Find My Windows 7 Key

Topia

My ex threw out my paper with my key written on it when she was moving out, and now I don't know my key.

I used a couple of those registry searching programs and my key shows up as BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB on every one, which obviously is not my key. Does anyone know why this is happening, or have a better way of finding my key? Thanks!

Draygo

http://www.belarc.com click download and download and run that tool in the report should have your product key.

Topia

Nah, used it, got BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBbb

minirhyder

Go to My Computer, right click -> settings, and if you scroll down it should tell you what windows version you have. There should be a link that says "change your windows activation key" and if you click that it should tell you your current one.

Unfortunately I'm not near a computer right now so the directions might not be exactly precise, but dig around in that area and it should be there.

If it shows up as a bunch of B's something is certainly off.

Draygo

Yep somethings off. at this point you are pretty much fucked. You can attempt a system restore to the earliest point you can find, then try rerunning the tool. Otherwise you are SOL here.

Essee

Incidentally, when I googled the specific key you're seeing whenever you search with one of the programs that tries to find the key (well, I did also put 'windows key' in there), this was literally the first result. Notice that they have a section for "All any key finder will show for my product key is BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB-BBBBB!" So that at least tells you why this is happening and links you to Microsoft's info about volume licenses. Google is your friend. :P

Go ahead and try what @minirhyder said, at any rate. He means to right-click on My Computer and select "Properties..." and there should theoretically be a key there or some sort of information about your key.

Athenor

It should be pointed out that product keys are different than activation keys, and there are so many different kinds of product keys that it hurts as all hell.

If you have a legit copy of Windows, Microsoft should be able to help you out... Or the people you bought the PC from should be able to, at least. OEM keys seem to be the stickiest on this, while volume licenses are the easiest (because they are expensive and have a lot of support behind them).

minirhyder

So this is the screen I was talking about which you can get to from right clicking in My Computer and choosing Settings:



This will give you the Product ID, not the activation key that you're looking for. However if all else fails, try Microsoft customer service and see if they can help you out somehow.

azith28

*I wonder where, that fish has gone*

It's in his trousers!!

halkun

Yup, he's got a volume key that was authed with a KMS server. Key's on the server. Where did you get the computer/software in the first place?

Topia

School supplied, but I graduated so my account doesn't have access to the software login anymore so I can't recover the key that way.

MS helped, fortunately. Thanks everyone.