Windows 10: Malware or drive failure? Machine is crippled

Huh... how does it know if the drive that had windows on it is gone though?

 

Also, I can burn the tech bench iso to a disk and boot into the new HD and install windows that way?


Edit: I got the product key! (or a product key, not sure if it's guaranteed to be accurate...)

 

Almost every piece of hardware can be uniquely identified, by its serial number, MAC address, etc, which are stored on MS' servers and linked to your license, which is uniquely identified by its product key.

 

This is an interesting test case.

Product Key: Retail license
Digital Entitlement: Upgrade ... activation information stored on MS servers
OEM (Dell, HP, Asus, etc): Key is embedded in firmware

So what does Adam have? A PC builder machine.

The first attetmpt as NovHak and simrick implied is to just try installing Win10 on the new HDD (or SSD).
Skip entering the key on the windows that ask - it will either activate or you cna add the key afterward the instal finishes

The two scenarios where Win10 will activate without entering a key during install are: OEM and Digital Entitlement
The only scenario where you would have to enter a key after installing would be a Retail product (probably includes OEM builder license).

Did you run Check Product Key in Showkey?
Does the result confirm your installed edition?

If so, then you're probably good to go ... not much more for me to offer ... good luck

Bill
.

 

Yes
Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

Read through it and ask any questions you might have.

 

The result said it was win 10, if that's what you mean. I called MS and asked if they could verify my key, they said there was an error, but the language barrier was brutal.

 

It may be too large and you'll need a flash drive. Last one I got was 4.3GB, so it would fit on a DVD. Otherwise, get the ISO for your flavor of Windows (home or pro) by using the Media Creation Tool.

*Ditto*Thumbs

Try installing without entering any key first. It may activate automatically.

 

I'll probably get a drive today and try it out. I'll report back!

 

Sounds like a plan! *Smile

 

To respond to this more directly; I wasn't able to get it with ShowKey, it said that there was no OEM in the firmware in the backup - I also tried running the executable from the bad drive, with the same result.

However, I did install Lazesoft software recovery suite to the bad drive (very slowly) and it has a password/key recovery option which is what gave me my key.

A good sign is, putting that key into Showkey does also give me the correct version.

 

Ok, thanks - not familiar with Lazesoft .. but no one can be familiar with all of the software out there, eh *Wink

If you can ... run showkey on the running machine, not from the PEboot
if Showkey still doesn't return anything useful ... Superfly might need to be consulted.

As a double check on the key (because there might be a few reported by different software)
Run Belarc advisor - no need to update when prompted, it the MS Security Updates database - that might take too long on the machine in it's present condition.
Answer no and let it generate the report. On the left, you should see License keys link
There's an added bonus in that you get keys for all (or most) of your software, if you're going to reinstall purchased software

 

Ok, so I didn't insert a key, but according to the system page in the control panel "Windows is activated" but it's not a standard key, but some "product id" ?

Second, and a new issue - if someone can help me out, when installing windows, for some reason the first attempt screwed up, I forget what the error was, but it cancelled.
I now have a partition to the left of my primary one, and I can't extend the primary... how do I get rid of this?