License Key Missing After Crash

cDreamDancer · 03 Feb 2020

So, after going through all kinds of headache with this:
Move Installation To Another Machine

I now have my desktop back.

But somewhere during the whole ordeal, the license key became invalid.

The machine is a Windows 7 Ultimate that was upgraded through the free upgrade process.

Any help on getting the Validation back on the machine is very helpful.

I have the original drives from the machine intact, the machine is running two new drives.
Of which one of the drives will be needing a replacement soon, ...

Ok, the edit was because the browser attached a screenshot of the browser to the post, wtf? 🤣

bobkn · 03 Feb 2020

I'd start with the Activation Troubleshooter: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...troubleshooter

In extremis, you may have to call activation support. Based on recent experience, I suggest that you plan to spend a good while on the call.

(Actually, after getting to the right person, things went fairly well.)

If the support person suggests re-installing Windows 7 and applying the upgrade again, try to avoid using any language that isn't approved by the FCC.

RolandJS · 03 Feb 2020

I don't remember the names right now, however, there are several utilities that can sniff out the product key and the license number -- I think. Before reinstalling anything, check the utilities listed by some of the members in here, and over in bleepingcomputer.com.

f14tomcat · 03 Feb 2020

RolandJS said:

I don't remember the names right now, however, there are several utilities that can sniff out the product key and the license number -- I think. Before reinstalling anything, check the utilities listed by some of the members in here, and over in bleepingcomputer.com.

Roland.... This what you're referring to? Superfly's Show Key Plus?

ShowKeyPlus

Samuria · 03 Feb 2020

Lets be honest ifits a new pc by rights you should buy windows if the key was OEM then it can be invaled as its tied to OEM pc

cDreamDancer · 03 Feb 2020

ShowkeyPlus, forgot I have that, the key that's shown is being called invalid.

Though the check product key reports the correct version of Win 10 RTM Professional Retail.

Ztruker · 03 Feb 2020

Showkeyplus will probably show you a generic key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
Can't be used to activate Windows 10 Pro. You need the Windows 7 key.
Should show in Showkeyplus something like this:

Installed Key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

OEM Key: *****-*****-*****-*****-8FDHT

The OEM key is what you need to activate with.

Pejole2165 · 04 Feb 2020

Do you not need to deactivate the first machine to free up the retail license before trying to use it on another machine, and also is the other machine still working with a Windows install, so are you using two machines with the same license?

Superfly · 04 Feb 2020

cDreamDancer said:

ShowkeyPlus, forgot I have that, the key that's shown is being called invalid.

Though the check product key reports the correct version of Win 10 RTM Professional Retail.

Unfortunately ShowkeyPlus does not fully support Win 7, so checking some Win 7 keys may pop up as invalid - whereas they may indeed be valid.

I just did not want to make it so backward compatible that it became even more of a behemoth than it already is (comparatively) - also be sure to use the Store or Preview version instead - it has more compatibility features.

xaccell · 04 Feb 2020

It all depends if your oirignal Windows 7 license was OEM or RETAIL. If it was RETAIL, you can do what you want to do. If it is OEM, you just can´t, as your product key is tied to your old PC and it won't activate (unless not legally) in your current setup.