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Hard Drive crashed... New Hard Drive but no product key...
My Hard Drive crashed. Apparently it was fried up and I lost everything. I thought that was my only problem...wrong! I had my computer repaired with a new Hard Drive, but now I have less than a month to enter my product key for my Windows 7 Operating System - Home Premium - until it expires, which I assume means I can no longer use my computer as I will not have an operating system to operate on. The problem is that I do not have my product key. I do have the original disks that came with my computer from Dell. My software was preinstalled, but I guess they send the disks in cases like this. I called Microsoft and they were very nice, but since I purchased my computer directly from Dell and the software was preinstalled I was told to contact Dell to see if I can get a new product key. I tried calling Dell but I only got as far as extending my warranty... Anyone know what I can do to get a new product key without purchasing a new Microsoft OS?
theflash1932
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September 17th, 2014 23:00
Dell will not provide a product key. It was included with your original system. If it is a laptop, check under the battery in the battery compartment. If you use Dell installation discs, you should not need to enter a product key, so if whoever "repaired" your computer and reinstalled Windows didn't use a Dell installation disc, and/or did not activate, then you can either use Dell media to reinstall or activate the current installation with your key.
Philip_Yip
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September 19th, 2014 04:00
Please securely wipe your system with DBAN and then clean install Windows 7 using the Dell Windows 7 Reinstallation DVD. See here:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/
In particular here:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/securely-wipe-your-hard-drive-with-dariks-boot-and-nuke-dban/
And here:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/windows-7-installation/
speedstep
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September 19th, 2014 08:00
Dell Reinstallation media will not ask you for a product key you can boot from it and install. Driver disks however are not reinstallation media. The main requirement is that the Media match the version of Windows 7 aka Starter, Home, Pro, Ultimate.
Ubuntu 12.04.5 and Higher works just fine and its free.
ubuntu-12.04.5-dvd-amd64.iso
ubuntu-12.04.5-dvd-i386.iso
heather.case
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September 21st, 2014 18:00
Installing straight from my disk provided by Dell with the purchase of my laptop worked! now when I go to computer > system properties it now says windows is activated instead of counting down the days left for Windows to be usable since I did not have a product key. Thanks everyone!!!!
Philip_Yip
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September 22nd, 2014 01:00
Thanks for posting your success.
Once you have all the system drivers installed and updated Windows fully, you can install Dell Backup and Recovery and this will make a new factory settings and a internal partition for future use.
See here for details:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/dell-backup-and-recovery/