Windows Asking for Product Key I Don't Have

Kamel said:

It wouldn't install if I had the partitions still there. I had to delete both partitions and chose the now empty drive. It wouldn't let me just chose the empty drive w/o deleting.

So 10 w/o activation is still usable? Will it be usable after the 1 year of free upgrade?

You couldn't have deleted an OEM (Manufacturers) partition using any Windows tools if there was one. It's impossible.

Sorry, but I can't answer your other questions.

@Kamel

If you still have your 7 keys you might order recovery media from the OEM to reinstall 7, then SP1 update, and then upgrade to 10. I think that's the best you'll do.

And make sure 7 is activated before upgrading to 10.

Antilope said:

System specs that you filled in say you have a laptop. Have you checked under the battery for a Windows 7 license key label? Or on the bottom of the laptop? That's where Windows 7 license key labels are usually placed on a laptop.

Thanks I will use this information tomorrow and get back to you if I have questions!

You said you thought it was a "purchased version" -- that comes WITH a key. If you buy the box, they key is on a card inside the box. IF you buy it online, the key comes in an email.

But, sounds like, from what you said, it was not a purchased version -- and as others have said, in the present condition, it will never activate -- since MS does not allow you to enter Win7/8/8.1 keys to activate the version you have.

HippsieGypsie said:

You couldn't have deleted an OEM (Manufacturers) partition using any Windows tools if there was one. It's impossible.

Sorry, but I can't answer your other questions.

Absolutely 100% false. It's very easy to delete OEM recovery partitions. Most people who do it do it by accident attempting to install or upgrade Windows. I've done it intentionally on every computer I have purchased.

To the OP: use showkey found on these forums to retrieve any previous Windows product keys that might be stored in BIOS.

NavyLCDR said:

Absolutely 100% false. It's very easy to delete OEM recovery partitions. Most people who do it do it by accident attempting to install or upgrade Windows. I've done it intentionally on every computer I have purchased.

Oh? That easy, eh sailor? Then tell me how do you get rid of a MSI lappy bios_rvy partition with any Windows or MS software? Perhaps you can teach us all something.

To the OP: use showkey found on these forums to retrieve any previous Windows product keys that might be stored in BIOS.

That's a good suggestion, except how would the OP perform that if there's no OS installed? Hmm?

Just for information only. You don't need to do clean all.

clean will also work & is faster and only deletes that one drive. Clean all deletes all drives including any drives attached to the system.

Substitute clean all with just clean

Delete/Format OEM Partition on Clean Install? - Windows 7 Help Forums