How can I recover the activation key of a damaged, non-booting Windows 10?

Note: it is a legal company machine. Unfortunately, my co-worker responsible for the keys isn't reachable any more. But I (representing my employer) am legal user of the keys in that currently non-bootable Windows 10 installation.

I have a damaged, non-booting, but activated Windows 10.
I have also a booting, working, but not activated Windows 10.
I want to activate (2) with the license key of (1).

How can I get the license key from (1)? Important: I can't boot this install, but I have full access to its hard disk (as the administrator of (2) ).

Note 2: After the key is found, (1) will be deleted.

Result: Finally I reinstalled the Win10 with the OEM Win7 license key on the bottom of the laptop.

peterh - Reinstate Monica

Posted 2017-01-25T09:25:46.010

Reputation: 2 043

What caused the windows to not boot? Is the MBR damaged or any other possible known source? – Jesse – 2017-01-25T10:03:42.273

This might get you going: http://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

– Alex – 2017-01-25T10:09:06.010

@Alex Thanks! Also your link is very useful for the case if ProduKey in the accepted answer wouldn't work. – peterh - Reinstate Monica – 2017-01-25T12:25:16.343

1Shouldn't windows 10 have a digital entitlement and just activate magically? – Journeyman Geek – 2017-01-25T15:27:03.130

@JourneymanGeek Probably not. But the OEM Win7 license key on the bottom of my laptop finally worked, unfortunately only with a clean reinstall. – peterh - Reinstate Monica – 2017-01-25T15:27:41.563

Answers

If the hard disk of the non-working computer is attached to another machine, you can download ProduKey , and point it to the other hard drive to retrieve the Key. This will work in most standard cases unless the computer was bought with an OEM provided Windows installation, in which case the key is not reusable anyway, as @djsmiley2k pointed out (Thanks!)

Waleed Hamra

Posted 2017-01-25T09:25:46.010

Reputation: 504

1If the key is OEM, you might not be able to reuse it anyway - worth adding to the answer I feel. – djsmiley2k TMW – 2017-01-25T10:56:52.873

@djsmiley2k Thanks. It is a legal limit or a technical one? – peterh - Reinstate Monica – 2017-01-25T12:23:01.883

@peterh According to http://www.howtogeek.com/261053/when-can-you-move-a-windows-license-to-a-new-pc/ , it's not allowed, OEM licenses are tied to hardware since they are sold to manufacturers at discounted prices.

– Waleed Hamra – 2017-01-25T12:35:07.903

I'd recommend Superfly Inc.'s ShowKeyPlus instead. It not only correctly identifies OEM keys (you'll need to run it from a bootable USB running Windows 8.1 or 10 on machine #1), but it is also free.

Ed Tittel

Posted 2017-01-25T09:25:46.010

Reputation: 75