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Question

Windows product key

by Aug 21, 2012 12:12AM PDT

Preinstalled Windows Vista Home Basic on kids laptop has stopped working and no product key to be found anywhere on laptop or original packaging/documents. Can I get one/buy one that will work without having to reinstall windows and lose all their (un-backed up!) files?

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
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Answer
Re: product key
by Forum moderator Aug 21, 2012 12:25AM PDT

What would you want to do with that product key once you found it? Or, put otherwise, how do you suppose it to work?

What we usually advice:
1. Boot from a Ubuntu Live disc (free download) and copy all those files you forgot to backup to an external disk, and then to your own PC.
2. Do the prescribed system recovery to go back to factory conditions. This won't need the product key.

Kees

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Re: product key
by Kate377 Aug 21, 2012 12:35AM PDT

I need the product key because that is what Windows is asking me for before I can get past that screen. Without windows opening I can't download or open anything apart from Microsoft website so I am a bit stuck!

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Product key
by pgc3 Aug 21, 2012 1:06AM PDT

You didn't mention manufacturer of the unit, a call to them could bear fruit but I am sure it would cost. Have you attempted to boot into safe mode? The first step with a laptop is generally a simple memory reset, shut down, remove battery, wait a minute, replace battery, restart but I fear that won't do anything in this case. The option that Kees mentioned might resolve the issue but would require a download from another system to FD or CD and that is certainly worth a try.

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Re: product key
by Kees_B Forum moderator Aug 21, 2012 6:26AM PDT

- What screen is "that screen"? And how can Windows ask for a product key when the usual system recovery is a process outside Windows (it boots from a CD, DVD or special partition)?
- How do you open 'a Microsoft website' without running Windows? And why would you need to open a Microsoft website? Or any website for that matter?

Kees

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