Finding my product key using different hard disk.

[hameem_1]

Hello,

I have bought Lenovo laptop couple years ago which came with windows 8, then later I upgraded it to windows 10, then I had a hard disk failure, so I replaced the hard drive with another one which had windows 7 on it. so now I am using windows 7 but I really want start using windows 10 again.

when I used Microsoft upgrade tool it asked me for my product key which I don't know, because I can't access my original hard drive to search for my windows product key. and I can't read the product key from the sticker behind my laptop because it is not easy to read anymore.

is there a way to find it, such as providing my Lenovo serial code or using my Microsoft account which I used before to activate windows 10..
keep in mind that the current windows 7 version I am using is not "Genuine"?

 

[br00n0]

Windows 10 licenses are now linked to your Microsoft account. You can view them via the Microsoft web site when you log in (My Devices). You will probably find your laptop in there.

So when installing Windows 10 on your laptop, you can skip the product key. Later during the installation process, Windows 10 will reconnect your license when you use your Microsoft account to log in.

Good luck!

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi
If you use the media creation tool from microsoft and build a win 10 usb or dvd
And do a clean install it will probably install without needing a key and recognise the pc previously had a valid win 10 licence

Dont enter a product key if asked

Regards
Mike Barnes

 

[hameem_1]

Windows 10 licenses are now linked to your Microsoft account. You can view them via the Microsoft web site when you log in (My Devices). You will probably find your laptop in there.

So when installing Windows 10 on your laptop, you can skip the product key. Later during the installation process, Windows 10 will reconnect your license when you use your Microsoft account to log in.

Good luck!

Thanks, That's great news.
but I am not able to skip the step where I am asked to enter a product key, in the media creation tool window the option "next" is unclickable.

 

[hameem_1]

Hi
If you use the media creation tool from microsoft and build a win 10 usb or dvd
And do a clean install it will probably install without needing a key and recognise the pc previously had a valid win 10 licence

Dont enter a product key if asked

Regards
Mike Barnes

I can't skip it. it says "windows have not been activated on this computer..."
because the current version of windows I am using is not genuine.

 

[br00n0]

Windows 10 licenses are now linked to your Microsoft account. You can view them via the Microsoft web site when you log in (My Devices). You will probably find your laptop in there.

So when installing Windows 10 on your laptop, you can skip the product key. Later during the installation process, Windows 10 will reconnect your license when you use your Microsoft account to log in.

Good luck!

Thanks, That's great news.
but I am not able to skip the step where I am asked to enter a product key, in the media creation tool window the option "next" is unclickable.

Can't you find a tiny text link saying something like "Skip this step", "Enter it later" ?

Don't use the Windows Upgrade application within Windows 7. Simply create a bootable USB stick using the Installation Media Creation Tool.

Or maybe install a fresh version of Windows 10 instead of upgrading but you will loose all your data (make a backup!).

Every Windows 10 install I made at home were full installs, no upgrades, using a USB stick. And full installs I think allow you to skip the product key step.

My 2 cents.

 

[hameem_1]

-

 

[hameem_1]

Windows 10 licenses are now linked to your Microsoft account. You can view them via the Microsoft web site when you log in (My Devices). You will probably find your laptop in there.

So when installing Windows 10 on your laptop, you can skip the product key. Later during the installation process, Windows 10 will reconnect your license when you use your Microsoft account to log in.

Good luck!

Thanks, That's great news.
but I am not able to skip the step where I am asked to enter a product key, in the media creation tool window the option "next" is unclickable.

Can't you find a tiny text link saying something like "Skip this step", "Enter it later" ?

Don't use the Windows Upgrade application within Windows 7. Simply create a bootable USB stick using the Installation Media Creation Tool.

Or maybe install a fresh version of Windows 10 instead of upgrading but you will loose all your data (make a backup!).

Every Windows 10 install I made at home were full installs, no upgrades, using a USB stick. And full installs I think allow you to skip the product key step.

My 2 cents.

You think I should install a pirated version of Windows 10 then let it validate itself through my Microsoft account?

 

[USAFRet]

You think I should install a pirated version of Windows 10 then let it validate itself through my Microsoft account?

Absolutely not.
When it asks for the license key, there is a link at the bottom, allowing you to skip that step.
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

 

[USAFRet]

And don't "upgrade" your current "not genuine" Windows 7.
Clean install of Windows 10.

 

[br00n0]

And you can get the download tool from the Microsoft Web site:

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10

No pirated version, this is how Windows 10 works. Very different from Windows 7!