Windows 10: How to find Microsoft Windows Product Key On External Hard Drive

Windows 10 crashed while updating OS because the power went out. The drive will no longer boot up.

I have connected the problem hard drive to another PC's USB port so I can see my files. I am now able to view all of the files.

I will be formatting the problem hard drive, installing Windows 7, then upgrading back to Windows 10. I have my Windows 7 CD but have misplaced the Product Key Code. I would also like to find the Product Key Code for Windows 7, now upgraded to Windows 10 that's NOT Working.

:)

 

I have a question of clean installing windows 10 on a new ssd.

If you have an external hard disk, you could backup your files then restore then on the drive when you install Windows 10:

How to Backup to an External Hard Drive

How to Restore a Backup From an External Hard Drive in Windows 7

Perform a clean install on the new SSD then use your Windows 7 product key to activate it:

How to install and activate
Windows 10 using your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key

 

Windows 10 Home Encryption

Although Windows 10 Home does not support encryption of external drives, my system (unbeknownst to me) encrypted both my internal and an external hard drive. I was able to find the recovery key at my Microsoft account for my internal drive so I could use
my Dell laptop, and find the encryption option and turn it off (I never turned it on).

However, there is no record at my Microsoft account for the recovery key for the external drive (I tried the same key, but it's a different Key ID).

Any ideas how this happened, and where the key might be stored? Do I have no choice but to reformat and lose the data?

Thanks!

Harold

 

Use one of many keyfinders which you can download from the web.

Examples:
Showkey Plus
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...wKeyPlus.shtml

Produkey
ProduKey - Recover lost product key (CD-Key) of Windows/MS-Office/SQL Server

Belarc
Products: Belarc Advisor

 

Produkey will do this - you have to use

File - Select Source, click "Load the product keys from an external source" and navigate to windows directory

 

Cereberus, Thank you for responding.

I downloaded Produkey but it did not find what I was looking for. Do you know in what file within Windows the Product Key resides?

 

I just point it to the C:\windows directory.

 

You need to point to the C:\Windows\System32\config directory. Because your using a USB device to connect your hard drive it will not be the "C" drive. Point to what ever drive letter the problem hard drive is.

 

That depends - a lot of prewindows up t to the X drive, leaving C mapping in place.

 

Cereberus, Thanks again for respondoing. I checked the Windows 32 Config folder & I'm getting a message that says I do not have permission to access the file. I can only assume it's because on the problem hard drive I was listed as the administrator? It is not recognising me as a administrator because I am not logged on through Windows on the problem drive?

I also checked under Windows Old as I am trying to obtain Windows 7 key code that I have a CD for & not the current OS Windows 10 upgrade.

 

I think cereberus was correct, just point to Windows. I did this so long ago I'm trying to remember. A friend gave me a computer to retrieve his product key and it would not boot.

I used a live Linux USB to boot his computer and made a copy of his config folder. Now what you have to do is make a new folder and name it Windows, inside the Windows folder make another new folder and name it System32. Inside the System32 folder place the copied config folder.

Then I moved the Windows folder to a working computer and installed ProduKey. I pointer ProduKey to the Windows folder and it worked. I think I even left the Windows folder on the USB flash drive.

I did not get the message about not having permission accessing the file.

That is the best I can remember. Good luck.

 

I Copied System32 config folder to thumb drive. Received the following, Error: 1314 A required privilege is not held by the client.

 

Did you make a new Windows folder and a new System32 folder inside the Windows folder? Then place the copied config folder inside the System32 folder? It has to be dune this way. Then point ProduKey to the new Windows folder.

I don't know why you are getting the error message. I'm taking a guess here but try right clicking on ProduKey.exe or its shortcut and choose "Run as Administor". Maybe that will help.

Are you logged in as administrator or if your using someone's computer are you using an administrative account? Maybe that is the problem.