Have you ever lost your keys? A strange question, of course, but meanwhile, if you somehow “lost” the Windows activation key, then you also lost the license, and therefore the money you paid for it. In addition, it is not possible to prove the legality of using Windows without an activation key.
However, there is good news. You can find out the key yourself. Even if it is lost, it can be restored. Now we'll tell you how to do this. So, in order.
What is a Windows activation key?
Windows activation key, or else - license key This is one of the tools used to license the Microsoft product you purchased. This is a license. The key is a 25-character code. This is a combination of Latin characters in different registers with numbers. The code is written as a sequence of five five-character “words” separated by a dash. It looks like this:
DNAW6-WCRBM-TFBYC-TLVD8-2GV66t
The license key is confirmation of the legality of your use of the product. No other methods or means can be used for this purpose. For example, a sales receipt from the store where you bought the computer, or a cash receipt or other payment document.
What is a license key for?
You will need a Windows key for:
- system reinstallation
- installations new version, for example 10th
- updating Windows to the next version
- confirmation of the legality of the purchased product
- receiving regular operating system updates
What types of keys are there?
Windows license keys come in several types and have different designations: Installed Key, Product Key and OEM Key.
Product Key and OEM Key are essentially the same thing, just different names were used on different stickers, the design of which was constantly “improved”.
An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or Product Key is a key for the operating system preinstalled on your computer or laptop by the manufacturer. On every computer or laptop with installed operating system Windows has Microsoft branded stickers. The computer manufacturer independently purchased and installed the operating system on your computer. The advantage is that you don’t have to pay extra Windows license, the downside is that the key is “tied” to this device. It is not possible to transfer the system to another computer. The key is written in the BIOS. But it is almost impossible to lose it.
Installed Key is a “free” activation key. You receive it when you purchase a “boxed” Windows versions for self-installation on your computer. It is also printed on a sticker that is placed on the shipping box.
How can I find out the license key of my system?
The easiest way is to read it from the sticker. But there are a few “buts”. Stickers sometimes tend to get lost or simply wear off to such an extent that it is impossible to read the key on them. In addition, Microsoft periodically changed the design of the stickers. The changes ranged from minor to radical. For example, here is the sticker with which Asus was purchased with Windows 8.1 pre-installed on it
Windows 8 activation key
The sticker on the laptop case does not contain a license key. It's built into the BIOS. This method is used to activate Windows 8/8.1
Therefore, the most the right way- extract information about the activation key from Windows itself.
Microsoft offers its own option on how to Find out the Windows activation key.
However, this method does not always work, oddly enough. It happens when this script still “does not see” the activation key of the operating system, but produces the following line: ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ-ВВВВВ. Also, this script only shows the Installed Key (ending 6F4BT) and does not give information about the OEM Key.
Therefore, you can use various programs. For example, ProduKey. The result of the key definition looks like this:
The picture shows that there are two keys: Installed Key (end 6F4BT) and OEM Key (end 2GV33). Installed Key appeared in this case, after the “clean” Windows installations 10 on a laptop on which Windows 8.1 was installed by the manufacturer with an OEM Key (end 2GV33).
How can I lose my activation key?
Very simple. One user, convinced of the advantages of Windows 10 compared to his 7, finally decided to switch to 10. Moreover, Microsoft again announced the closure of the free transition option from January 1, 2018.
There are two ways to go - updating and clean installation. The difference is that when updating, the data on your computer's drives remains safe, and most installed programs will remain installed. In fact, there are always risks, so many people prefer to do a clean installation, having first saved the data in cloud storage or on an external drive. During the clean installation process, the user formatted the disk on the computer and... almost lost the last opportunity to upgrade to 10 legally. During formatting, along with the deleted 7, the key was also lost (if it was 8, the key would simply be taken from the BIOS). When he tried to read the key from the sticker, he saw that it was simply worn down until it was unreadable.
Why “almost lost” because, fortunately, there was a backup copy of Windows, from which, using ShowKeyPlus, the key was extracted.
What are the ways to recover the key?
With 8 everything is simpler; this is exactly the case when you don’t need to restore anything, because it’s almost impossible to lose. The OEM key is stored in the BIOS. You can view it in the BIOS using the program
To activate the Windows operating system, a special product license key is used. The Windows product key used to activate the system differs depending on the operating system version (Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, etc.), OS edition (Home, Pro, etc.), distribution method (OEM, Retail etc).
To activate the Windows operating system, use a product key consisting of 25 characters in the form of numbers and capitals (upper case) English letters, divided into 5 groups of 5 characters: “XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX”.
Laptops used to often have a Windows activation key stuck to it. IN this moment, manufacturers of laptops with pre-installed operating systems embed the product key into the BIOS to automatically activate Windows.
If the system is reinstalled, or for some other reason (for example, activation failed after a hardware failure), the user may need a Windows product key. How to find out your Windows activation key?
You can find out the license key of installed Windows by running a special VBS script, as well as using five programs: ProduKey, ShowKeyPlus, Free PC Audit, Speccy, AIDA64, SIW. All listed programs are free, except AIDA64 and SIW.
Script with ".vbs" extension and portable free programs(ProduKey, ShowKeyPlus, Free PC Audit) can be downloaded from here. Download the rest of the programs to your computer from the official websites of the manufacturers.
Using these methods you can find out Windows key 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10. After you have found out the Windows product key, the obtained data is for subsequent use, in case of reinstallation of the operating system, to activate the operating system.
How to find out the Windows key in ProduKey
The free ProduKey program from the well-known manufacturer NirSoft does not require installation on your computer. The application shows keys for Windows OS, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office.
Unpack the archive with the program, and then run the “Application” file from the folder. After launch, the ProduKey utility window will display the key for the installed operating system.
Select the entry with the key for Windows 10, or another operating system, and then select “Copy Product Key” from the context menu to copy the activation key to the clipboard.
We look at the license key in ShowKeyPlus
The free ShowKeyPlus program does not require installation on your computer. After launch, in the application window you will see the following information:
- Product Name - the operating system currently installed on the computer
- Product ID - product code
- Installed Key - the key of the operating system currently installed on the computer
- OEM Key - key sewn into Laptop BIOS originally installed operating system
To save the data, click on the “Save” button, and then the received information in a text format file.
How to view the Windows key in Free PC Audit
The free program Free PC Audit will help you find out the key installed Windows. This program does not require installation on your computer. Run the utility file, after which the Free PC Audit program window will open, in which the system scan will begin.
After the scan is completed, in the “System” tab, opposite the “Windows product key” item, you will see the product key of the installed Windows operating system.
To copy the key, select the line with the license key, and then using the “Copy” context menu item, or using the “Ctrl” + “C” keys, copy the Windows product key from the utility window.
How to find out Windows 8 key using VBScrit
Activation keys for the Windows operating system are stored on the hard drive in encrypted form. Executing the VBScrit script will allow you to obtain the product key of the installed operating system in decrypted form. This script was developed for the Windows 8 operating system, but this code also works fine in the Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 operating systems.
To perform the operation, double-click on the “WindowsKey.vbs” file. In the window that opens, you will see the Windows activation code. Next, click on the “OK” button.
The next window will display information about the operating system version, product ID and product key number. Ignore the title of the entry "Windows 8 Key". The name of this OS will be displayed on any version of the Windows operating system.
Getting a Windows key in Speccy
Free Speccy program from famous company Piriform, maker of CCleaner and other software. You can download the portable version of Speccy from the official website. There is a paid version of the program with advanced features.
The program provides the user detailed information about your computer hardware; you can also use the application to find out the license key of the installed Windows.
Launch the Speccy program, in the “Operating system” section the version of the installed operating system will be displayed, its serial number(activation key).
Finding out the product key in AIDA64
AIDA64 - powerful program to obtain all kinds of information about computer software and hardware.
After launching the AIDA64 program, license information, including the Windows product key, will be displayed in the “Menu” tab, in the “Operating System” section.
Select the product key, select “Copy” in the context menu, then paste the key into Notepad or another similar program to save.
Read the program overview.
Key information in SIW
SIW (System Information of Windows) is a program for obtaining information about the hardware and software status of a computer.
After launching SIW, go to the “Programs”, “Licenses” section. This will display information about the product key that is used in the Windows operating system installed on your computer.
Incorrect product key
When checking keys using the methods listed above, the Windows product key may appear as follows: “BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB”.
This means that your computer is activated with a corporate MAK or VLK key. The Windows operating system does not save such keys, so programs do not see them.
Windows 10 uses a new system authentication method (not available for all cases on Windows 10). The activation record is stored on servers and is not displayed on the computer. After reinstallation, Windows activates itself for some time.
Maintaining the license depends on changing the computer hardware configuration. In case of replacement motherboard, Microsoft activation servers revoke the license for this computer. Windows will prompt you to purchase a new product key.
Conclusions of the article
If necessary, the user can find out the license code of the Windows operating system by running a VBS script, or using specialized programs: ProduKey, ShowKeyPlus, Free PC Audit, Speccy, AIDA64, SIW.
Hello admin, tell me how to find out the Windows key, if on back side There is no laptop and this is the case on all new laptops.
When buying a laptop, the store told me that I didn’t need a Windows key, since I didn’t need to enter it anywhere. I have some kind of Windows 8 Single Language 64-bit Russian Region- (OEM) installed, and I’m also not supposed to have a disk from it. If Windows crashes, you can run the factory reset program and that’s it.
I also learned that if I want to install another Windows on my laptop, it’s unlikely to work and reinstalling the existing one myself won’t work either. And further important point- if I accidentally delete the hidden partition with factory settings during my experiments with reinstallations, then the laptop will be restored to me not under warranty, but for a couple of thousand rubles.
So I’m sitting and thinking, I paid 30 thousand rubles for the laptop, but it’s like it’s not mine. Find out the Windows key I can’t, I can’t install another operating system, they don’t give me a disk with Windows and drivers anymore, in short, use it for your health. It's all strange though! Gosh.
How to find out the Windows key
Hello friends! With a new laptop, you can do whatever you want and of course you can find out the key of Windows installed on it, but you need to do all this with skill. The sellers can also be understood, since many buyers, on the very first day of using a laptop, destroy everything with a hairdryer, and then, having played enough with ancient operating systems, they try to restore what they had, many do not succeed and they come to where the laptop was purchased and demand everything restored under warranty.
Therefore, before your experiments, insure yourself with modern data backup tools. You can backup all sections of your hard drive to DVDs or portable HDD USB. You can learn how to create a backup of the entire laptop hard drive or just the operating system from our articles.
Note: Windows 8 Single Language 64-bit Russian Region (OEM) installed on your laptop is a normal basic Windows 8, but only with support for one Russian language. No, you can type in English, but the system control interface will always be Russian. Windows 8 Single Language (OEM) can be transferred to another computer and even upgraded to Windows Pro 8. If you want to reinstall the operating system on your laptop, then you can do it approximately like this - or like this -.
I will give two of the most simple ways, with which you can find out the Windows key. We will use the services of the ProduKey program and then AIDA64.
ProduKey software works quickly and without installation. You can download it on the official website
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html#DownloadLinks
Click "Download links are on the bottom of this page"
If you have a 64-bit operating system, select "Download ProduKey for x64"
Below on the same page you can download the Russifier.
The program is downloaded in an archive, unzip the archive and run the ProduKey.exe file. In addition to the Windows key, you will find out all the keys for programs owned by Microsoft.
Find out the Windows key using the AIDA64 program
Let's go to the website of the developer of the AIDA64 program http://www.aida64.com/, click on the Download button.
Download, install and run the program. On the left side of the main program window, select Operating System, then do the same again.
We see the key of our Windows
Friends, read the continuation.
How can I find out the activation key for my operating system? This question can arise only in two cases. The first is if you need to reinstall the system and you didn’t have the disk. If you have a laptop, then system disk you couldn't have it, because... on Windows laptops should already be installed. The license key is usually glued to the bottom of the case or embedded in the BIOS.
When buying a desktop computer, they also don’t always give you a disk with a distribution kit, but if they do, users often throw it away and only remember about it when it’s time to repair the computer.
And the second case is if you updated your system to Windows 10, from Windows 7 or 8, and you didn’t see any key, because it was installed automatically.
In general, it doesn’t matter how you installed the system or where the disk went, what’s important is that it’s not there, and there’s no activation key either. But there are no hopeless situations. And now we will make sure of this.
How to find out the operating system activation keyWindows
What is an activation keyWindows?
If your operating room Windows system licensed, then to activate it a special license key is used, or, as it is also called, a product key.
The activation key consists of 25 characters in the form of capital letters of the Latin alphabet and numbers, divided into 5 groups of 5 characters:
XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Checking activation using the command line
To do this you need to open command line on behalf of administrator and type one of the commands below:
- slmgr /dli— display information about the license.
- slmgr/dlv— Displays detailed information about the license.
- slmgr /xpr— display the activation end date.
- vbs /rearm— activation reset, return to trial state.
- vbs/ipk— installation of the product key.
- vbs/skms— setting the KMS name or port.
- vbs/ato- Windows activation.
- vbs/upk— deleting the product key.
- vbs/cpky— removing the product key from the registry (preventing theft).
- At the moment we only need the first three commands.
- If we write a command slmgr /dli and press the button Enter
Hello dear readers.
Today you can often buy a device with already installed software. And sometimes sellers of such equipment claim that an original product is installed on it, demanding additional money for this. Therefore, many people want to know how to check their Windows license so as not to be deceived. Later in the article I will tell you several ways to achieve your plan.
general information
Everyone today has the opportunity to buy a licensed Windows 10 OS or any other version offered by the IT giant for their computer. However, previously this could only be done in official stores. At the moment, a variety of resellers are engaged in selling original software. Despite their status, even in such places there are sometimes products that require special attention buyers, because for a lot of money you can buy a simple pirated version. The following are the main points that help convince you that you are being offered a truly normal product.
Sticker
The first, easiest way Windows checks 7 and younger versions are inspected for the presence of a special sticker. If the seller states that the original software is installed on the computer, it means on the laptop (usually on the bottom cover) or on system unit relevant information must be available. This is what indicates the use of a legal program and not a pirated one.
The laminated paper indicates the key, version and assembly.
Portable device
If you intend to buy a new operating system separately, there should be no problems with verification at all. Windows 8.1 and other versions are offered on portable devices - plastic disks and flash drives. On legal versions, on the box you can find all the data mentioned at the end of the last heading. In general, the sticker indicates the same thing, only appearance a bit different.
In addition, the manufacturer applies a lot of holographic icons. This can be seen not only on the box, but also on the portable memory itself. On flash drives, the corresponding drawings are on the covers. They can be found in different places on disc packages. In addition, Microsoft designers have provided protection for the plastic memory itself.
Check by key
Sometimes some become victims of scammers who themselves print the relevant elements confirming authenticity. To avoid falling into the trap, there is a simple way to check.
So, future users need to turn on the device and on the “ Computer» call « Properties" A window will open where the necessary data will be indicated. This is where you need to check the product code. If everything matches, the license is installed.
Otherwise, in place of the letters and numbers there will be an inscription about failed activation.
In addition, the service life of the key installed in the system is indicated here. If this is not the case, the remaining time for entering characters is written. Usually this is given a month. Afterwards, messages begin to appear indicating that you need to undergo the appropriate procedure.
At the same time, some services may cease to perform their functions.
Website
Another way to verify the authenticity of the operating system is to go to the manufacturer’s website. More precisely, you need to enter the appropriate combination of characters in the appropriate line on the web resource.
Important! This cannot be done for Windows XP, Windows Vista and version seven, since developer support is already closed for them.
Pirate build
To identify non-original software, you can use several methods. So, first, go to computer properties. If nothing is indicated in the activation clause, most likely a low-quality product is being used. But usually there is always some kind of inscription here.
Many Win Mobile users dream of checking their device to be sure that they are using the original image.
It is worth noting that today Cell phones with this operating system are released only by Microsoft partner companies, and therefore only genuine software is used on them.
Command line
Another convenient way to check system activation is to enter a special combination of characters via the command line. To do this, go to " Start" and in the search bar specify " cmd" The corresponding icon will appear. Call the context menu on it and open it with administrator rights.
A black window will appear in front of users. You need to enter the command in it: “ clmgr /xpr" Next, the operating system will display a message corresponding to the activation status.
If this does not help, you need to indicate in the line: “ cscript slmgr.vbs -xpr" The result should be the same.
In general, all methods are free and legal, so you can safely use one of them or even all of them at once.
I hope you will be able to implement your plans without problems.