If the Windows activation key is not on the bottom of the laptop, if the licensed installation DVD is lost, where the key is indicated on the box, as well as in any other cases of loss of the latter, you need to find it and save it. Prichtm put off this matter indefinitely is not worth it. Before the planned reinstallation of Windows, of course, the activation key can be found out as part of the general preparatory process. But, alas, reinstalling the operating system is such a process that it is not always possible to carefully plan it in advance and carefully. The need to reinstall the OS can arise at any time - after unsuccessful experiments with system settings and third-party software, after the penetration of a virus, in case of a conflict of replaced hardware components, etc. Plus, Windows activation can simply fail. This is not only a natural consequence of replacing the motherboard to which the Windows product key is tied. Activation may fail, for example, after installing an unsuccessful system update.
The activation key of the installed Windows can be seen in various programs for diagnosing the system and hardware resources of a computer. For example, in the popular AIDA64 program, the Windows product key is listed in the "Operating system" section, in a subsection with the same name.
In another similar program, PC-Wizard can be found in the "Configuration" section, in the "Operating system" subsection. When you click on the serial number in the upper part of the program window at the bottom, we get the display of the activation key of the installed Windows.
But if these programs are not installed on the computer, it makes no sense to bother with installing them just for the sake of obtaining a Windows activation key. It is much easier to use a small ProduKey program for these purposes. It does not require installation. ProduKey can be downloaded from its official website for free.
What ProduKey does is display activation key data for installed Microsoft products. It has no other functions.
After unpacking the archive and running the EXE file in the program window, we will see, in particular, the activation key of the installed Windows. We click on the line with this key, call the context menu and select "Copy Product Key".
The Windows activation key copied to the clipboard then needs to be saved, for example, in a TXT file or in web notes.
Windows 10 allows you to delay key entry and activation during the operating system installation process. Whereas earlier versions of the system will not want to be installed without entering a product key. Therefore, just in case of an emergency, it is better to write down the activation key from this system somewhere in a paper notebook.
Have a great day!
Previously, if a laptop came pre-installed with the Windows operating system, then on its underside there was a sticker with a product key or a so-called license key. Now these stickers are not glued to laptops, and it’s impossible to find out the product key for just that.
But, if you apply some tricks, then you can still find out the Windows 10 product key. In this article, we will look at several ways at once how this can be done.
It should be noted right away that different methods extract keys from different sources, so the resulting keys will be different. So, the key extracted from the operating system will be different from the key that is extracted from the UEFI motherboard.
How to view the product key in Windows 10 using third-party programs
If you want to find out the product key in Windows 10, then the easiest way is to resort to using third-party programs. In this case, you do not have to deal with the Windows Command Prompt or PowerShell. All you have to do is install the program and run it.
The first program we'll look at is called ProduKey. This program is released by NirSoft, known for its small utilities for Windows. You can download ProduKey.
The ProduKey program collects data about the keys installed in the operating system and displays this information in the form of a convenient table. With ProduKey, you can find out not only the Windows 10 product key, but also the keys to other Microsoft programs. For example, you can find out the license key for the Microsoft Office suite of office programs.
Also, to view license keys, the ShowKeyPlus program is often used. This is an open source program.
A feature of the ShowKeyPlus program is that it can extract a product key from several sources at once. Firstly, the program can extract the key from the Windows 10 operating system itself (in the program it is Installed Key), secondly, from the computer's UEFI (in the program it is OEM Key), and thirdly, from the previous version of Windows, which is saved in the Windows folder .old.
How to view the Windows 10 license key without using third-party programs
If you do not want to use third-party programs and are ready to tinker a little with the tools built into Windows 10, then you can resort to the following options.
To view the license key stored in your motherboard's UEFI, you need to run the following command:
- wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
You can also perform this operation using Windows PowerShell. To launch PowerShell, you can simply open the Start menu and search for "PowerShell". You can also open the Run menu with Windows + R and enter the command "PowerShell" there. After PowerShell starts, you need to run the following command in it:
- (Get-WmiObject -query "select * from SoftwareLicensingService").OA3xOriginalProductKey
After executing any of these commands, information about the license key that is stored in the UEFI of your motherboard will appear on the screen. If there are no saved keys in UEFI, then the commands will not give any result.
In addition, there is a script in the VBS (Visual Basic Script) language with which you can extract the product key from the Windows 10 operating system. In order to use this script, you need to open the Notepad program and paste the following code into it:
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
regKey = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\"
DigitalProductId = WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "DigitalProductId")
Win10ProductName = "Windows 10 Version: " & WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "ProductName") & vbNewLine
Win10ProductID = "Product ID: " & WshShell.RegRead(regKey & "ProductID") & vbNewLine
Win10ProductKey = ConvertToKey(DigitalProductId)
ProductKeyLabel ="Windows 10 Key: " & Win10ProductKey
Win10ProductID = Win10ProductName & Win10ProductID & ProductKeyLabel
MsgBox(Win10ProductID)
Function ConvertToKey(regKey)
Const KeyOffset = 52
isWin10 = (regKey(66) \ 6) And 1
regKey(66) = (regKey(66) And &HF7) Or ((isWin10 And 2) * 4)
j = 24
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
y=14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = regKey(y + KeyOffset) + Cur
regKey(y + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24)
Cur = Cur Mod 24
y=y-1
Loop While y >= 0
j = j-1
winKeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & winKeyOutput
Last = Cur
Loop While j >= 0
If (isWin10 = 1) Then
keypart1 = Mid(winKeyOutput, 2, Last)
insert="N"
winKeyOutput = Replace(winKeyOutput, keypart1, keypart1 & insert, 2, 1, 0)
If Last = 0 Then winKeyOutput = insert & winKeyOutput
End if
a = Mid(winKeyOutput, 1, 5)
b = Mid(winKeyOutput, 6, 5)
c = Mid(winKeyOutput, 11, 5)
d = Mid(winKeyOutput, 16, 5)
e = Mid(winKeyOutput, 21, 5)
ConvertToKey = a & "-" & b & "-" & c & "-" & d & "-" & e
end function
As a result, the VBS script will be executed and information about the Windows 10 license key will appear on the screen.
A very standard and common situation prompts many to read this material: I once bought a laptop with a licensed Windows 7 or 8 operating system installed. After a certain time, due to the need to reinstall Windows or for any other reason, you need an activation key that was indicated on the sticker , which is located on the bottom of the laptop, however, over the months and years of operation of the laptop, it has long been erased or completely peeled off. How to be?
If your PC is running Windows with an activated license key, then "getting" it from the operating system will not be difficult. If by icon My computer right click and open Properties, then below we will see only product code, not the activation key itself. It is also important to distinguish between what you need to get - just the code that was listed on a special sticker or the code for Windows 8, which is in the BIOS of the computer.
Screenshot of "My Computer" properties
For Win8 from BIOS using RWEverything
To extract the OEM license key Windows 8 from the BIOS of a laptop or desktop computer, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with - in it we looked at how to use the program to get the Win8 key from a new type of BIOS: UEFI. This method is also relevant for those who are trying to restore the key if another OS was installed instead of licensed Windows 8 "from the store".
Screenshot of RWEverything
Windows activation key in AIDA64
If you need an activation key for an installed and running system, you can use the already familiar program for a complete PC diagnostic - - go, get acquainted, download and install. Then run the program and open the tab Operating system. In chapter License Information in field Product key and the required activation code for Windows will be indicated.
Screenshot of the AIDA64 program
In AIDA64, as well as in RWEverything, you can see the key sewn into the BIOS. To do this, go to the tab Motherboard, then ACPI. In chapter Table description find MSDM and in the field SLS Data the 25-character Windows activation code we need will be registered.
Screen AIDA64
Finding an activation key via KeyFinder
A simple utility from Magical Jelly Bean. This small program does not take up much space and gives out only the bare minimum of information, but it is exactly what we need. You can download KeyFinder from here (the official website of the developers), it is available in two versions - the free one is enough for us. Download, install, run. In the left window, select the software for which you need to find out the activation key - in this case, we are interested in Windows 7 Home Premium. CD Key and there is the desired code.
Screenshot Key Finder
Instead of a conclusion
This list could be continued indefinitely, since there are at least a dozen more popular utilities for solving the same problem, but I think that the set provided will be enough for you. There are also various scripts on the Internet that use VBScript or PowerShell to extract keys without installing extra programs. Everyone chooses the method that is more convenient for him.
Windows 7 activation failed - no problem! If your windows 7 activation has failed, the trial period has ended, or you just don’t know how to activate windows 7, there is a very simple and reliable way, and it’s absolutely free. At the moment, there are enough methods for activating the seven, among which specially written programs, such as the windows 7 maximum activator, have taken a special place. Using them is quite trivial and the process of activating windows 7 goes through the algorithm in several stages. Usually, windows 7 activation takes no more than five minutes, and when using some activators, it takes less than a minute. As a rule, most people want everything at once, so many will be most interested in the windows 7 activator maximum, why do we need a stripped-down Windows when there is a maximum version with all the bells and whistles in the public domain. It's easier to activate windows 7 maximum using the same tricks and use the operating system without restrictions. To download the windows 7 maximum activator, you must disable the antivirus, because. any activator is essentially a crack and naturally the windows developers made sure that their product was sold and not used for free, so the most famous windows 7 activators are blacklisted by antiviruses. In order to successfully activate windows 7 and subsequently the activation did not fall off, it is necessary to correctly perform the manipulations for each individual activator. Read the descriptions carefully and remember that not following the instructions for installing activators for windows 7 will not solve the activation issue or may even disrupt the system, for which all responsibility rests with you.
Windows Loader Activator by Daz
One of those few programs that should be in stock "for a rainy day" for every user of Windows 7. Windows Loader allows you to activate almost any edition of Windows 7 operating systems with the click of a button - from Starter Edition to extended versions of Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise, including 32 and 64 bit platforms.Download activator Windows Loader by Daz 2.2.1. Detailed instructions .
Video instruction for activation
Also pay attention to this: in the descriptions of many activators, there is often a promise that the system will be authenticated and the activation will not fail. Yes, this is true, but not entirely, the fact is that Microsoft is constantly monitoring new ways to circumvent legal activation, and improving its products to detect such facts. Specifically: its "important" security update for windows KV971033. This is the license authentication (activation) file. So if today your OS easily passes all authentication checks, then tomorrow after the next update KB971033, your Windows 7 activation may well fly off. Well, here we come to what needs to be done so that Activation never crashes:
To do this, go to the uninstall programs window:
control panel > programs > programs and features. At the top left, click on "View installed updates":
In the next window, look for the installed update KV971033, if it is, click on it with the mouse (select it) and click on "delete" at the top. 
In principle, everything, you can run the activator for windows 7 you have chosen and downloaded. But in order for the activation of Windows 7 to never crash, you need to do the following (either before activation or after activation, it makes no difference) to do the following: Option 1: You can disable updates altogether in the windows update center, then the activation will NEVER fail. Or at least turn off automatic updates: Windows Update > configure settings > and select "Download updates, but I decide to install". Then, when installing updates, you need to follow and prevent the installation of KB971033. So that the support center does not bother with messages about disabled updates, check the "do not notify" checkbox.
Option 2: If the system prompts you to install updates (the command "download updates should be set in advance, but the decision to install is made by me"), or go to the update center yourself, start searching for new updates, then select update KV971033, right-click on it, select from the context menu "hide update" option.
Everything! The update center will ignore the ill-fated update. You can set the command to automatically install updates in the update center.
In the next window:
How to check activation.
Computer > System Properties (top). At the bottom of the window there should be an inscription: Windows activation completed: 
Activating Windows 7 without an activator and entering keys
A very interesting way in which Windows 7 activation occurs without using an activator and without entering keys. This approach allows you to extend the trial of using the operating system up to 120 days, which allows you to save time searching for and entering a license key, a suitable activator, or buying a genuine Windows 7. This method is relevant for activating windows 7 of any version and is recommended for use on OS, a period of 30- Those day trials that have not expired, otherwise it remains necessary to enter a license key for windows 7 or use activators.It is known that after installation, Windows 7 works in trial mode (trial), which lasts for 30 days, so it would be advisable to activate windows 7 without entering keys at the end of the trial period, for example, on the penultimate day.
Instructions for activating Windows 7 without an activator and entering keys:
We launch the "Start" menu and enter the command "cmd" in the query field, right-click on the icon of the found program, select "Run as administrator", after which you should start the command line interpreter, i.e. black window.
In the window that opens, enter one of two commands: rundll32 slc.dll,SLReArmWindows or slmgr.vbs /rearm then confirm by pressing the "Enter" key and restart the computer.
If after rebooting in the properties you see a reset trial, then you did everything right. You can repeat this procedure for activating Windows 7 without an activator and entering keys, or rather extend the trial, you can four times. To obtain a licensed copy of Windows 7, this method will not work, which means that it becomes necessary to use keys or activators, one of the most promising of which is the Windows 7 Loader eXtreme Edition activator, as well as activators from Daz and Hazar.
Key lists for Windows 7
If for some reason the brand of your computer was not on the list, but you know that you have, for example, Windows 7 Ultimate installed, then feel free to use the keys to Windows 7 Ultimate.Keys for Windows 7 ULTIMATE (OEM-8992662)
FJGCP-4DFJD-GJY49-VJBQ7-HYRR2 - ACER/GATEWAY/PACKARD
VQ3PY-VRX6D-CBG4J-8C6R2-TCVBD – ALIENWARE
2Y4WT-DHTBF-Q6MMK-KYK6X-VKM6G - ASUS
342DG-6YJR8-X92GV-V7DCV-P4K27 - DELL
9CW99-79BBF-D4M3X-9BK9M-4RPH9 - FUJITSU
MHFPT-8C8M2-V9488-FGM44-2C9T3 - HP
6K2KY-BFH24-PJW6W-9GK29-TMPWP - LENOVO/IBM
49PB6-6BJ6Y-KHGCQ-7DDY6-TF7CD - SAMSUNG
YJJYR-666KV-8T4YH-KM9TB-4PY2W - SONY
2WX6M-X2HKM-86X8X-2QD44-F3FGJ - ?????
78FPJ-C8Q77-QV7B8-9MH3V-XXBTK - ?????
Windows 7 ULTIMATE E Key (OEM-8992662)
278MV-DKMGJ-F3P9F-TD7Y3-W6G3M - HP/COMPAQ
Keys for Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL (OEM-8992671)
YKHFT-KW986-GK4PY-FDWYH-7TP9F - ACER/GATEWAY/PACKARD
4CFBX-7HQ6R-3JYWF-72GXP-4MV6W - ALIENWARE
2WCJK-R8B4Y-CWRF2-TRJKB-PV9HW - ASUS
6BJ27-DVBFF-VKQC8-7JPQP-TJKYY - DEALIN
32KD2-K9CTF-M3DJT-4J3WC-733WD - DELL
PT9YK-BC2J9-WWYF9-R9DCR-QB9CK - FUJITSU
2QTV2-3CMPP-FQBYK-GRD62-D7XMW-HCL
74T2M-DKDBC-788W3-H689G-6P6GT - HP
32HPJ-4XRDR-424C8-DYQM9-GM768 – KRAFTWAY
237XB-GDJ7B-MV8MH-98QJM-24367 - LENOVO/IBM
2QGXM-V9W9W-6Q7MR-64C4X-R26CV - LG ?
2WGY7-J3JQT-78CF9-J6DHQ-DJTQW – MECER
2W3CX-YD4YJ-DF9B2-V27M6-77GMF-MSI
GMJQF-JC7VC-76HMH-M4RKY-V4HX6 - SAMSUNG
H9M26-6BXJP-XXFCY-7BR4V-24X8J - SONY
7RQGM-4BJBD-GM2YY-R2KTT-43HG8 - STEG
2V8P2-QKJWM-4THM3-74PDB-4P2KH - TOSHIBA
W2PMW-T7DBH-YHKRM-DXXF6-KP4KT - TOSHIBA
6JKVQ-WJTWW-JVPRB-77TGD-2DV7M – WORTMANN
BV4Y4-DVXDT-3FC64-X2QR7-DW82M - ?????
6FWJ7-TDRCV-BYTP3-JWB98-9J64J - ?????
862R9-99CD6-DD6WM-GHDG2-Y8M37 - ?????
7QY32-TQCBJ-G7MC8-Y4PGF-7TGB8 - ?????
36KXM-JVMP6-88WMK-YCCGV-YFDVX - ?????
CRYGF-JG347-QPJKH-BR82M-3MQP3 - ?????
7MB39-TFBVT-9KJKK-6G7H4-66Y7W - ?????
Key for Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL E (OEM-8992671)
P42PH-HYD6B-Y3DHY-B79JH-CT8YK - HP/COMPAQ
Keys for Windows 7 HOME BASIC (OEM-8992752)
MB4HF-2Q8V3-W88WR-K7287-2H4CP - ACER/GATEWAY/PACKARD
89G97-VYHYT-Y6G8H-PJXV6-77GQM - ASUS
6M78P-JJRQP-9C4RX-RPK7G-3VTH3 - DEALIN
36T88-RT7C6-R38TQ-RV8M9-WWTCY - DELL
7WGMV-QFYXX-64DCG-HQFWM-DWGKY-FOUNDER
8W3JQ-BP2HY-F47QX-6CQ94-2BKQB - FUJITSU
2Q4QP-8P4MD-47YBP-7TXX9-FKDRM-HCL
DX8R9-BVCGB-PPKRR-8J7T4-TJHTH - HP
82P6X-KGH24-FCPXC-XQKC9-74KC8 - KSystems
22MFQ-HDH7V-RBV79-QMVK9-PTMXQ - LENOVO/IBM
2TY7W-H4DD4-MB62F-BD9C3-88TM6 - MSI
2P6PB-G7YVY-W46VJ-BXJ36-PGGTG - SAMSUNG
YV7QQ-RCXQ9-KTBHC-YX3FG-FKRW8 - SONY
9DBMT-GXRWM-6Q9Y3-WMYM8-FJCBW-TONGFANG
9H4FH-VD69Y-TGBD2-4PM4K-DRMMH - TOSHIBA
Keys for Windows 7 HOME PREMIUM (OEM-8992687)
VQB3X-Q3KP8-WJ2H8-R6B6D-7QJB7 - ACER/GATEWAY/PACKARD
38JTJ-VBPFW-XFQDR-PJ794-8447M - ADVENT
V3Y2W-CMF9W-PGT9C-777KD-32W74 - ALIENWARE
2QDBX-9T8HR-2QWT6-HCQXJ-9YQTR - ASUS
7JQWQ-K6KWQ-BJD6C-K3YVH-DVQJG - ASUS (Eee PC)
8YDX9-B7MMG-82XD9-V88G9-MR92T - DEALIN
6RBBT-F8VPQ-QCPVQ-KHRB8-RMV82 - DELL
83K3W-QH8JT-T7KBY-9FQB6-V9R8H - DELL
C6MHH-TRRPT-74TDC-FHRMV-XB88W - FUJITSU
3743C-T6892-B4PHM-JHFKY-4BB7W - GIGABYTE
39QDH-D7MHH-WDMTD-TM2R9-KM7DB-HCL
4FG99-BC3HD-73CQT-WMF7J-3Q6C9 - HP
27GBM-Y4QQC-JKHXW-D9W83-FJQKD - LENOVO/IBM
38GRR-KMG3D-BTP99-TC9G4-BBDJJ - LG
2P2P9-CM3F8-FTV6P-PC7CX-8TFF7 – MEDION
4G3GR-J6JDJ-D96PV-T9B9D-M8X2Q - MSI
CQBVJ-9J697-PWB9R-4K7W4-2BT4J - SAMSUNG
C3V4C-6Y6WM-DGRM9-QJG82-8K3FP - SHUTTLE
HWDFB-YVFG4-3TJ7F-Q3WMT-7B6PH – SIRAGON
H4JWX-WHKWT-VGV87-C7XPK-CGKHQ - SONY
6B88K-KCCWY-4F8HK-M4P73-W8DQG - TOSHIBA
6GF36-P4HWR-BFF84-6GFC2-BWX77 - TOSHIBA
C23T3-9F2T2-FPWBM-XYMW2-272J9 - VIEWSONIC
2XPWB-Q64BJ-W8CT3-WJTWT-4DQ99 - ?????
TTJQ7-4PFJC-6JFJ8-B22VD-VXW88 - ?????
GFDW7-7T4B9-VB8W7-TTHRM-JG2KB - ?????
CPF7K-XP3YV-JVHHF-YMMRD-Y4Y9K - ?????
7K377-DVP2Q-YGWJG-3M3G7-RBCDP - ?????
BVQFP-FKQGV-J82F3-2JTVV-733D2 - ?????
76QPJ-99DMC-MW43P-8JKHY-6YMRQ - ?????
Key for Windows 7 HOME PREMIUM E (OEM-8992687)
TD77M-HH38J-FBCB8-8QX7Y-P2QH3 - HP/COMPAQ
Keys for Windows 7 STARTER (OEM-8992752) (OEM-8992707)
RDJXR-3M32B-FJT32-QMPGB-GCFF6 - ACER/GATEWAY/PACKARD
6K6WB-X73TD-KG794-FJYHG-YCJVG - ASUS (Eee)
6PB94-MC2C6-4F37H-KTJ32-PF2PT – CASPERERA
BB2KM-PDWW3-99H7J-F7B9R-FXKF6 - COMPAQ/HP
36Q3Y-BBT84-MGJ3H-FT7VD-FG72J - DELL
BHP4B-MXP9G-RG7KQ-T8R84-CW3D3 - ECS
4FRH4-WQDGJ-M9HRY-K73D8-RGT3C-EXPER
BRFCY-XMXRV-28JHQ-F6D9B-BV73C – HANNSPREE
RH98C-M9PW4-6DHR7-X99PJ-3FGDB - HP/COMPAQ
PMXH9-M23P9-QJJMB-2FWRC-7CDKP - FUJITSU
273P4-GQ8V6-97YYM-9YTHF-DC2VP - LENOVO/IBM
22P26-HD8YH-RD96C-28R8J-DCT28 - LENOVO/IBM
2K8WH-JVQDM-C9HVC-YR2XC-8M76G – MEDION
2W4DJ-JFFJV-DMCPP-2C3X8-883DP-MSI
2YKPV-BFXFW-X8GJQ-9KQFF-KCXGD-MSI
2XGHP-9TQK2-8CF28-BM2P2-8FRX8 – NOKIA
344HQ-3YHDT-C7VCT-BDPBV-4KTR3-OLIDATA
PV9BD-YBRX6-CTMG6-CCMJY-X8XG7 - SAMSUNG
32J2V-TGQCY-9QJXP-Q3FVT-X8BQ7 - SONY
TGBKB-9KBGJ-3Y3J6-K8M2F-J2HJQ - TOSHIBA
6TQ9G-QB2WK-FM2TB-CKBDP-9D6HM - VIEWSONIC
7W842-2HCPJ-BC3MJ-B79K6-TD2HQ - VILIV
6CYKC-TDDYQ-K4B6G-HQD89-CWDP3 - ?????
4HGWK-KHT8C-J2KCF-F3PVF-44PD4 - ?????
32TF3-PT6YV-V6GCK-RR8GM-VM4QG - ?????
6HKDD-HMKWQ-74YC4-2B8C3-MPG6R - ?????
Key for Windows 7 STARTER E (OEM-8993706)
C3HY9-34XKR-6Y9Y9-RB7TR-84KWG - HP/COMPAQ
