Retrieving key from Windows 7

[Potatocodone]

I bought my laptop from the MS Store meaning not only do I have HP bloatware but I also have MS Store bloatware on top of it.

I remove most of the bloatware and use my laptop for roughly 4 months so far. I been meaning to reinstall a clean Windows 7 Home Premium OEM but I noticed my COA sticker is wearing out (does anyone else notice how the newer COA stickers wear out so much quicker than the old ones from like XP or early Vista?).

Anyone know a way to retrieve my key? My Windows 7 is working fine but I would like to have my key just in case and not regret it getting it before something bad happen.

 

[kavvika]

Right-click Computer, select Properties. Should be at the bottom under "Windows activation."

 

[QwertyJuan]

Yes, they wear out WAY too easily....

As far as how to do it?? I have always used http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/ for XP, not sure if it works with 7 or not. Give it a shot I guess??

 

[QwertyJuan]

Right-click Computer, select Properties. Should be at the bottom under "Windows activation."

Umm.... that's not the key. I am not sure what it is, but it does NOT match the key that I had to type into my machine when I installed Win7.

 

[engiNURD]

Many times, the key loaded on the OEM Pre-Install is an OEM generic key, and does not match whats on your COA sticker. Basically, If I ran JKF on all the Dell systems in my lab, they'd all return the same key.

 

[QwertyJuan]

Many times, the key loaded on the OEM Pre-Install is an OEM generic key, and does not match whats on your COA sticker.

This is true....

 

[Bahamut]

OEM pre-install keys are commonly referred to as "royalty keys" and they are embedded in the distributions (aka the branded copies of Windows included with the OEM machines from Dell, HP, Gateway, etc). They are the same for all the branded OEM machines for a given edition (meaning on all Dells running XP Home, they all use the same exact royalty key, same for XP Pro, Vista Home Premium, etc).

The key printed on the COA stickers is useless for almost all intents and purposes; the sticker itself determines and defines the license, not the key printed on it.

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder does work with Windows 7 just fine but it depends on the version of Windows 7 you have. It works on retail copies, but not volume license or MAK versions (those given to school students, or used in business institutions, etc). Explained here:

http://www.mjbforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=399

But for retail and OEM copies (like Dell, HP, Gateway, etc) it should list the royalty key just fine.

 

[ziscwg]

I have used Belarc Advisor in Win xp for various set ups. It says it supports win7.

 

[86 5.0L]

use ABRbeta

reinstall Win7

run ABRbeta