recover windows product key

[Coconut1]

Hi,

I've been given a HP Probook 6470b but it hasn't got windows installed.  I'm assuming it came with a version of windows installed as it has what looks like the remains of a licence sticker.  There isn't a recovery partition so i can't use that.  Is there any way of finding out my product key?

Thanks

[WAWood]

@Coconut1

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

Sorry, but basically, no.  There are utilities that can retrieve the product key, but they have to be run in Windows, and without that, you're stuck.

Since HP keeps no records of individual product keys associated with individual PCs, there's no way that HP can provide that information.

However, if you were to restore the laptop to its original condition using HP Recovery Media, that retrieves the product key encoded into the BIOS of the PC.

HP Recovery Media is a set of DVDs and a CD, or USB stick, that will erase the hard drive (removing all data, settings, and applications, reinstall the original OS, drivers, and some HP Utilities. In some cases, you may be able to order a USB stick instead of disks. You have to order these from HP; they can not be downloaded.

You can look online for Recovery Media starting with the linked paged: http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers

Once there, input your Product name or number. On your Software and Drivers Download page, select your Operating System and and Version. Click "Update". If HP Recovery Media is available for your machine, down near the bottom of the page, you will see an entry for Order Recovery Media-CD/DVD/USB. Click the "+" symbol to expand that entry and click on Order Media for details.

Or, if you prefer, you can do the same by contacting HP Customer Service:

If you live in the US or Canada, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/phone-assist.html#section1

If you live elsewhere, contact information is on this page: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/contact-hp/ww-contact-us.html

NOTE: After you get through, stay on the line until you are finally able to talk to some one -- it can take a while!

If you have trouble finding a phone number, then try: 1 (800) 474-6836

If HP no longer provides Recovery Media for your model, a couple of other sites you can check are: http://www.computersurgeons.com/ and http://www.restoredisks.com/

Good Luck