2 Posts
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333
September 14th, 2022 15:00
Help with locating my windows key
Hello,
I recently used this laptop as a linux laptop even though it came with Windows. When I installed linux I did not save the windows product key. I now have windows again on my computer but it is not functioning well: it keeps crashing every few days. I can't currently find any viruses on my computer but I still want to reinstall windows due to this issue. When I try to install windows, it gives me the option to install by the cloud or by a local reinstall. So I guess I have two questions.
1) If I do the local reinstall, is that accessing the windows key on my bios or will I need to find the windows key regardless?
2) How can I find that windows key if I need to find it? I did accidently (I have had this computer for a year) pull off a sticker on the left side of my computer, I'm not sure if it was the windows sticker, because I can't find it on any physical location on my computer.
ejn63
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September 14th, 2022 15:00
If the system came from Dell with Windows, the license key is on the system board -- when you install the same version of Windows that shipped from the factory, it will automatically activate once you connect to the Internet. You do not need a license key.
AnonHuman
2 Posts
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September 14th, 2022 15:00
Thank you. Do I need a reinstallation media to do the local reinstall or should I do the cloud download to get it from the cloud. And if I fetch it from the cloud, it will automatically locate the key on my system board?
ejn63
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September 15th, 2022 03:00
The simplest way is to use the Microsoft Media creation tool to prepare a USB flash drive with the same version of Windows with which the system shipped. While you can do it using Dell recovery (during the warranty), the version will need major updating thereafter, which the latest version downloaded from Microsoft will not.
ann_droid
2 Intern
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508 Posts
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September 15th, 2022 10:00
Hi
Linux
sudo strings /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM | tail -1
A live version of Mint would work for that;~)))
CMD
wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey
POWERSHELL
powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey"
ShowKeyPlus - Windows Product Key Information
https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/showkeyplus/9PKVZCPRX9NV?hl=en-us&gl=us