Where is the Windows prestige key on the laptop? How to activate Windows 7 so that activation never fails

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.

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.

How can I find out the activation key for my operating system? This question can arise only in two cases. The first is if you need to reinstall the system and you didn’t have the disk. If you have a laptop, then you couldn’t have a system disk, because... On laptops, Windows should already be installed. The license key is usually glued to the bottom of the case or embedded in the BIOS.

When buying a desktop computer, they also don’t always give you a disk with a distribution kit, but if they do, users often throw it away and only remember about it when it’s time to repair the computer.

And the second case is if you updated your system to Windows 10, from Windows 7 or 8, and you didn’t see any key, because it was installed automatically.

In general, it doesn’t matter how you installed the system or where the disk went, what’s important is that it’s not there, and there’s no activation key either. But there are no hopeless situations. And now we will make sure of this.

How to find out the operating system activation keyWindows

What is an activation keyWindows?

If your Windows operating system is licensed, then a special license key, or as it is also called, a product key, is used to activate it.

The activation key consists of 25 characters in the form of capital letters of the Latin alphabet and numbers, divided into 5 groups of 5 characters:

XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Checking activation using the command line

To do this, you need to open a command prompt as administrator and type one of the commands below:

• slmgr /dli— display information about the license.
• slmgr/dlv— Displays detailed information about the license.
• slmgr /xpr— display the activation end date.
• vbs /rearm— activation reset, return to trial state.
• vbs/ipk— installation of the product key.
• vbs/skms— setting the KMS name or port.
• vbs/ato- Windows activation.
• vbs/upk— deleting the product key.
• vbs/cpky— removing the product key from the registry (preventing theft).
• At the moment we only need the first three commands.
• If we write a command slmgr /dli and press the button Enter

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.

1. Installed Key - license key for running Windows 10.
2. 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 today's article we will look at the question of how to find Windows serial number, which was preinstalled on your equipment upon purchase.

Recently, Microsoft has changed the way it licenses its OEM products, namely Microsoft Windows. We are talking about those types of licenses that are usually preinstalled on laptops and system units by the manufacturer or assemblers, namely OEM licenses, developer licenses and single language versions.

Previously, when you bought a laptop with Windows 7 installed, you could find a sticker on the back of the equipment with the name of the purchased license and its activation key, which usually consisted of 25 characters. But since the release of Windows 8, the methods of distributing licenses have changed and now on the back of your laptop you will only find a Microsoft branded label, which confirms the right to use the operating system. Neither the name of the license nor the key will be on the sticker anymore!

Why is that? The thing is that with the advent of UEFI BIOS, it became possible to sew a key directly into it, and the system is activated automatically, without manually entering the key, provided that the exact edition of the operating system for which the serial number is preinstalled is installed on the laptop. Those. If you bought a laptop with Windows 8 with a license for one language, and then upgraded the system to Windows 8 Professional, then in this case your copy of Windows will not be activated.

• Contact the equipment manufacturer's technical support service. This will take a lot of time and will cost a lot of money. In addition, you will receive a clean operating system with basic settings and will definitely lose all personal information.
• Use standard Windows recovery tools. In this case, you will simply roll back your system to its original state from a copy that is stored on an “invisible” partition of your hard drive, provided that you have not deleted it.

  This method is more likely intended for novice users, but is not entirely convenient in practice. The thing is that when the system is rolled back, the user receives the original pre-installed copy of Windows, with all previously installed demo programs, proprietary utilities and other garbage that clogs the system and, in most cases, is never useful to an ordinary or even an advanced user. You will also not be able to change hard disk partitions as would be more convenient for you during recovery.

  In addition, you must copy your personal data and settings to external storage in advance, otherwise you will lose them. This also brings some inconvenience.

  If for various reasons you do not want to carry out these operations yourself, then we are ready to offer you our assistance in installing the operating system on your equipment. Check it out on our website!

• What to do if the recovery partition does not exist, or recovery from it is impossible for various reasons? In this case, you will need to download the operating system distribution that is associated with your purchased license. Next, you need to burn it to a DVD or create a bootable USB flash drive, and then perform a clean installation of the operating system.

  But the difficulty is that Microsoft has not officially published its distributions for download for a long time and finding the edition of Windows you need can cause problems, and downloading various modified pirated assemblies is also wrong. Another disadvantage of this approach is the problem with initial activation after a clean installation. Windows, for various reasons, despite the fact that the assembly is selected correctly, may not want to undergo activation.

How to get a Windows license key on a laptop

This is why we will need to extract the license key from the BIOS in order to activate the system manually via the Internet or by phone. To do this we need to open the command line: Start > Run > cmd.exe

In the window that appears, you need to run the command:

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get oa3xoriginalproductkey

When working on a personal computer or laptop, a situation may arise when you need to find out the operating system (OS) code. You will also need to activate it. These are simple procedures that are easy to do.
You may need an operating system activation code

What is a product key and why do you need to know it? It consists of 25 numbers and letters of the Latin alphabet and is used to legalize the product. The activated system is valid and is subject to Microsoft updates. When purchasing a licensed OS, the character set is on the package. If you purchase a device with a pre-installed OS, the code is printed on a sticker, which is located on the back of the case for laptops.

Since a licensed OS is not cheap, many users purchase pirated copies on disk or download from the Internet, which are installed using special programs. In some cases, you will need to find out 7. When using unlicensed copies, the user will face the following problems:

• The computer is slow
• The screen background turns black and warning messages appear on it

How to find out the Windows key (read below)

There are two ways to find out the Windows key of any version already installed on a personal computer. The first method involves using OS tools and requires writing a program. This method is complex, time-consuming and suitable for experienced users, so it is more convenient to find out the win 7 key on your computer, ProdyKey. A small program allows you to find out the codes for the following products:

1. Windows
2. Microsoft Office
3. Exchange Server

Working with this utility is very simple. After downloading it from the official website (important) and running it with administrator rights, a window appears where the data of the installed products is indicated. They will be required when reinstalling the OS, and the information on the packaging has been erased or lost.

a window appears with information about installed products

After purchasing the OS and installing it on a personal device, it must be legalized.

The activation code for Windows 7 is located on the package with the installation disk. It looks like this.

Activation code for Windows

During the installation process, after creating a user account, the screen will prompt you to enter the code indicated on the label. You need to write this sequence of characters carefully and without errors in the “Product Key” line.

In the “Product Key” line you need to write this sequence of characters carefully and without errors

Then the OS needs to be activated. To do this, perform the following steps:

• "Start"
• "Control Panel"
• "System"

A window appears on the screen where there is a line “Change product key” and the existing code is entered into it, after which it is entered into the computer.

A window appears on the screen with the line “Change product key”

After the process is completed, you can find out whether Windows 7 is activated. The message “Windows activation completed” and an icon appear in the bottom line.

Legalization of the Windows 8 and 8.1 operating system

You can use the activator for Windows 8. This process, if the code is available, is carried out in the same way as when installing version 7, that is, in the “System” window through the control panel. If the OS is illegal, then you need to use a special program that will register the key itself and do the rest. There are quite a lot of such products and some of them can be noted:

• KMS auto
• KMS nano25
• KMS activator

The programs do not require any installation steps, but the system will be valid for 180 days, after which the process is repeated. You can find out the Windows 8 key on a laptop using the Key Finder program, which reads data from the BIOS.

WATCH THE VIDEO

It is especially dangerous to use pirated copies when working with large amounts of information and during financial transactions.
Now you know how to find out the Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 key