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I have a laptop which used to have windows 7 (and xp when it was originally purchased). However, I formatted the disk and now have Ubuntu 14.04 on it. I heard that the product key is embedded somewhere in the bios, so is there still hope to retrieve it?

Thanks

Rushat Rai
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  • It's not for the version of Windows you used; if you don't have the Windows 7 key written down your out of luck – Ramhound Mar 18 '17 at 17:09
  • Assuming the right SLP key is really in your bios, you can read [here](https://superuser.com/questions/539714/windows-all-oem-activation), [here](http://web.archive.org/web/20100101022936/http://forums.mydigitallife.info/showthread.php?t=2602) and [here](https://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/9795-The-Windows-XP-OEMBIOS-Archive). But tbh it would just be easier if you could just use the key you should find on the sticker glued on the bottom of your laptop. – mirh Mar 18 '17 at 17:58
  • Windows 7 and Windows XP used COA stickers – Ramhound Mar 18 '17 at 18:53
  • @mirh The sticker on the back is for XP, so that wont work. – MJ9 Mar 18 '17 at 18:54
  • What are you talking about then? If the PC shipped with XP, that's what -if any- it will "contain". – mirh Mar 19 '17 at 12:04

1 Answers1

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If, as you've stated, the product key you're trying to recover:

  • Isn't on the COA label affixed to your computer
  • Isn't accessible on-disk due to your having formatted the disk
  • Isn't written down anywhere

Then, you've lost the product key.

I heard that the product key is embedded somewhere in the bios

What you're referring to is known as Digital Entitlement. This activation method is not available for Windows 7.

I say Reinstate Monica
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    The part of your answer about Digital Entitlement is wrong. Digital Entitlement replaces the product key altogether and has nothing to do with the BIOS-embedded product keys. Those product keys were introduced with Windows 8. Of course, the OP does not have BIOS-embedded product key, because of his ancient hardware. –  Mar 18 '17 at 21:26
  • @FleetCommand Yeah, I realized that after posting but couldn't find the marketing "name" for the embedded key types. Do you know what it is? – I say Reinstate Monica Mar 18 '17 at 21:28
  • They don't have a name for it. (The didn't even put a name on their famous design language which we have come to known as Metro! So, one must not be surprised that they didn't name something so mundane.) –  Mar 18 '17 at 21:31