Re: I've lost windows key from Microsoft sticker

I have lost my windows key, which was written at the back of my laptop.
Actually it is not visible now as the maptop is more than a year old now.
Is there anyway I could refind it?

There are at least 3 posts on this forum including myself) about the successful re-installation of W7 using the laptops OEM key and a retail W7 DVD. This link [http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/windows-7-oem-key-with-a-non-oem-disc/7788dfa2-94a7-4db3-8bcd-b0e109bd7b95] is the first one I found from a semi official source where a moderator of a Microsoft owned forum Carey Frisch states:
"Yes, you can use a regular Windows 7 retail DVD and a genuine Windows 7 OEM product key to perform a "clean install"> However, when it comes time to perform product activation, you'll need to use the "activate by phone" method." and at that point the 42 character key the laptop generates and you have to key in will no doubt tell microsoft that this is an an install on a machine with OEM Windows 7 (version) installed at sale.
The above doesn't apply to XP . There are programs like keyfinder thing3.exe that will display the installed W7 key and mine does match the OEM key on the laptop

Similar Messages

  • Satellite L300 - Can I purchase Windows 7 from Microsoft

    My Satellite L300 came with Vista Home Premium. I formatted the drive and installed Windows XP to enable me to run a software not compatible with Vista.
    Now Windows wants me to activate the OS.
    I now want to purchase Windows 7 from Microsoft.
    Will I be able to install Windows 7? or will the Vista product key tied to the system reject the installation?

    > Will I be able to install Windows 7?
    Definitely. Ive installed Win7 32bit on friends L300 and it works perfectly. Much better than Vista.
    For Win7 activation you need valid product key that you can get from Microsoft. Vista key placed at the sticker will not help you at all.

  • Lost a key from my BT Keyboard

    Hello there,
    i lost a key from my apple bluetooth keyboard, does anyone, know, if
    i can buy a replacement key somewhere, or ho i can get it fixed ?
    the girl in the apple store was not very helpfull, she told me they do not
    have these keys, and that i have to buy a new keyboard..... grrrrr
    would appreciate if someone could help.
    christoph

    Out of curiousity I did a google search for "replacement keys for apple bluetooth keyboard" and got potential candidate hits that may (or may not) help you.  Here's two that looked interesting:
    Apple iMac ALUMINUM Replacement Keyboard Keys
    Apple Wireless Aluminum Keyboard Key (BLUETOOTH) A1314
    and this,
    How do I Replace a Broken Keyboard Key?
    Maybe some of the other hits are more useful I don't know.
    Good luck.

  • Downloaded legitimate copy of Windows 7 from Microsoft...

    I know I need to install Windows 7 from Bootcamp. I used to have Vista on it, but have gotten rid of that now. I upgraded to 8 gigs of ram, so now I have to install 64 bit for Windows. No matter how I copy Windows to a dvd to use in Bootcamp, it can't find the dvd. I have seen that there are files from the dvd in Finder. Is it impossible to upload a "copied" dvd, and do I have to wait for Microsoft to mail me their backup? ...or is there something I'm doing wrong?
    Thanks in advance!

    Well, I went and purchased 2 other brands of dvd, but neither one of them are burning, either. That totals 4 different brands. I've reinstalled Windows Vista till I get the Windows 7 dvd in the snailmail. Can't believe I've been through HOURS for absolutely nothing but reinstalling what I had in the first place, only to wait around 3 weeks till I get the actual dvd. Lesson learned. Get the original software straight from the manufacturer in the first place!
    Anyway, has anyone else had a problem with burning a dvd, when a cd will burn no problem, and it reads dvds and cds no problem?

  • Windows XP from Microsoft's Virtual PC

    I have just ordered a new 24" iMac, 2.8 ghz machine. I have a need to do a few things in a windows environment. My older Macs have Microsofts Virtual PC installed running the copy of Windows XP professional that came with the original program. Can I install Windows from this disk or do I need to buy a new copy of windows? I have seen references to Service Pack 2. I know that that while service pack 2 may be resident on the windows disk it was installed after the original installation of windows. Advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

    Hi Doug,
    it is indeed technically possible to use the Windows XP from Virtual PC.
    See here for procedure: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20060527175405403
    But keep in mind that the Windows License does not allow you to use one Windows XP on two or more computers.
    And because of the Activation Process of XP they will find out...
    Good Luck
    Stefan

  • Boot Windows 7 from USB stick

    I have MBA 2012. I would like to install on USB stick Windows 7 and use USB as the exteranal drive. The reason for this is that I don't have enough space on MBA to make partition for Windows. Could you describe steps how to do it? Thank you!

    Search on Google for help. This is an Apple forum, not a Microsoft forum.

  • How could I turn off the Command Key to Windows Key mapping in Remote Desktop for Mac 8

    I'd like to be able to turn the Command key->Windows key mapping off.  In this new app, whenever I use the Command key to initiate a Mac-side function, it registers a press of the Windows key within the Remote Desktop session.  Speaking only
    for myself, I use the Command Key for quite a lot of Mac operations, while my need and expectation for a Windows key press is zero.

    I'd like to be able to turn the Command key->Windows key mapping off.  In this new app, whenever I use the Command key to initiate a Mac-side function, it registers a press of the Windows key within the Remote Desktop session.  Speaking
    only for myself, I use the Command Key for quite a lot of Mac operations, while my need and expectation for a Windows key press is zero.
    Agreed. Cannot stop it by disabling the "Windows" key (from within Windows 7). Every time I Cmd-Tab to change apps, the Start Menu pops up,
    and persists, overlaying other app windows. Much more than annoying.
    Also, there is no Clipboard Sharing, apparently. Love typing in long binary strings into the Registry.

  • Can I install Windows 7 from an SD card on my 2011 Macbook Air 13"?

    This morning I purchased a digital copy of Windows 7 from Microsoft, and created a bootable SD card for installing the operating system.  My problem is that Boot Camp Assistant will not allow me to partition the drive without the install media present.  The install media is present, but because it is not in the form of a USB drive, it does not detect it.  I'm wary of manually partitioning the drive using Disk Utility, is there a way I can trick it into thinking I have a USB plugged in?  I don't have any USB drives big enough to install Windows 7 from and I don't look forward to having to drive to the store and pay for a USB stick I'll use once.  Thanks in advance.
    -Aaron

    Windows must be installed from a DVD in the internal optical drive. Burn your digital image to a DVD using Disk Utility, Toast, or similar utility. You can also use the Apple external USB optical drive for the MBA.

  • How do you override the WINDOWS key?

    I'm writing or rather rewriting a game. I would like to override the windows key to do some function in the game without invoking the windows menu. Is this possible, and if so how?
    Below is a sample bit of code I used to see what key codes, locations, and events were fired while pressing various keys. I made the key pressed/typed/released methods consume the events in an attempt to block the windows menu from coming up. I tried using a KeyEventDispatcher to catch all key events and consume them there, but it still displays the windows menu (on Windows 2000 at least).
    I have searched the forums and the all mighty Google to no avail. Please help me if you can. Thank you.
    import java.awt.Dimension;
    import java.awt.KeyEventDispatcher;
    import java.awt.event.KeyEvent;
    import java.awt.event.KeyListener;
    import java.awt.event.WindowAdapter;
    import java.awt.event.WindowEvent;
    import javax.swing.FocusManager;
    import javax.swing.JFrame;
    public class Test extends JFrame implements KeyListener, KeyEventDispatcher
      public Test()
        this.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
        addWindowListener(new WindowAdapter()
          @Override
          public void windowClosing(WindowEvent windowEvent)
            System.exit(0); //close all windows and exit
        FocusManager.getCurrentManager().addKeyEventDispatcher(this);
        this.addKeyListener(this);
        this.pack();
      public static void main(String[] arguments)
        Test frame;
        frame = new Test();
        frame.setTitle("Test Frame");
        frame.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(200,200));
        frame.invalidate();
        frame.pack();
        frame.setVisible(true);
      // this doesn't stop windows key from being processed whether true or false
      // if it is true the keyPressed, keyTyped, and keyReleased don't get called
      public boolean dispatchKeyEvent(KeyEvent keyEvent)
        System.out.println("dispatchKeyEvent " + keyEvent);
        return true;
      public void keyPressed(KeyEvent keyEvent)
        System.out.println("keyPressed " + keyEvent);
        keyEvent.consume();
      public void keyReleased(KeyEvent keyEvent)
        System.out.println("keyReleased " + keyEvent);
        keyEvent.consume();
      public void keyTyped(KeyEvent keyEvent)
        System.out.println("keyTyped " + keyEvent);
        keyEvent.consume();
    }

    Thanks for the reply. That is basically all I wanted to confirm. I wanted to allow the player to redefine the windows key to some game specific command. I can do this for all of the other keys I was able to test except for that one.
    If someone uses it on something other than windows they can redefine any key that maps to one of theirs. Since I don't have any alternate systems or keyboards to test on I won't bother making other keyboard configurations for the time being, if ever.

  • Repurpose the O-Key on the windpad 110W to act as the windows key

    Hello everyone,
    I have spent the last two weeks of my spare time to write a piece of software that you can run on your windpad 110W in order to repurpose the O-Key, which normally makes o-easy.exe visible, to work as the windows key. Install it, log out, log in again, change to the desktop and then press the O-Key, it will flip you forth and back between metro and desktop, just like the windows key from an ordinary keyboard (or the windows sensor key from my surface with windows rt).
    I will not accept bug reports from people who complain that it doesn't work right after login without having invoked the desktop at least once. This doesn't even work if you have a USB keyboard attached to a Windows 8 box. Apart from that, let me know if you like it or not and whether it works for you or not. It comes with full source code and is distributed under the terms and conditions of GPL version 3. And it is digitally signed! Wow.
    I almost forgot to tell: The name of the project is "So-Lazy". So google for the terms "so-lazy" and "windpad" and you should find it.
    Stefan

    Quote from: sku on 01-December-12, 18:41:53
    I didn't mean that it doesn't work with a USB keyboard attached to it. I just initially thought, that immediately after logging in, when metro appears, a press on the button should get me to the desktop, and I spent a lot of time trying to find out why that doesn't work. After a while, I decided to try the same thing with a USB keyboard attached and found out that right after login, a press of the windows button doesn't get you to the desktop as well, so even with an ordinary keyboard you first have to type Windows-D to get to the desktop. But from then on you can flip between desktop and metro with the windows-key (or the o-key).
    Anyone running Windows 8 x86 on the Windpad 110W and willing to try? I have only tested on x64 so far.
    Stefan
    Because the Windows key is actually not for toggling between "Metro" and "Desktop". It is for toggling between "Metro" and "Current screen". Before you do anything after login, the Metro is the only screen so nothing would happen by pressing the windows key

  • Windows vista and microsoft office

    I have never been able to use any microsoft office products since I've had my pc.  Wasn't that important as I had a pc from work I could use.  I no longer do.  I have never been able to find theproduct code that supposedly came with my pc so I could access office documtns.  I would like to be able to purchase and download microsoft office so that i don't need to rely on that, but am finding not much that is compatable.  Is the best answer to switch out operating systems then get software?????
    This question was solved.
    View Solution.

    Cathybru wrote:
    I have never been able to use any microsoft office products since I've had my pc.  Wasn't that important as I had a pc from work I could use.  I no longer do.  I have never been able to find theproduct code that supposedly came with my pc so I could access office documtns.  I would like to be able to purchase and download microsoft office so that i don't need to rely on that, but am finding not much that is compatable.  Is the best answer to switch out operating systems then get software?????
    The Product Key comes in the packaging that your Office disk came in or if you ordered online download you should've gotten a Mircosoft email with the Product Key for it. Otherwise your Office was a 30 day trial version and to unlock it you need to buy the Activiation Product Key from Microsoft. The Office that comes with factory laptop are only 30 Day Trials after that it goes limited mode or stops working all together and asking you to purchase it constantly if you try to use it. Since this is a Microsoft Product Key for Office you will need to contact Microsoft for this situation.
    I am a Volunteer to help others on here-not a HP employee.
    Replies aren't online 24/7 because of Time Zone differences.
    Remember in this Day and Age of Computing the Internet is Knowledge at your fingertips if you choose understand it. -2015-

  • Changing the function of the 'windows' key

    Hi, I somehow changed the 'windows' key from taking me directly to the start screen, to take me to the desktop instead. I do not remember how I did this and cannot find the setting. How can I change this back so that when I push the windows button on the keyboard and just below the screen it will take me first to the start screen?? Thank you in advanced!
    Cheers,
    Jon

    Double check the system preferences for Speech and Universal Access to make sure this key did not get assigned as a trigger for a special function.

  • Lost Windows 8 Recovery CD for Satellite C855

    Hi,
    So on the 18th Dec 2012 I bought a Toshiba Satellite C855
    (Intel Core i5 - 3210M 2.5/3.1 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD, Windows 8, USB 3.0, Bluetooth)
    After a while I put windows 7 on the laptop.
    Now I want to reformat and put windows 8 back on and upgrade to windows 8.1.
    The trouble is I cant find my recovery CD.
    There is no windows Key on a sticker on the laptop or box.
    There is just a windows 8 sticker under the laptop but no key.
    I've read that I can request a replacement CD key but I have no idea how to do this.
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Kind regards
    Liam

    You can order such recovery disk from this page:
    https://backupmedia.toshiba.eu/landing.aspx
    Here are also some information about ordering Recovery DVDs
    http://aps2.toshiba-tro.de/kb0/TSB0202TA0000R01.htm

  • Can I use product key from Windows 7 32bit to 64bit?

    Hi, i have a Toshiba L505-10V and the original cds(2) with Windows 7 prenium 32-bit.
    I have downloaded windows 7 prenium 64bit from here http://www.techverse.net/download-windows-7-iso-x86-x64-microsofts-official-servers/
    I use the key from 32 bit but it says its not valid. Is it possible to work with the same key?
    Also i download belarc to recoginise my 32bit windows key and it shows me different key from that is on the base of my pc.

    Hi
    According notebook specification your notebook was delivered with preinstalled Win7 64bit Home Premium and you got 32bit version on recovery DVD.
    Both recovery versions are designed for your notebook model and both versions contain activation code so that both versions must not be activated.
    I presume you didnt create recovery disc for preinstalled Win 7 64bit version.
    You cannot use product key listed in 32bit version. If you use own Windows version you must enter valid product key that you must buy from Microsoft.

  • Possible to obtain Windows 7 product key from Lenovo for downgrade from Windows 8.1?

    Hi all. I have searched all over these forums and haven't found the answer to my question, so I figured I'd just ask it.  
    I purchased an Ideapad Y580 with Windows 8 pre-installed.  Hated it from the get go. Upgraded to Windows 8.1, and still don't like.  But, now, I am having a ton of bug-y issues. Although I've managed to fix most, they have become increasingly annoying. The latest is that upon upgrading to Windows 8.1, my USB ports stopped working...except they sometimes work, some of the time, but never all of the time. Drivers are up to date, and every diagnostic test I have run passes. Surfing the net, it sounds like this is a common issue with windows 8.1.
    I was speaking with my firm's IT company and was told that they have had the exact same issues with numerous clients. (As an aside, they universally place lenovo products in their client's hands). It has gotten so bad that they do not provide windows 8/8.1 on any of the machines they prepare for their clients. 
    Last week, I was speaking to the IT company's local rep who was performing some server maintenance for us, and he indicated that if you purchased a laptop pre-installed with windows 8 and didn't like it, you could obtain a windows 7 product key from the manufacturer and downgrade to windows 7. Is that accurate? if so, how do I make that happen? 

    Too be honest I suggest you do not downgrade unless you have to use software in your company that does not work on Windows 7.
    Get started reading Windows 8 guides, and you will notice Windows 8 is a lot better after you have read all the guides:
    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=windows+8+get+started+guide
    Jonas
    Microsoft MVP: Windows Consumer Expert
    Yoga Tablet 2 10 || ThinkPad X1 Carbon (20A7007MPH) || ThinkPad Helix (3698-6EU) || IdeaCentre B540
    Twitter: @jonashendrickx

Maybe you are looking for