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Nincklzz's avatar
Nincklzz
Copper Contributor
Oct 21, 2024

How to find Windows 7 product key on my pc?

My mom reinstalled Windows 7 from a bootable USB and there is no way to activate Windows 7 as she could not find the registry key. The internal hard drive is not touched. Is there still a way to help...
Alexissy's avatar
Alexissy
Copper Contributor
Oct 21, 2024

About finding Windows 7 product key if Command Prompt didn’t work for ya, you might want to dive into the Windows Registry. Just a heads-up: the Registry can be a bit finicky, so you want to be careful when messing around in there.

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.

2. Type regedit and hit Enter (you may need to accept a User Account Control prompt). 

3. Navigate to this path:

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

4. Look for a key called BackupProductKeyDefault. That could be your product key! Just keep in mind to back up the registry before changing anything. Safety first!

If you’re really stuck, your best bet might be to reach out directly to Microsoft Support. They can provide some guidance and may help recover your product key if you have proof of purchase. Make sure to have any old receipts or confirmation emails handy when you contact them.

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