DVD packaging on a sticker that says "Do not lose this
number," or is on a label affixed to an OEM computer.

If you've lost both the DVD and the Product Key, you've essentially
lost your license to use Windows. Like any other type of property that
you've lost, you'll have to replace it at your own cost, unless you had
it insured.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Curious]

You can use the utility in the following link to recover your product key
from your system:

http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

 

[Paul Montgomery]

You can use the utility in the following link to recover your product key
from your system:

Did you happen to notice (NO!) that the OP has overwritten the
original installation with a new one... making that retrieval freaking
impossible??

 

[Curious]

No, Paul, I didn't notice that he had already wiped out his system. In any
case I hope that others reading this thread will now know that the Product
Key is recoverable from an intact system

 

[LVTravel]

No, Paul, I didn't notice that he had already wiped out his system. In
any case I hope that others reading this thread will now know that the
Product Key is recoverable from an intact system

And that is not always correct either. If the computer comes from a major
manufacturer like Dell, Gateway, etc. the key on the factory installation is
NOT the key that is needed for the reinstallation from the Windows CD/DVD or
recovery partition. The proper key will be provided on a sticker located on
the computer (normally either on the bottom of a laptop or the back plate of
a desktop or within the documentation.)

When these major manufacturers create the hard drive it is from a master
copy with a master key provided by Microsoft and there may be hundreds or
thousands of computers with the same key. If that key is used to attempt to
activate a reinstall it will fail.

 

[LVTravel]

Hi,

I've lost my disc and key but urgently needed a reinstall of windows. I
wrote down the product ID which I thought would help me, and installed
vista
(premium) from another disc. However, I have no key and so I now have no
way
of activating it even though I possess a valid product ID.

Is there anything I can do or have I just got to spend money on another
copy
of Vista?

Thanks.

Look on the bottom of a laptop or the back plate of a desktop computer for a
sticker for the version of XP or Vista that was originally installed on your
computer. Most manufacturers place the key in that location. If the
operating system was preinstalled on the computer contact the computer
manufacturer for a possible replacement CD/Key. Now, if this was a retail
version purchased after the computer was purchased you will need to follow
the link that Malke gave you for the key and CD.

 

[Curious]

It is correct it is the key that was used for the current installation and
if the current installation is from an OEM manufacturer then of course then
it would be the same as that is on on the sticker on the computer itself in

 

[Tex Houston]

The Product *Key* is used to "prove" ownership of a legitimate license
and is required to perform the installation, and is either stored on the
DVD packaging on a sticker that says "Do not lose this number," or is on a
label affixed to an OEM computer.

If you've lost both the DVD and the Product Key, you've essentially lost
your license to use Windows. Like any other type of property that you've
lost, you'll have to replace it at your own cost, unless you had it
insured.

If you have have a computer you really need a copy of Belarc Advisor
www.belarc.com which is free. It performs an analysis of your computer and
shows updates, software installed, hardware and most important in this case
a list of licensed software INCLUDING keys.

I'm surprised this is not general knowledge.

Regards,

Tex Houston

 

[LVTravel]

It is correct it is the key that was used for the current installation and
if the current installation is from an OEM manufacturer then of course
then it would be the same as that is on on the sticker on the computer
itself in which the user would not have lost

Huh? You kind of lost me in that last post!

What I said below is the key on the bottom or rear of a computer will NOT be
the same key that a key finder program discloses if the computer is made by
a major manufacturer. They will be different and the one found by the key
finder program will NOT activate the reinstall of the operating system in
that situation.

/SNIP>>

 

[Paul Montgomery]

If you have have a computer you really need a copy of Belarc Advisor
www.belarc.com which is free. It performs an analysis of your computer and
shows updates, software installed, hardware and most important in this case
a list of licensed software INCLUDING keys.

Yo! Moron! The person having the problem wiped out the original
install by installing a new copy WITHOUT having a good key.

I'm surprised this is not general knowledge.

I'm surprised you can't read. It's a very simple skill.

 

[Tex Houston]

Yo! Moron! The person having the problem wiped out the original
install by installing a new copy WITHOUT having a good key.


I'm surprised you can't read. It's a very simple skill.

Calling names won't help. I'm just suggesting that Belarc Advisory will
help prevent lost keys from being a problem in reinstallation. I'm sorry
you don't understand that I'm not trying to kelp anyone who would attempt to
install a new operating system without a key but those who might have to
install keyed software without having a key handy. I periodically run a
hard copy of Belarc and stash it away.

No use replying to this as I am adding you to my blocked sender list.

Being old fashioned I still believe please and thank you are the magic
words,

Regards,

Tex Houston

 

[Curious]

Key Finder found the key that is on the bottom of my HP computer.

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

And that is not always correct either. If the computer comes from a
major manufacturer like Dell, Gateway, etc. the key on the factory
installation is NOT the key that is needed for the reinstallation from
the Windows CD/DVD or recovery partition. The proper key will be
provided on a sticker located on the computer (normally either on the
bottom of a laptop or the back plate of a desktop or within the
documentation.)

When these major manufacturers create the hard drive it is from a
master copy with a master key provided by Microsoft and there may be
hundreds or thousands of computers with the same key.
True.

If that key is used to attempt to activate a reinstall it will fail.

Not true. I have extracted the OEM key from several differnet Dell
models, both XP And Vista, and use it during reinstalls. Works fine.
Actually, if you use the Dell provided media, it silently uses that key
itself. I've never had to use the key from the sticker. That said, the
models I've had experience with are all in the Optiplex line, which is
intended more for businesses. I suppose it might be different for other
Dell product lines, but I'd be surprised.

--
Zaphod

Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something
big and sinister going on in the world.
Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the
universe gets that.

 

[LVTravel]

Key Finder found the key that is on the bottom of my HP computer.

OK, that would mean that the OS has been reinstalled in the past or it was a
custom install by HP. My HP laptop with Vista has a different, currently
installed, key than the one on the sticker of the laptop, as does both my XP
Dell desktops, Sony desktop and Averatec laptop.

 

[Curious]

When I first booted up my HP computer I had to enter the Key from the bottom
in order to change the key used to build the computer with the one on the
sticker on the bottom in order to start and activate the OS. I have seen
the same technique on other OEM vendors computers

 

[Bruce Chambers]

It is correct it is the key that was used for the current installation
and if the current installation is from an OEM manufacturer then of
course then it would be the same as that is on on the sticker on the
computer itself in which the user would not have lost/.

No, that's not necessarily true, at all.

If one has a factory-installed OEM license, and hasn't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is that of the drive image
used at the factory and not user's specific Product Key; therefore, it
probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be -- used for a
re-installation.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

No, that's not necessarily true, at all.

If one has a factory-installed OEM license, and hasn't since
reinstalled the OS, the revealed Product Key is that of the drive
image used at the factory and not user's specific Product Key;
therefore, it probably cannot be -- and definitely should not be --
used for a re-installation.

Actually, it definitely can be and there is no reason it should not be
used for a reinstallation. For some OEMs (Dell for sure), it validates
the installation against a signature in the BIOS and results in a
perfectly valid, perfectly genuine, Windows install. Using the sticker
guarantees a call to MS (at least it did in XP, haven't tried with
Vista).

--
Zaphod

Arthur: All my life I've had this strange feeling that there's something
big and sinister going on in the world.
Slartibartfast: No, that's perfectly normal paranoia. Everyone in the
universe gets that.

 

[Alex Paredes Macclesfield]

Hi I bought a used pc with no disc or number Tried the download work
perfectlry thanks a lot