I want to Format my PC. I also lost my Windows Home Ed Product Key. Is there
ANY way I can retrieve this number form either the Win CD, or from my PC.
Please help ??
"Popaai" <Popaai@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EC1764EE-F6CA-407C-81C8-2D30329E1A77@microsoft.com...
>I want to Format my PC. I also lost my Windows Home Ed Product Key. Is
>there
> ANY way I can retrieve this number form either the Win CD, or from my PC.
> Please help ??
In view of the high cost of buying a new licence for your
various products, it might be a good idea to pay attention
to the warning on the CD case ("Do not lose this key!")
and maintain a paper-based register of all your software
product keys.
Note: Also check the side of your PC case or bottom of the laptop for the
OEM key code. If there is a sticker with the code it will most likely not
match what is displayed by the utilities mentioned above as OEMs such as
Dell use an internal
key code when they build your PC.
The key code on the sticker is for use with your Windows CD that came with
your PC.
JS
"Popaai" <Popaai@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EC1764EE-F6CA-407C-81C8-2D30329E1A77@microsoft.com...
>I want to Format my PC. I also lost my Windows Home Ed Product Key. Is
>there
> ANY way I can retrieve this number form either the Win CD, or from my PC.
> Please help ??
Popaai wrote:
> I want to Format my PC. I also lost my Windows Home Ed Product Key. Is there
> ANY way I can retrieve this number form either the Win CD, or from my PC.
> Please help ??
The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form.
It is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker that says
"Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory installed)
license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer affixed to the
exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.
To recover a lost Product Key:
If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:
If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
manufacturer; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of
the Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
new license.
Download and run Belarc Advisor. It will do a complete inventory of your
computer, hardware and software, with License Keys. Print the results page
and store it in a safe place. Or, email it to yourself on hotmail and store
it in a new folder.
"Bruce Chambers" wrote:
> Popaai wrote:
> > I want to Format my PC. I also lost my Windows Home Ed Product Key. Is there
> > ANY way I can retrieve this number form either the Win CD, or from my PC.
> > Please help ??
>
>
> The Windows 25-character Product Key (required to perform the
> installation) is not on the installation CD in any way, shape, or form.
> It is stored on the CD packaging on a bright orange sticker that says
> "Do not lose this number." If it was an OEM (factory installed)
> license, it's stored on a label that the PC manufacturer affixed to the
> exterior of the PC case, or on the bottom of a laptop.
>
> To recover a lost Product Key:
>
> If it was a retail license and you have proof of purchase:
>
> How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;326246
>
> If it was an OEM license, you should contact the computer's
> manufacturer; although very few manufacturers/vendors keep records of
> the Product Keys they've sold, it's worth a try before you have to buy a
> new license.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
>
On Sep 23, 6:58 am, Popaai <Pop...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I want to Format my PC. I alsolostmyWindowsHome EdProductKey. Is there
> ANY way I can retrieve this number form either the Win CD, or from my PC.
> Please help ??
If your system still runs you can use special software to recover your
Windows key. Most of them support some versions of Windows and some
other Microsoft products. Also there is a products like "Recover Keys" (
'Recover Lost Product Keys for Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, 2003, Vista,
Office, SQL, Exchange - CD-Key Retrieve - Overview'
(http://recover-keys.com/) ) that support all Windows versions and 300+
of other major software packages.
PRODUCT KEY 
Linear Mode
