Possible to factory reset windows without cd key?

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Draydince

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I bought a cheap computer off of Craigslist that I'm in the process of upgrading to give to a friend. Is there a way to either do a factory reset or completely reinstall windows without needing a cd key? The computer doesn't have a COA key on it, and I just want to be extra sure there's no keyloggers or anything and I don't feel comfortable with trusting that a virus scan would automatically detect it if there were one.

I don't care about losing any data on the Machine, I just want everything completely wiped so my friend can have a fresh start without worrying about potential keyloggers.

Oh I forgot to mention, it's windows 7
 
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I was thinking of WIndows XP, not to worry, this site has an easy way to get it:

http://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

The section "Finding the Windows Key Without Any Software (Advanced Users Only)" is really easy to do.
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Rogue Leader

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There is no way to really do that on anything but windows 10. That said if you go into the system properties you can get the CD key and just write it down.

Also if the computer is a mainstream one and has a recovery partition and you reinstall windows from there that will not require a CD key.
 
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Draydince

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Oh cool, thanks! Do you know the exact destination offhand to manually find the cd key?

No luck on the partition, it looks like it was a custom built computer.

Also, I'm not "super" familiar with os's but aren't there some that are only allowed to be installed once? Or does that not apply as long as it's the same computer I'm using it on?
 
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I was thinking of WIndows XP, not to worry, this site has an easy way to get it:

http://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

The section "Finding the Windows Key Without Any Software (Advanced Users Only)" is really easy to do.
 
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Draydince

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Will the key that method provides be able to reinstall windows? Because further down the page it says:

"So, is that product key usable for reinstalling Windows on your PC? If you have a Windows 7-era PC, there’s a good chance the PC’s key is a single key the manufacturer uses for all their PCs. Thanks to “System Locked Pre-installation,” you’re not allowed to use that key to install Windows. If you try, you’ll get error messages about the key being invalid.

To check, you’ll need to look for a certificate of authenticity sticker on your computer. The COA sticker verifies that the computer came with an authentic copy of Windows, and that sticker has a product key printed on it. You’ll need that product key to reinstall Windows — and, if the manufacturer used System Locked Pre-installation, that key is different from the one your PC came with in software."

And this computer doesn't have a COA sticker unfortunately
 
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From what you said it looks like a custom built computer and its missing the COA, and it doesn't have a recovery partition. I would say chances are its good for a re-install. I mean at this point you really have no other options, because without that or a new copy you can't just format and reinstall windows.

You do have 1 other option, that would be to hook up to the internet and see if you can get it to force the windows 10 update. If that happens you can create install media, and then wipe the computer and install that.
 
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BadAsAl

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If the COA is missing completely (and not there but worn off), you probably bought a computer with an illegal copy of Windows. If it is the Ultimate edition then I pretty much guarantee it.

There are all kinds of software that will pull your Windows 7 key from the registry, but that is no guarantee that key will work as explained in a previous post. If it is an OEM installation or your seller cracked Windows 7 then the key is no good anyway and will not allow you to activate.

I see ads on Craigslist all day long with ridiculously cheap computers running Windows 7 Ultimate. Most if not all are going to be illegal.
 
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Draydince

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I think it may be a cracked version of windows... Because the "Genuine Windows" logo isn't on the bottom right corner... Is there anything I can do about this? A new os cost 100 and that's sadly not an option, the guy I'm giving the computer too was barely able to afford the computer itself. I've read that if you upgrade to windows 10 from a cracked version, that you will basically be put into a 30 day trial version of 10 so at this point it seems like I'm better off leaving the fake windows on it... but I've never used a cracked version myself, so I don't know the dangers of leaving this on his computer.
 
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Rogue Leader

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Your pic doesnt show up you need to use imagur or some other hosting service.

That said if it is cracked while it will work it won't support security updates and things like that leaving your friend quite vulnerable if he goes online. Its not safe....
 
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Draydince

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Huh, strange that the picture didn't show up. I used Tomshardware upload function.

Alright, so update: I called Microsoft to see if there was anything they could do to help. The first guy remote connected to the computer and said that he would try to help me getting a legal version. He deleted all of the cracked info and ran a virus scan. He said the scan would take up to an hour, and he would call me back after it was finished.

I left the computer to do other things, and came back to a finished scan with no call. I called Microsoft back and tried to explain the situation, but the guy who picked up was borderline impossible to understand and could understand me just as well. All he really ended up saying was to go buy a new copy of windows 10 and pretty much left it at that.

Well, since the first guy removed the stuff that at least made the fake version of windows somewhat functional, and am now reduced to the "This is not a genuine copy of windows" limited functionality screen... Is there ANYTHING at all I can do to put a functioning windows on it without having to buy a new os? This isn't my computer, and the guy I'm giving it would not be able to afford the extra 100 to buy a new os.

I called the guy I originally bought the computer from Craigslist to ask if he would be willing to refund me the cost of buying a new OS, but of course he didn't pick up... I left a voicemail requesting for him to call me back, but to be honest I really think the guy is probably going to just keep dodging my calls. I have no idea what to do at this point.
 
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Draydince

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I left a voicemail just in case, but yeah chances are he's not gonna call back... How would I go about activating a legal copy? Under the systems tab where it shows the os installed, there's an option that says something along the lines of "Click here to register a product key" (I don't remember the exact words, I'm on my own computer at the moment) but when you click that, an error comes out. How would I go about uninstalling the pirated copy to put a legal copy on?
 
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Rogue Leader

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I would just buy a Windows 10 disc, boot from the disc, format the drive from there and install.
 
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If it goes like anything in the past I've had a problem with and hoped the seller would stand up for your luck may not be good. I hope it works out.
 
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