Windows 10: Old laptop with win 7, have product key, what else do I need?

Hi all.I'm after replacing the hdd with an ssd in my main laptop and installing win 10 home using media creation tool, it was activated through my Hotmail account, it was all very straight forward.One of my old laptops running windows 7, hasn't been turned on in years. I'm thinking about doing the same job upgrading ssd and ram. The win7 product key is underneath laptop.Is installation the same? Can I just use the product key on laptop. Where is the best place to download win 7 from?Thanks in advance.

:)

 

How to get product key of old OS (Win 7) after upgrading to Win 10?


OK guys, this will take time, encoding in process but after that I need to do some basic editing and add explaining titles before I can post the video:




The process as I did it:

• Install Windows 8.1 Pro on a new machine, activate with a valid product key which had never been used before. A totally virgin key. Activation OK
• Reinstall 8.1 Pro on same machine wiping the HDD, use the same key to activate. Activation OK
• Reinstall 8.1 Pro on a new machine, use the same key to activate. Activation OK
• Upgrade the last install to Windows 10. Windows 10 activation OK
• Reinstall 8.1 Pro on a new machine trying to use the same retail product key, resulting this:

 

Product Key illegible, Toshiba laptop

I have to bring my vintage Toshiba laptop back to active service, but it will not boot. I want to try a clean Win 7 install, but the Product Key number on the sticker is literally worn off! Without it, I cannot download Win 7 and burn a CD from this borrowed
machine. I cannot find any help from Toshiba on this 10-year-old laptop. It came with Win7 Home pre-installed. Suggestions?

 

Product Key illegible, Toshiba laptop

Just some thoughts.

Are any of these letters and numerals legible ???

You could try a magnifying glass whilst highlighting the sticker with a LED torch.

Place the torch light at different angles around the sticker.

Do the same with the magnifying glass.

Try all angles.

There have been times that i have managed to retrieve the Product Key using this method.

By the way when you say it wont boot what is actually happening ???

Does it show anything at all on the screen when trying to boot.

• Have you tried to get it into Safe Mode using the F8 Key. ( You might be able to do a restore or recovery from there ).
• Try entering the BIOS using the DELETE Key.

• To enter Safe Mode and or the BIOS repetitively tap the Keys that i have mentioned at one second intervals whilst starting the laptop.

( As the laptop is 10 years old i wonder if the BIOS / CMOS 3Volt Button Cell Battery is still functioning, which i doubt )

When this 3 volt button cell dies the computer will be unable to remember its hardware settings but this usually promotes a on screen error relating to BIOS and Date / Time Settings at boot.

The below link supplied lists what the F Keys ( function keys ) do.

Though some of these may not correspond to your Toshiba Laptop as we don`t know the Model Number.

F8 Key – Guide for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8