Hello admin, tell me how to find out the Windows key, if it is not on the back of the laptop and this is the case on all new laptops.
When buying a laptop, the store told me that I didn’t need a Windows key, since I didn’t need to enter it anywhere. I have some kind of Windows 8 Single Language 64-bit Russian Region- (OEM) installed, and I’m also not supposed to have a disk from it. If Windows crashes, you can run the factory reset program and that’s it.
I also learned that if I want to install another Windows on my laptop, it’s unlikely to work and reinstalling the existing one myself won’t work either. And another important point - if I accidentally delete the hidden partition with factory settings during my experiments with reinstallations, then the laptop will be restored to me not under warranty, but for a couple of thousand rubles.
So I’m sitting and thinking, I paid 30 thousand rubles for the laptop, but it’s like it’s not mine. Find out the Windows key I can’t, I can’t install another operating system, they don’t give me a disk with Windows and drivers anymore, in short, use it for your health. It's all strange though! Gosh.
How to find out the Windows key
Hello friends! With a new laptop, you can do whatever you want and of course you can find out the key of Windows installed on it, but you need to do all this with skill. The sellers can also be understood, since many buyers, on the very first day of using a laptop, destroy everything with a hairdryer, and then, having played enough with ancient operating systems, they try to restore what they had, many do not succeed and they come to where the laptop was purchased and demand everything restored under warranty.
Therefore, before your experiments, insure yourself with modern data backup tools. You can back up all partitions of your hard drive to DVDs or a portable USB hard drive. You can learn how to create a backup of the entire laptop hard drive or just the operating system from our articles.
Note: Windows 8 Single Language 64-bit Russian Region (OEM) installed on your laptop is a normal basic Windows 8, but only with support for one Russian language. No, you can type in English, but the system control interface will always be Russian. Windows 8 Single Language (OEM) can be transferred to another computer and even upgraded to Windows Pro 8. If you want to reinstall the operating system on your laptop, then you can do it approximately like this - or like this -.
I will give two of the easiest ways to find out the Windows key. We will use the services of the ProduKey program and then AIDA64.
ProduKey software works quickly and without installation. You can download it on the official website
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html#DownloadLinks
Click "Download links are on the bottom of this page"
If you have a 64-bit operating system, select "Download ProduKey for x64"
Below on the same page you can download the Russifier.
The program is downloaded in an archive, unzip the archive and run the ProduKey.exe file. In addition to the Windows key, you will find out all the keys for programs owned by Microsoft.
Find out the Windows key using the AIDA64 program
Let's go to the website of the developer of the AIDA64 program http://www.aida64.com/, click on the Download button.
It is not at all necessary to know the license code that was used to activate the operating system in Windows 10. OS activation, in most cases, is automatic. Despite this, for some reason many users want to find out how to find out the Windows 10 product key. This is an urgent task for users who were lucky enough to purchase a new device based on the “Ten”.
This article is a guide that provides information collected across the global network that will help you find out the license key used to activate Windows 10.
The instructions discuss all options for achieving the goal: both through tools integrated into the operating system (extended command line - PowerShell, a ready-made VBScrit script created to decrypt registry files in order to extract from there the key with which Windows 10 was activated), and using utilities from third-party developers (the ProduKey utility, developed by the creator of several dozen tiny information applications). It would be appropriate to mention such things as:
- the reason why seemingly similar applications display different data;
- a method for visualizing an OEM key in UEFI (applicable only for Windows 10 that was initially installed).
Users who acquired Windows 10 by upgrading from a licensed “seven” or “eight” do not need to know the licensed operating system - it activates independently upon first startup, if there is Internet access, or immediately after a connection to the global information network appears. In the case of a clean installation of the OS from bootable media, at the stage of entering the license code, you should click “I don’t have a product key,” which Microsoft writes in the text block.
Activation is automatically and irrevocably linked to the user's computer based on a unique identifier based on the hardware configuration of the equipment and linked to a Microsoft account. The password entry form is required to be filled out only for people who decide to purchase the Retail edition of the operating system. Owners of licensed versions of “seven” and “eight” should refer to the key that was used to activate these editions of Windows.
We look at the key via PowerShell
Let's start with an option to solve the problem without resorting to downloading third-party software. It involves using a tool integrated into the Windows 10 environment called PowerShell. There is no special command for extracting the activation code from registry files in encrypted form, but one of the enthusiasts wrote a script that runs in the Vbasic environment to solve this problem.
1. Download the finished script.
2. Using the search bar, call PowerShell with administrator privileges.
In the extended command line text field, execute “Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned”.
We confirm the launch of the command by clicking on the “Y” and “Enter” buttons.
We import the downloaded file by executing the line “Import-Module prodect_key.ps1”.
prodect_key.ps1 - here before the file name we write the full path to it.
We call the “Get-WindowsKey” command to export the key with its subsequent visualization if it is not prompted to save the key in a text file.
The required information will appear in the last line of the command line.
Viewing keys in the ShowKeyPlus application window
The utility is notable for the fact that it displays the key of the operating system currently used on the PC, separately shows the UEFI key and can retrieve information about the license of any previous version of Windows, even if its files are located in the Windows.old folder. The program functions without installation into the system; it is downloaded from the resource at: github.com/Superfly-Inc/ShowKeyPlus/releases.
Using ShowKeyPlus is a pleasure: we launch the executable file and get all the necessary information.
- Installed Key - license key for running Windows 10.
- OEM Key - shows the pre-installed Windows key, if there was one, or a message that the OEM key is not provided.
This information can be exported to one of the supported text formats for archiving purposes. This is done using the Save button.
Here lies the secret of the fact that different programs display different information about the Windows 10 key: some read it from the registry (the key of the currently functioning operating system, while others export it from UEFI.
ProduKey app
Producey is a similar program to the previous one, the only task of which is to export and display the Product Key of the current Windows. You can download it from www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html. The utility works without installation; you can run it directly from the archive. After launch, the window displays the product ID, its key and name. The program is applicable not only to operating systems from Microsoft, but also to office suites and other software products of the same corporation.
Extracting OEM code from UEFI
Regardless of which OS currently controls your computer, if Windows 10 was installed on it when you purchased the device, the OEM key for it was embedded in the UEFI of the laptop or motherboard. To extract it, you need to call the command line and execute the line: “wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey”.
If such a code is not present in UEFI, an empty line will appear on the screen, and if it is present, the OEM character sequence may differ from the activation key used in the current Windows 10. The OEM key can also be used to return the originally installed version of the operating system.
To solve the problem, there are several more common ones (for example, Speccy) and an equally large number of specialized programs, but the methods discussed are sufficient for any user.
In this article we will touch on the question of how to find out the key in an installed Windows 8 operating system (in Windows 7 the procedure is practically the same). In Windows 8, the activation key is a set of 25 characters, divided into 5 parts with 5 characters in each part.
By the way, an important point! The key can only be used for the version of Windows for which it is intended. For example, a key for the Pro version cannot be used for the home version!
Sticker with the key of the installed Windows OS
First, you need to say that there are two versions of the key: OEM and Retail.
OEM - this key can be used to activate Windows 8 only on the computer on which it was previously activated. It is prohibited to use the same key on another computer!
Retail - this version of the key allows you to use it on any computer, but only on one at a time! If you want to install it on another computer, you will have to remove Windows from the one from which you are “taking” the key.
Usually, when you buy a computer or laptop, it comes with Windows 7 or 8 installed, and on the device case you can find a sticker with a key to activate the OS. On laptops, by the way, this sticker is on the bottom.
Unfortunately, very often this sticker wears off over time, fades in the sun, gets dirty with dust, etc. - in general, it becomes unreadable. If this happens to you, and you want it, don’t despair, the key for the installed OS can be found out quite easily. Below we will look step by step how this is done...
Find out the key using a script
To perform the procedure, you do not need to have any knowledge in the field of creating scripts. Everything is quite simple and even a novice user can handle this procedure.
1) Create a text file on the desktop. See picture below.
Most commercial software comes with special protection against unauthorized copying and installation. And although manufacturers use different methods to solve this problem, almost all of them prompt the user to enter a product key or serial number - at least this is the case with Microsoft Windows and Office.
The string, consisting of letters and numbers, is an individual identifier that proves the legality of your copy. This data is required to authorize the installation of the software, as well as to receive support, so it can be important to know where the key is and how to get it.
Below are some easy ways to help you find your serial number for Windows and Office.
Find product key
Try to remember how you purchased your Microsoft software, as this will determine where to look for your product key.
If you bought a copy of Microsoft Windows or Office on disk, then, first of all, you should examine its box. Retail Microsoft product keys are usually located on a bright sticker located inside the CD/DVD cover or on the back. The key consists of 25 characters, usually divided into 5 groups of 5 characters.
If your computer came with Microsoft Windows pre-installed, the product key is usually printed on a colored sticker placed directly on the PC case. For Microsoft Office, the serial number sticker should be on the installation disc that came with your computer. If you don't find it anywhere in the listed places, then you need to contact Microsoft to request a replacement for your lost key.
You can usually find your Microsoft Windows serial number on a sticker attached to your PC.
Windows 10
With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new way to authenticate the operating system called digital authorization, but it doesn't work on all Windows 10 PCs.
In fact, you definitely have a digital resolution if you upgraded the OS on your PC from Windows 7 or 8.1 for free. You also get a digital pass if you paid to upgrade to Windows 10 from the Windows Store or installed a fresh copy of the OS and then paid for it in the same Windows Store.
However, if you received Windows 10 either bundled with a new PC, or purchased a Windows 10 installation DVD from a store, or bought a digital copy of Windows 10, but not from the Windows Store, but from another online store, then you will have a traditional product key , not digital resolution.
What is digital resolution
If your PC has a digital resolution, Microsoft records your right to run Windows 10 on its servers. The upside is that you simply don't have a product key to lose. And if you need to reinstall the system, for example from a USB drive, you don't even have to activate your PC. Instead, after reinstalling Windows, activation will take place in the background for a few hours (or, in extreme cases, a few days).
But keep in mind that your digital resolution is based on your system configuration. If you change too many components at once and then try to reinstall Windows 10, you may encounter a problem.
From the point of view of the new control system, it would be better, for example, to first replace the HDD or SSD, then reinstall Windows 10, and update other components after activation. Otherwise, you may have to call Microsoft's hotline for automatic activation. This doesn't happen very often, but it does happen.
However, major updates, such as replacing the motherboard, will definitely require a call to Microsoft.
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Retrieving a key from Microsoft Windows or Office
If you cannot find your product key, but the program is already installed, you can use special programs, in particular Magical Jelly Bean Key Finder. This utility will quickly find the key for Windows (as well as keys for many other installed programs) and display it on the screen.
1. Download Magical Jelly Bean and follow the instructions to install the software on your computer.
2. Launch the program. You can find it in the Start menu - start typing keyfinder and click.
3. The program will scan your installed software and find product keys for supported programs, including various versions of Windows and Office.
4. When the scan is complete, you will see a window with a panel on the left side that will list any installed versions of Windows and Office.
5. Click on your version of Microsoft Windows and you will receive the key as well as other installation information. The serial number itself will be located in the ‘CD Key’ section on the right side of the window. Write this information down in case you may need it in the future. Make sure that you have rewritten all the symbols correctly, otherwise the key simply won’t work. And don’t pay attention to the ‘Product ID’ section - we don’t need it.
6. Click on your version of Microsoft Office to get your product key and other installation information. In the case of Office, everything happens exactly the same - your key will be located in the ‘CD Key’ section on the right side of the window. Make sure that you have rewritten all the symbols correctly, otherwise the key simply won’t work. You can also use Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to extract the keys of any software that is installed on your PC.
If the Windows activation key is not on the bottom of the laptop, if the licensed installation DVD is lost, where the key is indicated on the box, and also in any other cases of loss of the latter, you need to find out and save it. Moreover, there is no point in putting this matter off for a long time. Before the planned reinstallation of Windows, of course, the activation key can be found as part of the general preparatory process. But, alas, reinstalling an operating system is a process that cannot always be carefully planned in advance. The need to reinstall the OS may arise at any time - after unsuccessful experiments with system settings and third-party software, after a virus has penetrated, in case of a conflict between replaced hardware components, etc. Plus, Windows activation may simply fail. This is not only a natural consequence of replacing the motherboard to which the Windows product key is associated. Activation may fail, for example, after installing an unsuccessful system update.
The activation key for installed Windows can be seen in various programs for diagnosing system and hardware resources of the computer. For example, in the popular AIDA64 program, the Windows product key is indicated in the “Operating System” section, in a subsection with the same name.
In another similar program, PC-Wizard can be viewed in the “Configuration” section, in the “Operating System” subsection. When you click on the serial number at the top of the program window, below we get a display of the activation key of the installed Windows.
But if these programs are not installed on your computer, there is no point in bothering with their installation just to obtain a Windows activation key. It is much easier to use the small ProduKey program for these purposes. It does not require installation. ProduKey can be downloaded for free from its official website.
What ProduKey does is display the activation key data of installed Microsoft products. It doesn't have any other functions.
After unpacking the archive and running the EXE file in the program window, we will see, in particular, the activation key of the installed Windows. Click on the line with this key, call up the context menu and select “Copy Product Key”.
The Windows activation key copied to the clipboard must then be saved, for example in a TXT file or in web notes.
Windows 10 allows you to defer key entry and activation during the operating system installation process. Whereas earlier versions of the system will not want to be installed without entering the product key. Therefore, just in case of an emergency, it is better to write down the activation key for this system somewhere in a paper notebook.
Have a great day!
