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You’ll need that product key to reinstall Windows - and, if the manufacturer used System Locked Pre-installation, that key is different form the one your PC came with in software.Įxamine your computer to find the key. The COA sticker verifies that the computer came with an authentic copy of Windows, and that sticker has a product key printed on it. To check, you’ll need to look for a certificate of authenticity sticker on your computer. If you try, you’ll get error messages about the key being invalid.

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Thanks to “System Locked Pre-installation,” you’re not allowed to use that key to install Windows. So, is that product key usable for reinstalling Windows on your PC? If you have a Windows 7-era PC, there’s a good chance the PC’s key is a single key the manufacturer uses for all their PCs. You’ll need it when reinstalling Windows, and you may not be able to get it again if you wipe your hard drive.īut, beware - this product key may not actually work for reinstalling Windows on your PC. Write this product key down, print it out, or store it somewhere electronically. Be sure to read the “Product Key” column, and not the “Product ID” column. Be sure to download it from NirSoft’s official website and not a third-party download site, though.ĭownload ProduKey, run it, and look at the Windows product key it displays.

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Despite all our railing against the Windows freeware ecosystem, NirSoft’s software has always been excellent and never tried to force junk onto your PC. The product key is stored in the registry on your computer, and it can be read by simple key-viewing programs or even basic scripts. In other words, if it came with Windows 7 Home Premium, you can’t install Windows 7 Professional. It’ll all happen automatically.īe sure to use the same version and edition of Windows the computer came with. You don’t even need to know it - assuming you’re installing the same edition of Windows the PC came with, it should automatically activate and work without you needing to enter a key. The key for the version of Windows the PC comes with, is stored in the computer’s UEFI firmware or BIOS.

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Embedded in your PC’s UEFI firmware: Many newer PCs that come with Windows 8 use a new method.This system was common for Windows 7 PCs. The one in the registry and key-viewer application is a red herring. The actual key is on a certificate of authenticity (COA) sticker on your PC or its power supply.

If your PC uses this, the product key on your PC - the one stored in the registry, and the one key-viewer applications display - will be different from the actual key your PC needs.

Printed on a sticker: Some PCs use a technology called “System Locked Pre-installation,” or SLP.

Crucially, you’ll need to grab it from your operating system before you begin reinstalling Windows or it could be deleted if you format your hard drive.

You can extract this product key, and - often - enter it when reinstalling Windows on your PC.

Stored in software on your PC: When you (or your PC manufacturer) installs Windows, Windows stores its product key in the registry.

Where Is The Windows Product Key Located? Three Places You Might Find the Key: You can legally download Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 installation media directly from Microsoft. Reinstalling Windows often feels necessary, especially on new PCs that come packed with bloat ware. This is more confusing than it sounds – you may not be able to re-use the key your computer’s manufacturer used. You will need a unique product key to reinstall Windows on your PC.