How can i figure out which version of Win my key belongs to? I have the key...

[giantbucket]

so, i'm not sure how to even search for this as it's kind of backwards to what the web thinks it is.

i have a windows key, i wrote it down years ago and kept it along with a bunch of other PC related things, but it wasn't written down in the manual - it's on what is now a loose piece of paper. how can i figure out whether that key belongs to WinXP or Win7, and ideally which version (home, pro, 32, 64)? I know it doesn't belong to 8/8.1 cuz I have those organized and still running.

i know it's a key because of the format ABC12-ABC12-ABC12-...

so, where can i look up the key and figure out whether i should use it to (re)activate a WinXP build or a Win7 build? does the Microsoft site itself have a "what does my key belong to" section?

 

[green giant 2]

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

 

[Bossyfins]

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

You can look up what version you have in control panel, and then use MagicalJellyBean to match the keys.

 

[giantbucket]

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

hmm, ok. that might be a good start. at least i can find out if they key i have is for a WIn7 based install. but what if it turns out to be for a WinXP install? maybe i'll try that page and see what it pops up with...

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

You can look up what version you have in control panel, and then use MagicalJellyBean to match the keys.

i have the opposite problem - i don't have a working installation, just a key, so using Jelly Beans or control panels is irrelevant. i have the KEY - now which install disk do i need to find and use to make use of that key? like i said - the opposite of what google searches think i am looking for. over the years, i've blown away a Win installation to play with Linux, so there's no trace of the original install anywhere (or even the drive it may have been on N years ago)

 

[giantbucket]

ok, tried that first one - the link for "software recovery". i enter the key and it barfs an error, saying "We encountered a problem with the validation request. Please assure your product key is for a product supported by this site and was entered correctly, then try your request again". But that was assuming it's for a Win7 key?

so, does that mean it might be a WinXP key?

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

Worst case scenario, you can try installing each different version, starting with XP, to a virtual machine and see which one takes the key.

 

[giantbucket]

ya, I thought about that, but that still leaves the possibility that it's for an OS that I've lost the CD/DVD for.

however, I did find out that I can call Microsoft and they would tell me. so they did. and it turns out it's not even a valid MS key anyways, so that's the end of that. it LOOKS like one, but evidently isn't.