Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
4 Posts
0
92331
How can I recover my Windows 7 serial number if the sticker is damaged and I no longer have the default install?
With Windows 8 coming soon (October) I have noted the upgrade offer (£30 for Windows 8 Pro) and wanted to take advantage of this, unfortunately the sticker on my laptop is no longer legible as you can see from the image below (Why aren't these laminated?..Maybe should have covered it with tape but we live and learn) :
Is there a way to recover the Windows Serial using my service tag or express service code? (I am now outwith the 1 yr warranty). If need be I think I actually made a backup on a couple of DVDs of the default install, would there be a way to recover the serial number using that?
theflash1932
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
•
16.3K Posts
0
August 9th, 2012 13:00
If you have never installed Windows and activated it manually, there is no way to retrieve it - uilities like Magic Jelly Bean would not return a valid key and Dell does not track them. Your best bet is to use an original Dell Windows 7 DVD to install with, which should not require that you enter a key.
You can request a replacement disk here:
support.dell.com/.../backupcd_form
DJSubterrain
4 Posts
0
August 9th, 2012 13:00
That link just returns a 500 server error, I tried looking for how to order a DVD before and came across this problem, apparently you can only order this in the US and not in Europe.
theflash1932
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
•
16.3K Posts
0
August 9th, 2012 15:00
The link works for me - and should work regardless of location - but, yes, it is for US customers. You would need to contact Dell in Europe for replacement media.
msgale
2.5K Posts
0
August 9th, 2012 16:00
Try SIW freee edition by Gabriel Topala. It can retrieve retail license keys, not sure about OEM keys.
theflash1932
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
•
16.3K Posts
0
August 9th, 2012 17:00
The problem is that it will only return the SLP key used at the factory, which is not valid to activate Windows by itself. Unless the key was ever typed in (manually activated after an install with Retail media, for example), the correct key will not be returned by those utilities. The reason it will return a Retail key is because a Retail key must be typed in to activate Windows.
Philip_Yip
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
•
16K Posts
0
August 12th, 2012 09:00
Unfortunately this is a common issue.
I requested Dell to fix this on IdeaStorm here (you unfortunately need to be logged into IdeaStorm to view the link...).
Unfortunately the idea is now "archived" and I go no feedback from Dell on it... I hear they have been putting the COA under batteries in some laptop models which I don't know which will help or not.
COJeff
9 Posts
0
August 17th, 2012 07:00
Look around the web, there are some utilites I have seen that will tell you what your key is.
theflash1932
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
•
16.3K Posts
0
August 17th, 2012 08:00
The problem with those utilities is that it will only return a valid key (the key on the sticker) IF it has been entered in manually for activation. If it has never been activated specifically with the key on the sticker - still activated from factory installation or from a Dell DVD - then it will only return a generic key which will not work for manual activation.