Can I retrieve my product key for Win 7 if I have changed my boot drive?

kaio37k · Jan 31, 2014

---FIRST OFF, I HAVE PURCHASED WINDOWS 7!---
OK, so I purchased a used computer on Craiglist but put my 2 old HDD's and SSD in it. Because of the different parts, my boot-drive didn't boot (obviously) so I did a clean install with the 30-day free-trial version, where I can just enter my product key and it becomes the full version.
But because my product key was only visible (from BelArc Advisor) on my old boot drive, I'm unable (thus far) to retrieve it. BUT, I have all BelArc files and have not re-installed nor configured them. So, is it possible to retrieve my old product key from this boot through some kind of a file?

geofelt · Jan 31, 2014

Try magical jellybean keyfinder.
You may need to temporarily put yor old c drive back in so you can boot.

kaio37k · Jan 31, 2014

geofelt :

My old drive no longer has an OS on it because the OS is now on an SSD (because it wouldn't boot on the old drive).

ex_bubblehead · Jan 31, 2014

If I read correctly, the old drive has been wiped and overwritten. In that case there is no way (short of some VERY expensive forensic recovery) to retrieve anything that previously existed.

geofelt · Jan 31, 2014

kaio37k :

Did you ever back up your pc with anything that you could restore?

Since you still have your original windows dvd, I think Microsoft can send you a replacement product key for a nominal $10 charge.
Read this: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/osproductkeys/ht/windows-product-key-replacement.htm

kaio37k · Jan 31, 2014

ex_bubblehead :

I didn't format the drive, I just relocated the OS, so all of my programs and program information is still on that drive.

kaio37k · Jan 31, 2014

geofelt :

kaio37k :

Did you ever back up your pc with anything that you could restore?

Since you still have your original windows dvd, I think Microsoft can send you a replacement product key for a nominal $10 charge.
Read this: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/osproductkeys/ht/windows-product-key-replacement.htm

I don't have my Windows 7 installation disk, that's why I need the product key for this trial.

ex_bubblehead · Jan 31, 2014

kaio37k :

How did you "relocate" the OS? The activation key is stored encrypted in the registry and is cleared on a reinstall.

kaio37k · Jan 31, 2014

ex_bubblehead :

Because there was new hardware, my old drive wouldn't boot, so I had to boot to a trial version of Windows 7 on the drive that came with the PC. When I boot to that drive, the old OS drive no longer has my OS information.

ex_bubblehead · Feb 1, 2014

If the old drive does not have an OS on it then there is nothing to retrieve.

kaio37k · Feb 1, 2014

ex_bubblehead :

I had BelArc advisor with that drive and have registered my product key with BelArc advisor. I'm wondering if there's a way to check the history of submissions in the program.

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Can I retrieve my product key for Win 7 if I have changed my boot drive?

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