Retrieving your Windows key/How Deactivate A Computer

[Syntaxvgm]

Retrieving your key 

In a lot of cases, people want to do a clean install of windows on their machine for whatever reason, and don't have the OEM key. While in most cases the sticker on the bottom will telly you what you need to know, but if you lack the sticker or are otherwise unable to find your key, I will show you how to retrieve the key from any properly activated copy of windows, OEM or not. 

 

While there are a lot of programs out there to retrieve keys, the one I will be demonstrating is called Belarc Advisor. I picked this program for a few reasons. First, it's free. A lot of programs charge for retrieving windows keys, and that's really counter-intuitive. Second, it's a security program that I happen to really trust. Also, it doesn't feel like bloatware, run when windows starts, or install any shit like Bing toolbars or anything unwanted at all. It's a company that is really geared towards professionals, and I used their software back in my IT days. While Belarc Advisor isn't for commercial use, they do offer other programs for that. The last reason is that it's the most detailed, and I have consistently gotten the best results from it. Not only does it show your keys for windows, but other software as well, like Adobe products, and even a lot of games. 

 

So here we go, it's pretty simple. 

 

First, download and install Belarc Advisor. 

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

 

When you install it, you may skip looking for security updates and scanning the local network since we are just using it for keys. 

Once it's done loading, an IE window should pop up. (Yes, IE. Regardless of default browser)

Scroll down to "Software Licenses"

You'll likely see almost everything you've entered a key for in here. 

(Sorry about the big black boxes. I was gonna blur, but Photoshop keeps crashing after I updated to windows 8.1 from 7, and I don't feel like messing with it at the moment.)

 

Once you find your windows version, the key will be be listed right next to it.  

That's it! Just write it down or email it to yourself for later.

 I keep this program on a USB drive. It's a good tool to allow you to fix other's machines without needing them to buy windows again, regardless of the state of the sticker. 

 

Deactivating Windows

Sometimes you'll want to transfer your license from one machine to another. Maybe you got an upgrade, or a new system. It's important to note that an OEM license may or may not transfer to a different PC. 

Keep in mind that this may not be necessary, as despite only being allowed on one machine at a time, the non-OEM keys allow for as many differnt installs as you like. As it turns out,  in a lot of cases it may allow you to run multiple machines at once, maybe two or three, all activated. This seems to be especially true with msdn keys. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to have one machine activated at a time with most key types. And that's what this deactivation guide is for.  It is your responsibility to know what is and is not technically allowed with you key, and act on that with your discretion.

Here's a good place to start.   

http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/licensing_faq.aspx#fbid=fe0Yk5SF4Ax

Also, I would like to mention that I'm not responsible if for some reason you deactivate windows and are not able to reactivate it, or you don't have your key or something. That's you own fault. 

 

This is pretty simple. 

First, make sure you are connected to the internet.

Next, open command prompt as an administrator. 

Enter this: 

 

slmgr.vbs -upk

[i know this works in vista and up, but I'm not sure about windows xp, and I don't have anything running it right now to try it.]

If successful, you should get no feedback or message in the command prompt window.  Instead this should pop up

 

To check to see if your computer is deactivated, go to Control Panel > System.

Activated

Not activated 

I have done this quite a few times now, and thus far i have not had a problem. But you may. 

So what if this didn't deactivate, or your were not able to activate on the new machine using the key you just removed from the old machine? 

Try again. If you are still unable to, the last resort is calling the hotline, and explaining your situation to a representative. 

Here is a tutorial for phone activation.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

When you call, you'll need to talk to a person. This can be an issue as it's is all voice prompts and totally automated. However, according to gethuman.com, you can get to a person by staying silent. I called to verify this. The voice asked me about activating Windows XP quite a few times. I never new a computer could sound so impatient. Finally, it asked about talking to an agent, but encouraged me not to. I was able at this point to say "Transfer Me Anyway", and it connected me to an agent. 

You'll need to have the activate by phone screen up on the new computer, with your machine code on screen. They can assist you with this if you can't find it/or it wont take you key at all.

There is no guarantee they'll be able to help you with this, but in cases where you are allowed to transfer to a different PC, (look at the MS article about licenses I listed above), namely non-OEM keys, they should be able to/are supposed to. Some of them simply will not know what you are talking about. Be patient and polite. Maybe try again to get a different agent.

 

 

 

 

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Well that's it! This is my first tutorial on Linus Tech Tips, and I appreciate any Feedback/Suggestions/Likes/Pancakes. This most certainly won't be my last tutorial, and I would be willing to do about anything that's in demand.  

I recently had a poll here for a few tutorial options

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/178495-what-do-you-want-first/#entry2396748

This was in first, the next most popular was- 

5. Get asked for help fixing crap and junk all of the time? Want to be ready for computer problems anywhere? An easy guide for making USB repair tools for the keychain. Includes debugging, password stripping, windows install discs, and the obvious stuff like malicious software removal and a live boot linux distro, ect. Always be ready! Every good IT guy has his own USB rescue key, and so should you

I will be doing that next. Stay tuned!

[Phllips]

If i deactivate on one pc activate it using the key on another can i still use the first pc or will it not let me in? 

[Syntaxvgm]

If i deactivate on one pc activate it using the key on another can i still use the first pc or will it not let me in? 

It will let you in. It'll remove your wallpaper on start up, leave a "not genuine " message on the desktop, and will give you mean messages on occasion. After a while it may give you a message on start up and make you wait a few seconds before continuing. 

[Gung Pow Chicken]

There is any easier way just use produkey

[Gung Pow Chicken]

Depending on your computer belarc can take some time to get all the info

[Syntaxvgm]

Depending on your computer belarc can take some time to get all the info

I believe it ahs a lot to do with how many programs you have installed. 

[Gung Pow Chicken]

I believe it ahs a lot to do with how many programs you have installed. 

Yea, users like me with over 100 programs get f*cked by belarc

[Syntaxvgm]

Yea, users like me with over 100 programs get f*cked by belarc

I got tons of programs. It can't take that long? I've never had it take more than a couple of minutes. 

[Syntaxvgm]

Yea, users like me with over 100 programs get f*cked by belarc

The reason I reccomend this is because the company behind it, and the fact that anyone who wants a wondwos key for a clean install may want the keys to other software they ahave purchased. 

 

An alternative I can recommend for non windows keys is licences Crawler. The main advantage of it is the ability to browse any registry, and not need to be installed on the computer itself. But it is a lot less user friendly and is not near as reliable, and does not always seem to get the windows key. In fact not very often at all does it find it for some reason. 

http://www.hiren.info/downloads/freeware-tools/licensecrawler

It's part of the tools I'm covering for my next tutorial, but I don't recommend it in the tutorial due to lack of windows support, and all the fluff it finds. 

 

One that WILL find a windows key and office keys, but not for other software is "ProduKey".

I recommended Belarc Advisor due to the company behind it, the user friendliness, and the fact it finds nearly every key you have, which is useful for anyone doing a clean install. 

Most people recommend Belarc.

But this will not have to load like belarc, and is quite simple. 

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html#DownloadLinks

 

I do have something great for external discs, better than License Crawler, but I haven't tested it much yet, so I'm holding back on it. I'm including that in my next tutorial for portable debugging and repair tools, and will add it to this one soon. 

[ddbtkd456]

It will let you in. It'll remove your wallpaper on start up, leave a "not genuine " message on the desktop, and will give you mean messages on occasion. After a while it may give you a message on start up and make you wait a few seconds before continuing. 

 

Hehe (I have windows 7)  so I don't have that mean message. It just keeps telling my its not activated.

[ddbtkd456]

Yea, users like me with over 100 programs get f*cked by belarc

 

For real dude, it really can't take that long...installed everything from operating system to all my programs takes like 2 hours tops. Most of that is the operating system. I have all my programs on discs and its 20 minutes tops with them.

[EMENCII]

Ehm... Deactivated from the old HDD, activated the SSD "its already in use"... What? How do i do? Last time it did this with the HDD, and i had to reinstall win itself, but now i have many more programs... T_T

[Syntaxvgm]

Ehm... Deactivated from the old HDD, activated the SSD "its already in use"... What? How do i do? Last time it did this with the HDD, and i had to reinstall win itself, but now i have many more programs... T_T

hmmm...call MS and talk to someone. A storage upgrade should never be enough to constitute a different computer.