Windows 10: where to find windows 10 product key manually on hd

i have a laptop that will not boot, BUT i can get to the data on the HD. i am attempting to reinstall the OS but want to be sure of the product key, before i wipe it and install over it.

3 questions.

1 - where is the system file that houses windows 10 product key? i think i found it at c:\windows\system32\config\software <-am i in the right location?

2 - whats the best program to open and legibly read .dat files?

3 - is there any way to validate the key through some sort of online checker? ya know, like they do with a warranty check?

submitted by /u/CMpainter
[link] [comments]

:)

 

windows 10 key

Thanks but I don't want to do any decrypting. I want to download a Win 10 ISO from Microsoft and install it using my Win 8 key. No other steps required. Is that possible?

 

Installing Windows 10 using Windows 7 key

Nope, you need to install Windows 10 first and make sure the Windows 7 key is transferred to your Windows account after you've installed Windows 10 (not quite sure how that works). I missed the last step and I could not activate Windows 10 after a re-install... Microsoft seem to have done everything they can to make it a PITA. Also, it's technically too late to do this now anyhow, as the upgrade offer has expired. But KMSPico works quite well...

As for getting rid of Windows, delete the Windows folder.

 

Windows 10 Product Key

Hi Oscar,

Since the laptop has no battery compartment wherein the product key is usually located, we recommend that you follow these steps to find your Windows product key:

• Press Windows + X and select Command Prompt (Admin).
• Enter this command: wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey
  and hit Enter.

Also, if you're looking to reinstall Windows 10 after a hardware replacement, we recommend that you follow the steps provided in this

article.

Let us know if performing these steps resolved the issue.