Windows 7 Product Key

[CANVUILD]

My HDD broke and I need the Product Key for my new HDD. The OS was preinstalled so HP should have it.

[WAWood]

@CANVUILD 

Sorry, but HP does NOT -- as HP keeps no records of individual product keys assigned to individual PCs.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @CANVUILD 

The product specs for your model indicate that it came with W7 Pro from downgrade rights from W8 Pro.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04504152

That means you must order W7 pro recovery media for your PC to reinstall W7, because the W8 Pro product key will not work for reinstalling W7.

HP no longer sells recovery media for that model, so you would have to purchase it from this vendor at the link below...

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-27708-windows-7-recovery-kit-819422-001-for-hp-notebook-pc-model-n...

Since support for W7 is ending soon, you may want to take advantage of installing W8.1 Pro by using the W8 product key in your notebook's BIOS.

You can do so for free as follows...

Install W8.1 by creating the Microsoft installation media, using another Windows PC, if yours is not working...You want W8.1 Pro 64 bit.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

Only if you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, use this generic key.

This is the generic key for W8.1 Pro.

XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

If you had to enter the generic key, manually change the generic product key to the W8 key in your PC's BIOS in the PC settings menu.

After you get W8.1 installed, and you had to manually enter the W8.1 generic product key, you will need to run the free utility I zipped up and attached below, that will show you show the W8 product key in your PC's BIOS.

I have also zipped up and attached below, the Microsoft tool which hopefully will transfer the ISO file to a DVD or usb flash drive so it is bootable.

Then you can install the available drivers and software from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-15-Notebook-PC-series/6545564/model/7486246

You may even be able to still get the free upgrade to W10 after you install W8.1.

See the info at the link below...

https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/

[CANVUILD]

Thank you so much for the in-depth reply Paul,

if the specs say it had Windows 7 Pro installed, could I contact Microsoft and use that as proof for them to give me a new Windows 7 Pro Product Key?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, Microsoft will not supply any product keys.

I suppose you can call them and ask, since the worst they can do is tell you no.

Most likely MS will tell you to contact HP, and HP has no W7 recovery media for your PC.

You can also call HP and ask if they will send you a W7 Pro product key, but don't get your hopes up.

The HP toll free number in Canada and the United States is:   1 (866) 724-8600