Changing the product key that you used to install Windows with might be necessary if you find out that your current product key is.. well, illegal, and you've purchased a new copy of Windows to solve the problem.
While it's probably less common these days, many people still use product key generators or other illegal tools to get product keys that work to install Windows only to find out later, when they try to activate Windows, that their original plan isn't going to work out.
You could completely reinstall Windows using your new, valid key code, but changing the product key without reinstalling is considerably easier. You can change the product key manually by making certain registry changes or by using a wizard available in Control Panel.
The steps involved in changing your product key differ considerably depending on which Windows operating system you're using. See our article What Version of Windows Do I Have? if you're not sure.
How to Change the Product Key in Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista
Since some versions of Windows use slightly different names for some menus and windows pay close attention to the differences that are called out in those steps.
- Open Control Panel.
- In Windows 10 or Windows 8, the quickest way to do that is with the Power User Menu via the WIN+X keyboard shortcut.
- In Windows 7 or Windows Vista, go to Start and then Control Panel.
- Click or tap on the System and Security link (10/8/7) or System and Maintenance link (Vista).If you're viewing the Small icons or Large icons view (10/8/7) or Classic View (Vista) of Control Panel, you won't see this link. Simply open the System icon and proceed to Step 4.
- In the Windows activation area of the System window (10/8/7) or View basic information about your computer window (Vista), you'll see the status of your Windows activation and your Product ID number.The Product ID is not the same as your product key. To display your product key, see How to Find Microsoft Windows Product Keys.
- Next to the Product ID, you should see an Activate Windows (Windows 10) link or Change product key (8/7/Vista) link. Click or tap on this link to start the process of changing your Windows product key.If you're using Windows 10, an extra step is required here. In the Settings window that opens next, choose Change product key.
- In Windows 10 and Windows 8, enter the product key into the Enter a product key window.In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, the key should be entered into a screen called Windows Activation.If you're using Windows 10 or Windows 8, the key will be submitted once all the characters have been entered. In Windows 7 and Vista, press Next to continue.
- Wait on the Activating Windows.. message until the progress bar is complete. Windows is communicating with Microsoft to make sure that your product key is valid and to reactivate Windows.
- The Activation was successful message will appear after your product key has been validated and Windows has been activated.
Tap or click Close to close this window. You can now also close any other windows you opened in the above steps.
How to Change the Windows XP Product Key
A completely different process is required to change the Windows XP product key code because you have to make changes to the Windows Registry. It's important to take great care in making only the changes described below!
Anji dia lyrics. It's highly recommended that you back up the registry keys you're changing in these steps as an extra precaution.
If you're uncomfortable making registry changes in order to change your Windows XP product key, using the popular free product key finder program called Winkeyfinder is another option. It's an excellent alternative solution to changing the Windows XP product key code manually.
Prefer screenshots? Try our Step by Step Guide to Changing the Windows XP Product Key for an easy walkthrough!
- Open Registry Editor via Start > Run. From there, type regedit and click OK.
- Locate the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder under My Computer and click on the (+) sign next the folder name to expand the folder.
- Continue to expand folders until you reach the following registry key:
- In the results that appear in the window on the right, locate OOBETimer.
- Right-click on the OOBETimer entry and choose Modify from the resulting menu.
- Change at least one digit in the Value data text box and click OK. This will deactivate Windows XP.
- In the text box in the Run window, type the following command and click OK.
- When the Let's activate Windows window appears, choose Yes, I want to telephone a customer service representative to activate Windows and then click Next.
- Click the Change Product Key button at the bottom of the window.Don't worry about filling anything out on this screen. It's not necessary.
- Type your new, valid Windows XP product key in the New key: text boxes and then click the Update button.
- Now reactivate Windows XP by following the instructions on the Activate Windows by phone window, which you should now be seeing, or via the internet by clicking the Back button and following the instructions on that screen.If you'd rather postpone activating Windows XP until a later date, you can click the Remind me later button.
- After activating Windows XP, you can verify that activation was successful by repeating steps 9 and 10 above.
The Windows Product Activation window that appears should say 'Windows is already activated. Click OK to exit.'
I own a legitimate retail version of Windows 7 serial key. I upgraded my computer to Windows 10.
My friend built a new computer and he has no Windows license. Since I won't use Windows 7 anymore, can I give my license to him, while keeping my free Windows 10?
Wesley
WesleyWesley
1 Answer
Your Windows 7 license won't become invalid by updating to Windows 10. However, it is also part of your Windows 10 license, so you are only allowed to have one Windows 10 or one Windows 7 installation at a time with one key.
When I upgrade a preinstalled (OEM) or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license to Windows 10, does that license remain OEM or become a retail license?
If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.
Your Windows 7 license will always be valid and will not be changed or deactivated because of the upgrade to Windows 10: you'll be able to install or restore Windows 7 again in case you'll need to do that (provided that you've the Windows 7 installation DVD
ThomasThomas
protected by Community♦Jul 31 '17 at 9:30
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Technical Level : BasicSummary
Microsoft recently announced the first major update to Windows 10 which includes numerous improvements for end users and businesses. One of the welcome improvements is the compliance check when qualifying for the Windows 10 upgrade. Previously, Windows 7, Windows 8.0 and Windows 8.1 users needed to have either of those versions Windows installed and activated in order to qualify for the free upgrade offer. For persons who needed to perform a clean install of Windows 10 from the outset, it was a two step process of first validating the machine through the upgrade routine, ensure the Windows 10 Upgrade was activated, then proceed to perform a Reset. With the latest November Update (1511), users no longer have to go through this process. In this article, we take a look at how to install and activate Windows 10 using your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key.
Details
For the purposes of this article, I am using a Windows 7 license to perform clean install using Windows 10.
Please note: The copy of Windows 10 you download must correspond with the edition of Windows you are licensed for:
- Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core must use a Windows 10 Home ISO
- Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro must use a Windows 10 Pro ISO
- If you are using Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8.0 Enterprise, Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions you won't be able to use the free upgrade offer.
Review complete instructions how to download the Windows 10 ISO in the following article:
Review instructions here how to start a clean install if you desire, if you want to perform an upgrade, click here.
Have your Windows 7 or 8/8.1 product key ready. If you purchased a retail license, you can find the product key within the product box. The Windows 7 product key is normally found on an orange sticker attached to a pamphlet inside the box. The Windows 8/8.1 product key is found on a small business size card. See examples below. Please note, you can also use your OEM product key too if Windows came preinstalled on your computer.
Retail:
Windows 8/8.1
If your computer came preinstalled with an OEM version of Windows 7, look for the Certificate of Authenticity sticker attached to the chassis of your computer. Normally this can be at the side or top of the system unit. For laptops, look at the bottom of the chassis or inside the battery or memory compartment. It looks like the following:
If you are running an OEM preinstalled Windows 8/8.1 license, Windows 10 setup should automatically detect the product key and install it automatically.
With Windows 8, Microsoft had changed from stickers that have the product key that the user has to type in when installing the operating system to new BIOS embedded product keys. The idea is that by eliminating the sticker, you eliminate one of the easier ways for nefarious users to get a legitimate product key. Eliminating the product key sticker also removes any worry that the sticker might get damaged while at the same time eliminating the long and irritating process of typing in various letters and numbers when installing the operating system.
If the user has to reinstall the operating system on a machine that came with Windows 8, the installation process automatically grabs the software product key from the motherboard BIOS with no input from the user. This means that those familiar Windows product key stickers will no longer appear on the Windows 8 computers.
If you have lost your Windows product key, Microsoft recommends you purchase a new one.
You might be lucky by contacting Microsoft Support who might be sympathetic to your situation:
http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us
http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/326246/en-us
Contact the Microsoft store:
US: http://www.store.microsoft.com/Help/Contact-Us
1-877-696-77861-877-696-7786 FREE
Canada: https://www.microsoftstore.ca/shop/en-CA/Contact-Us
US: http://www.store.microsoft.com/Help/Contact-Us
1-877-696-77861-877-696-7786 FREE
Canada: https://www.microsoftstore.ca/shop/en-CA/Contact-Us
Microsoft Support Contact Information:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
General Microsoft contact site: http://support.microsoft.com/contactus#tab0
If you are prompted to enter a product key during Windows 10 setup (November Update aka 1511) from within a running version of Windows, your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 product key will not work. Instead, you should activate your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 first, then re-run Windows 10 setup. You will not be prompted to enter a product key.
During Setup: If you are prompted to enter a product key when you boot from the Windows 10 setup installation media, click the option 'I don't have a product key'. Select the appropriate edition you are licensed for.
Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core will install Windows 10 Home ISO
Out of Box Experience, if you are prompted for a product key, Click Do this Later.
Complete the installation
Review instructions how to activate
Suppose I decide to reinstall Windows 7 or Windows 8?
You can reinstall or restore a system image of your previous version of Windows and continue using it, this will not affect the validity of the license.
If you continue to experience problems entering your product key:
Click Start > Settings (press Windows key + i) > Update & security > Activation then click Change product key
If you want to have HyperTerminal on your Start Menu just create a shortcut to hypertrm.exe and put it inC: ProgramData Microsoft Windows Start Menu Programs and when you go to All Programs under the Start Menu HyperTerminal will be there. How to set up hyperterminal. So here is how to get HyperTerminal on to Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit). On the Windows 7 box make a new folder under C: Program Files HyperTerminal for 32-bit and for 64-bit make a new folder C: Program Files (x86) HyperTerminal From a Windows XP box and copy the following 3 files to the folder that was just created on the Windows 7 box: C: Program Files Windows NT hypertrm.exe C: WINDOWS system32 hypertrm.dll C: WINDOWS Help hypertrm.chm Now just run hypertrm.exe and HyperTerminal is on Windows 7.
OR
Press Windows key + X
Click Command Prompt (Admin)
At the command prompt, type the following commands:
slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx (allows you to replace the current product key with the specified)
xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx - represents your product key
Hit Enter on your keyboard
Exit the command prompt
Restart your computer
Wait a while and it should activate, if not, give it a few days.
Resources:
How to Find and See the Windows 7 Product Key Number
The Windows 7 product key number is a sequence of 25 letters and numbers divided into 5 groups of 5 characters each (ex: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) that is used to activate either the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 edition that you purchased and installed.
This will show you how to find and see your product key number in Windows 7 or on the retail or OEM product license key Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker.
This will show you how to find and see your product key number in Windows 7 or on the retail or OEM product license key Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker.
Serial Number Win 7
- A Windows 7 product key number can only be used to activate the same edition of Windows 7 that it was for, and cannot be used to activate a different edition of Windows 7.
- A Family Pack Windows 7 product key number can be used to activate the Family Pack Windows 7 copy on up to 3 computers at any one time.
- A OEM Windows 7 product key number can only be used to activate a OEM Windows 7 copy on the same computer that it was first activated on, and no other computer.
- A retail Windows 7 product key number can be used to activate a retail Windows 7 copy on any computer, but only on up to one computer at any one time.
For more information about the product key number authenticity, see: How to Tell
A Product Key and Product ID are two completely different things, despite the similarity of the terms.
The 20 character Product ID is created during the installation process and is prominently displayed under the Windows activation section at the bottom of the Control Panel (icons view) -> System window. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support from Microsoft; it is of no use during the installation process.
The 25 character Product Key is used to 'prove' ownership of a legitimate license and is required to perform the installation to activate Windows with.
The 20 character Product ID is created during the installation process and is prominently displayed under the Windows activation section at the bottom of the Control Panel (icons view) -> System window. It is used to obtain/qualify for technical support from Microsoft; it is of no use during the installation process.
The 25 character Product Key is used to 'prove' ownership of a legitimate license and is required to perform the installation to activate Windows with.
Find Windows 7 Product Key Number on Product Key Sticker
1. For a OEM Product Key on COA Sticker
NOTE:These will be store bought computers that came with Windows 7 preinstalled on them. The product key sticker will usually be on the back of a desktop, and on the bottom or under the battery of a laptop and notebook. The sticker key number may be different than the key number reported in one of the programs below. If so, the key number on the sticker is the one that's unique to your computer, and that's the one you'll need to input should you ever clean install Windows. The different extracted key is just a master key used at the OEM factory.2. For a Retail Product Key on COA Sticker
NOTE:These will be computers that a retail copy of Windows 7 has been installed on. The product key sticker will be in the included paperwork in the retail Windows 7 box.
To Use 'ShowKeyPlus' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
Installed Key = This is the product key that Windows is currently activated with.
OEM Key = This is the key stored in the UEFI firmware chip on the motherboard. This key will not always be the same as the installed key. For example, when the PC came with Windows 8.1 originally installed.
OEM Key = This is the key stored in the UEFI firmware chip on the motherboard. This key will not always be the same as the installed key. For example, when the PC came with Windows 8.1 originally installed.
1. Download and run ShowKeyPlus. See: 'ShowKeyPlus' Information and Download Page
To Use 'Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
This option shows you how to use the free program Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to see what the product key number is from within a Windows 7 that it has already been entered in (ex: activated). Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder will not show the product key number for Windows 7 Enterprise though.
1. Download and run the free Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinderprogram towards the bottom of the link.
2. In the left pane, click on Windows 7 (your edition). You will see CD Key in the right pane displaying the Windows 7 product key number.
To Use 'Speccy' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
This option shows you how to use the free program Speccy to see what the product key number is from within a Windows 7 that it has already been entered in (ex: activated). Speccy will not show the product key number for Windows 7 Enterprise though.
1. Download, install, and run the free Speccy program.
2. In the left pane, click on Operating System. In the right pane, you will see the product key number to the right of Serial Number.
To Use 'ProduKey' to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
Serial Number Windows 7 On Win 10
This option shows you how to use the free program ProduKey to see what the product key number is from within a Windows 7 that it has already been entered in (ex: activated). ProduKey will not show the product key number for Windows 7 Enterprise though.
1. Download, extract, and run the free ProduKey program.
2. You will now see Windows product key listed.
To Use a VBS Download to See Product Key Number in Windows 7
This option was provided by our member Konst at this link.
There you can see that the encrypted key is stored in registry key:
HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionDigitalProductId
at Offset = 52
And that the key only includes this letters and numbers
BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789
And no 'AEILNOSUZ015 allowed.
There you can see that the encrypted key is stored in registry key:
HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionDigitalProductId
at Offset = 52
And that the key only includes this letters and numbers
BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789
And no 'AEILNOSUZ015 allowed.
1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.See_Windows_Product_Key.vbs2. Save the VBS file to your desktop, run it, and approve running it.
NOTE:The .vbs file does not install anything on your computer. You can also right click on the .vbs file and click on Edit to see what the script contains.
3. You will now get a pop-up dialog box displaying the product key number used to activate your current Windows installation. Click on OK to close the pop-up when ready. (see screenshot below)
Find Windows 7 Product Key with 'Belarc Advisor'
You must be signed in as an administrator to run this program. This program will not find the product key of Windows 7 Enterprise since it's a volume license.
1. If you have not already, download and install the free Belarc Advisor program.
2. Run the program. When it displays the results in your default web browser, scroll down until you see your Windows 8 product key like below.
That's it,
Shawn
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