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Archived This topic has been archived. Information and links in this thread may no longer be available or relevant. If you have a question create a new topic by clicking here and select the appropriate board.

‎04-09-2017 02:51 PM

HP Recommended
Product: CQ61
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit)

Hi Guys. I have a CQ61 on windows 7. I have just had to reinstall windows 7 and it is asking me to enter my 25 digit product key. It has rubbed off the base of my laptop and cannot be read. The other numbers are still there like S/N and the P/N etc. Could i get help from Compaq to get the origional product key please. The computer is about 5 years old now...

6 REPLIES 6

‎04-09-2017 03:49 PM - edited ‎04-09-2017 03:49 PM

HP Recommended

I have some not so pleasant news for you and I do not like being the messenger.

 

If you no longer have the original operating system installed and some the letters or numbers are gone from the label, then it is gone,  gone forever.

 

Unless you have the recovery disk set to reinstall the original OS.

 

If you still had the original OS installed we could help you, but without it...

 

I do sympathize with you, but cannot help you.

 

You will need to find or purchase another license activation key.


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‎04-09-2017 04:58 PM

HP Recommended

 

How far did the "reinstall" proceed, before asking for the product-key?

If you boot from the 'C:' disk-drive, does it still load your previous instance of Windows?

If so, Google-search for "download free SPECCY".

Download/install/run SPECCY, and it will show you the 25-character product-key that was used to activate that instance of Windows.

 

Otherwise @erico is correct.

‎04-10-2017 05:32 AM

HP Recommended
@mdklassen wrote:

 

How far did the "reinstall" proceed, before asking for the product-key?

If you boot from the 'C:' disk-drive, does it still load your previous instance of Windows?

If so, Google-search for "download free SPECCY".

Download/install/run SPECCY, and it will show you the 25-character product-key that was used to activate that instance of Windows.

 

Otherwise @erico is correct.

Speccy can't provide the key. It is a clean install, if you get what that means. That means there is no key to find.


I am a volunteer forum member. If my suggestion helped you solve your issue, help others by marking that post as the accepted solution. Say thanks by clicking on the Yes button next to the "was this reply helpful?"



‎04-10-2017 08:33 AM

HP Recommended

> Speccy can't provide the key. It is a clean install, if you get what that means. That means there is no key to find.

 

@erico, I am surprised that you are able to give an authoritative answer to my question.

I would have expected that only the author of the question could accurately supply the correct answer.

 

I find it insulting that you wrote "if you get what that means".  Why are you disrespecting me and my knowledge?

 

The author stated that he does not have a legible key.  So, your statement about "no key to find" is superfluous, and possibly incorrect.

 

Let's wait for the author to answer my question.

 

‎04-10-2017 08:34 AM

HP Recommended

Read the whole thread one more time and think about that.


I am a volunteer forum member. If my suggestion helped you solve your issue, help others by marking that post as the accepted solution. Say thanks by clicking on the Yes button next to the "was this reply helpful?"



‎04-10-2017 08:50 AM

HP Recommended

>>  I have just had to reinstall windows 7 and it is asking me to enter my 25 digit product key.

 

@erico wrote: Read the whole thread one more time and think about that.

 

The author did not say that this was a "clean" install. 

 

@erico, are you in private communication with the author, to allow you to be a "proxy" on behalf of the author?

 

@erico, did you read the author's mind, to "authoritatively" answer on behalf of the author?

 

@erico, you are making claims that a lawyer would say "are not in the evidence".

 

The author did not say how much of the installation process -- it is a "process", not an "event" -- had occurred before the author was prompted to enter the product-key.

 

It is possible that Windows was still loading/unpacking files from the source media, and the original Windows installation has not been replaced.   @erico, only the author can answer my question -- not you.

 

Please be polite, and wait for the author to answer my question.

 

 

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