For reasons that would take far too long to explain, I need to recover my Win 10 product key. I am no longer able to use the version that came installed with the computer. To fix this I bought a new version from Amazon, though it did not come with a key. The new version is working well but without a key certain functions are not available.
Anticipating your wisdom in advance. Thanks
Which key for the installed version? If it's installed version and you have reinstalled it won't be possible. Does the new version activate via digital certificate was it same version. I don't understand why you bought a version from Amazon with no key when you can download from ms for free?
Hi, please confirm that you actually purchased a Win 10 key. It's not clear that you have ever had one. If you upgraded from e.g. Win 7 you won't have one - the activation status is held against a hash of a form of your hardware id on MS's activation servers.
Your description doesn't fully make sense, I'm afraid, as Samuria has just said.
That said, Showkeyplus (free, Google) gives a lot of information about keys on your PC. Feel free to see if that helps you in any way.
Once Win 10 has been installed, you can clean install it again as many times as you wish- no key should normally be needed.
Hello @LeeRex,
Perhaps you could elaborate a bit more please so that we can get a better idea of the exact circumstances and problem.
Have you got a previousSystem Imageor aRecovery Partition?
You could also try one of these to see what, if any, key is shown . . .
> Belarc Advisor - Shows in your browser.
> ShowKeyPlus - Win10.Guru - Toolkit Item.
I hope this helps.
Is this for the Dell PC in your system specs? If so you will need to contact Dell with the System ID / serial Number with this Dell will provide you with the key - This should actually be embedded on a Chip on the motherboard - The Trusted Platform Module [TPM].
If you have an issue with the Embedded code, contact dell speak to their service department who should be able to arrange replacement of the failed component - possibly at zero cost
The only other option if the embedded code is unusable is to purchase a new copy of Windows and a licence ( preferably as a package )
Try running showkey plus:
ShowKeyPlus
If your computer came with either Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 10 from the factory, it will show you what your original product key was supplied by the factory (stored in BIOS) and which edition of Windows it is for (IE: Home or Pro).
I believe that your computer came with Windows 7 and that you
either
1 upgraded from your installed Windows 7
or
2 wiped the computer then installed Windows 10.
Case 1 - Your computer will be activated with a digital licence and Windows will activate after the upgrade or any subsequent re-installation without any product key being needed [you just skip that dialog during the installation procedure].
Case 2 - This, I think, is your situation. You need to use one of two specific procedures to allow initial Windows 10 activation of a previously-activated Windows 7 computer.Either
2.1 Restore a Windows 7 system image to your computer [or reinstall Windows 7 then activate it***] repeat the Windows 10 clean installation using this tutorial
Directly Clean Install Windows 10 without having to Upgrade First - TenForumsTutorials
or
2.2 Restore a Windows 7 system image to your computer [or reinstall Windows 7 then activate it***] and upgrade to Windows 10 from there
Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 - TenForumsTutorials*** If you choose to reinstall Windows 7 it ought to re-activate automatically. If it does not then you can use the Product key sticker [the "Certificate of authenticity"] on your computer.
Denis
Last time I looked in the computer section at Wal*Mart most of the programs were just cards, no software in a box. Seems delivery is mostly by downloads now, started going that way with Windows 8 OEMs coming without a Product Key on the COA/Certificate of Authenticity sticker on the computer.
No wonder everyone is confused. I'm confused myself. My apologies! Here are the details...
Win 10 installed on new Alienware r7.
Mistake #1: Foolishly did not create recovery disk, nor system image, nor anything else.
Sometime later decided to play around with Linux.
Mistake #2: At that point, I should have created a system image, but again, didn't!
Mistake #3: I should have chosen to install Linux inside Virtual Box. BUT...
Mistake #4: Chose dual boot instead.
Mistake #5: Must have made the wrong choice(s) during install. Linux installed but wiped out Win 10 in the process! Arrgghh!!!
And so I was stuck. Not only had Win 10 been wiped out, but I had no resources to get it back!
It seemed I had no choice but to get a new copy of Win 10. So I bought a new one, installed it, worked like a charm.
EXCEPT, I have no access to personalization settings. Not a big problem. The annoying thing is that there is a persistent watermark on the bottom right of my screen that says "Activate Windows. Go to Settings to activate Windows." I've tried getting rid of it permanently but the solutions work only until I re-boot.
I've contacted Dell but they won't fix it because the computer is out of warranty. Apparently my copy is not "genuine". Probably not the right certificates, etc. So I'm feeling a bit troubled. I don't want to run afoul of the Windows Police. And yet I have installed a copy that is working well, would be expensive to replace and would require many hours to put everything back in order.
So was I right in post #7 that your computer came with Windows 7 & that it was activated?
If so, which of the two cases applied to your Windows 10?
Denis
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