Windows licence key. How do I find it?

mickledore

mickledore

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There's a thread in the wanted section from a guy looking for a genuine Windows Licence key.
I have two genuine Windows 7 discs. One is installed in this machine and I think the other came with a now defunct laptop.
As I don't need both I thought I might do a trade with the guy, but I can't find which licence key has been used on this machine.
Windows help says I find the number on the disc, which is fine, but how do I find which number has been keyed into this PC?
I should mention that I am not the most tech savvy guy so would like sugestions in idiot proof lingo!!!
 
You should have a sticker on your laptop. Otherwise, there are various programs which tells you what the key is. You can't see it on your Windows though.
 
kokolino23 said:
You should have a sticker on your laptop. Otherwise, there are various programs which tells you what the key is. You can't see it on your Windows though.[/QUOTE

Thanks, but there's no sticker on the laptop or PC. If I undertsand you correctly the sticker you mean is on the package that the actual CD is in - for both of them. I assume that Windows was factory installed and the disc just sent to me in the bundle. Then I've just keyed the number in. Didn't know any different!
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That looks useful. I presume it's safe and doesn't come with all sorts of nasty bits that stick to unknown areas?
 
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Belarus should help you hopefully. In the last few years, pc's are being sold with a recovery partition, so no cd/dvd anymore. You'll need to create a bootable iso file from that but it's tied up to the manufacturer as far as I know.
 
nope completely clear of anything i have used it for years.Safer than the money in your pocket It also show a lot more such as the amount of ram how many slots are free -your hard drive information everything and more. As I said what I shown is just a small fraction on licence. The whole thing would take up 2xA4 sheets of paper at least. Do a printout then you have a hard copy to look
 
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It is safe but it is illegal to load the one that came with the laptop if it is an OEM version. The licence effectively dies when the laptop dies and cannot be used (legally) on another machine.
 
kokolino23 said:
Belarus should help you hopefully. In the last few years, pc's are being sold with a recovery partition, so no cd/dvd anymore. You'll need to create a bootable iso file from that but it's tied up to the manufacturer as far as I know.
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Thanks again, but that is a bit beyond my paygrade!!!
 
realspeed said:
nope completely clear of anything i have used it for years.Safer than the money in your pocket It also show a lot more such as the amount of ram how many slots are free -your hard drive information everything and more.
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Lovely. That sounds good.
 
Ploddles said:
It is safe but it is illegal to load the one that came with the laptop if it is an OEM version. The licence effectively dies when the laptop dies and cannot be used (legally) on another machine.
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If the laptop still works after a fashion does that change things? It powers up OK. It works OK. It's just so goddam slow and cumbersome that it's PIA to use. Theoretically it still works, but it's just too much hassle. It's not totally defunct.
 
@realspeed if that's your info you might want to remove it if it shows your keys?
 
Thanks gramps, I did not intend to leave it up after Mick. the op had seen it.
Another alternative is to go , START- CONTROL PANEL- SYSTEM WHICH ALSO GIVE LICENCE KEY


another little tip


don't just delete unwanted programs the reminants are still on the computer. I use Revo to uninstall which removes bits and pieces left over. I do have the professional version and again completely safe

Link
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html
 
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Good point. I had it copied into my reply but I've removed that as well.
 
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Perhaps @mickledore could do the same to remove it as a quote?

Obviously already noted :)
 
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Just noticed it's still on Photobucket. Realspeed might like to remove it from there as well?
 
Already done , photobucket is not the fastest to remove pictures, but thanks for the heads up
 
mickledore said:
If the laptop still works after a fashion does that change things? It powers up OK. It works OK. It's just so goddam slow and cumbersome that it's PIA to use. Theoretically it still works, but it's just too much hassle. It's not totally defunct.
Click to expand...

It can only 'legally' be used on that machine and can't be sold/transferred etc. It's that machine or none.
 
As I understand things (and I'm no geek) sometime next year Microsoft are going to automatically upgrade everyone to W10 for free. IIRC it will just come down along with the routine updates so if you have auto updates enabled it will just happen. All for free.
 
that was what iw as trying to say but got tongue tied lol
 
as above, if its oem then its not supposed to be resold (and would also break forum rules).

you can get away with transferring it between your own machines though. ms automated processes seem to allow it.
 
so iot is the pc that owns the licence not the pcs owner is that correct?
 
owenb said:
so iot is the pc that owns the licence not the pcs owner is that correct?
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not necessarily.

oem is just that its an OS for machine builders (dell, hp etc) and is technically tied to the motherboard. however if you purchased the oem and built your own machine, ms seem to allow transfer to another of your machines if the original dies. however i believe it is against the eula to resale it.

retail OS i believe can be resold.
 
if you swapped the mb to another machine I guess is a grey area?
 
owenb said:
so iot is the pc that owns the licence not the pcs owner is that correct?
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In effect, yes.

As for your other comment, re free upgrade, you don't have to wait until next year. If fact that is the worse thing to do if you want to upgrade. It is available as a free upgrade NOW but they say that it will cost in the region of £100 from next year (1 year after the release date.)
 
neil_g said:
only for oem. retail not so.
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Yep. He was talking about the version that came with his laptop so that would be the oem version, that's why I just said yes, I didn't want to confuse him with the different versions. Retail can be sold on if you uninstall/delet it first.
 
I'm guessing on ebay they are 100% dodgy when they sell windows keys then
 
Ploddles said:
Yep. He was talking about the version that came with his laptop so that would be the oem version, that's why I just said yes, I didn't want to confuse him with the different versions. Retail can be sold on if you uninstall/delet it first.
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fair one :)

owenb said:
I'm guessing on ebay they are 100% dodgy when they sell windows keys then
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oh god, id go as far to say never buy software from ebay unless its from an ebay store of a well known business.

when it comes to software if it seems too good to be true, it is.
 
Ploddles said:
It is safe but it is illegal to load the one that came with the laptop if it is an OEM version. The licence effectively dies when the laptop dies and cannot be used (legally) on another machine.
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It's perfectly legal under European law to use the licence again. MS & the other vendors would like you to think it's illegal but they daren't test it in court as they know they'll lose.
 
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