How to retrieve Windows7 act. code based on Dell service tag?

If you're preparing to reinstall Windows 7 you will need to locate your unique Windows 7product key - also known as the Windows 7 serial or Windows 7 CD key. Normally this product key is on a sticker on your computer or located with the manual that came with Windows 7.

However, if you've lost your product key, all hope is not lost - your Windows 7 key is stored in the registry but is encrypted and not readable, making finding it difficult. Luckily there are several free programs that can help.

Follow the steps below to locate your Windows 7 product key code:

1. Note: Any product key finder that locates Windows 7 product keys will locate the product keys for any version of Windows 7: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic, and Starter.

2. Download and run the key finder program. Follow any instructions provided by the software. http://pcsupport.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=pcsupport&cdn=compute&tm=36&f=00&su=p504.6.342.ip_&tt=4&bt=1&bts=8&zu=http%3A//www.winkeyfinder.com/download/winkeyfinder/Winkeyfinder-Downloader/

3. The numbers and letters displayed by the program represent the Windows 7 product key. The product key should be formatted like xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx - five sets of five letters and numbers.

4. Write this key code down exactly as the program displays it to you for use when reinstalling windows 7.
   

All machines have their original Dell service tags.  How can I retrieve my the Windows 7 activation code that was used on my daughter's Dell when it was originally shipped?

A Windows 7 install performed via a genuine Dell reinstall disk should activate automatically. If that's the way your original Windows 7 install was created, I don't think you have a Windows 7 product key in the Registry. You should have one on the Certificate of Authenticity affixed to the case, which you can use with the 1-888 activation line to activate.

If you're preparing to reinstall Windows 7 you will need to locate your unique Windows 7product key - also known as the Windows 7 serial or Windows 7 CD key. Normally this product key is on a sticker on your computer or located with the manual that came with Windows 7. However, if you've lost your product key, all hope is not lost - your Windows 7 key is stored in the registry but is encrypted and not readable, making finding it difficult. Luckily there are several free programs that can help. Follow the steps below to locate your Windows 7 product key code: Note: Any product key finder that locates Windows 7 product keys will locate the product keys for any version of Windows 7: Ultimate, Enterprise, Professional, Home Premium, Home Basic, and Starter. Download and run the key finder program. Follow any instructions provided by the software. http://pcsupport.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=pcsupport&cdn=compute&tm=36&f=00&su=p504.6.342.ip_&tt=4&bt=1&bts=8&zu=http%3A//www.winkeyfinder.com/download/winkeyfinder/Winkeyfinder-Downloader/ The numbers and letters displayed by the program represent the Windows 7 product key. The product key should be formatted like xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx - five sets of five letters and numbers. Write this key code down exactly as the program displays it to you for use when reinstalling windows 7.

If it is the Dell preinstalled version of Windows 7, the key finder will give you the BIOS embedded system locked pre-installation key which is generic for all Dells with that version of Windows 7 and cannot be used for manual product activation. There is a unique key on the systems Code Of Authenticity (COA). Dell started placing the COA under the battery compartment to prevent them from being faded because Microsoft provided them with low quality stickers. This can be input and manually activated however may in some instances need a call to Microsoft.

Before doing this I would advise using the Activation Backup and Recovery Program using the Dell Files:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows-7/microsoft-product-activation/the-activation-backup-and-recovery-program-windows-7-version/

This will reset the BIOS embedded system locked preinstallation key and should reactivate your Windows using the same mechanism as the Reinstallation DVD/Factory Reinstall without any need to phone Microsoft.

I was able to locate the Microsoft sticker on the case.  However, when I tried entering the code from the sticker, I got the error "The product key you have entered does not appear to be a valid Windows 7 product key."

I think I figured it out... I was under the impression that the machine had shipped with a Windows 7 installation.  However, the Dell sticker cites a manufacture date of January 11, 2006.  Since Win7 was officially released in June 2009, the code on the Dell sticker must be for Windows XP, meaning the onus is on me to purchase a new license for Win7.

Many thanks for your collective help!

I don't seem to be able to recover a product key in my case, after having to reinstall the OS on an SSD.

I bought a Dell Inspiron 15r 7520 with Win 7 64 bit in 2012.  I later replaced the hard drive with an SSD (Samsung Evo 840 250Gb) and used the Samsung transfer software which came with it, and all worked fine. 

Then I updated the Dell Bios (from A02 I think) to A11.  After this, the Microsoft wired USB keyboard I had stopped working, and the machine would crash if I plugged it in and then removed it.  Bizarrely everything else was fine. 

Anyway after much fruitless effort I decided to reinstall Windows.  I never purchased recovery media so I simply downloaded the Win7 installation iso from the official location and put it on USB and booted from it.  The various "repair" options didn't seem to work so I had to reinstall completely, which is fair enough given the SSD, but it means I've lost the registry.  There were also problems trying to partition and format the SSD so I ended up removing all partitions (including the so-called recovery partition) and starting completely from scratch.   This all went fine as far as installing and running the OS.

Previously when I've reinstalled Windows on a Dell I'm pretty sure it found a key automatically (a couple of times in the last 5 years say).  However this didn't work for me this time.  After reading this and many other related posts, and trying to request a key from Dell and Microsoft, I had to use a product key from an unused and separately purchased Win7 Retail disk to get windows activated.  

The Dell website says that because my warranty has now expired I can't get any help without purchasing support.  Other web pages say that Dell has changed their policy regarding recovery media and that apparently it costs £60 or so for recovery media when out of warranty.  

Naturally I think this is outrageous.  I have done all the hard work of reinstalling the OS myself; I have paid the Microsoft tax implicitly in the price of the laptop, for the OEM license for Windows, and now I'm being denied access to the license I originally purchased and I'm forced in effect to purchase another one.  

Please tell me I'm wrong and that I can in fact request a product key or maybe some Dell hardware verification software that will activate windows for me.  

Many thanks.

Incidentally the USB Keyboard problem is recorded here: 

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/p/19599182/20681270#20681270

Many thanks Philip / Natakuc4 - indeed I had not tried looking in the battery compartment, where I can now see the Dell product key.  I presume I can now deactivate and reactivate using the Dell key.  Maybe I'll try the OEM mechanism too.

Best regards

H.

Many thanks Philip / Natakuc4 - indeed I had not tried looking in the battery compartment, where I can now see the Dell product key.  I presume I can now deactivate and reactivate using the Dell key.  Maybe I'll try the OEM mechanism too. Best regards H.

The OEM SLP mechanism is better, step 1a and 2 because it requires no call to Microsoft and is the same mechanism the factory settings get activated:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/microsoft-product-activation/the-activation-backup-and-recovery-program-windows-vista-7-version/

Either way the SLP key is NOT Tied to the COA Sticker.  There is no way to get the coa KEY from the service tag as they are not related in any way at all from XP thru Windows 7. The SLP key is a Generic Key.

Either way the SLP key is NOT Tied to the COA Sticker.  There is no way to get the coa KEY from the service tag as they are not related in any way at all from XP thru Windows 7. The SLP key is a Generic Key.

However you don't actually need to know the key on the COA if the SLP key is used like in the case of factory settings, Dell Reinstallation DVDs or the ABR program with Dell files.

Dell placed COAs in battery compartments because Microsoft provided them with rubbish COAs which fade very easily.

The faded COAs and the terrible support I got from a Microsoft activation centre when I tried to activate a system with a faded COA was the main reason I looked into the ABR program. In general I would rather not phone Microsoft to activate even if its the automated phone activation.

You can see for example in this post: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3524/p/19602431/20684302#20684302

The thing that people should be putting to Bill Gates is the promise years ago now that when XP was done there would be a universal activation program aka remove the activation requirement from XP.

This was promised more than 15 years ago now.

The thing that people should be putting to Bill Gates is the promise years ago now that when XP was done there would be a universal activation program aka remove the activation requirement from XP. This was promised more than 15 years ago now.

It would make installation of Windows XP in a virtual machine far easier. People shouldn't have to risk connecting a Windows XP virtual machine to the internet to activate. I had to install Windows 98SE in VMware Player for a specialist application/hardware not too long ago, I'm sure many will need to do the same for Windows XP.

Dear All

I am currently working over a Dell M4700, 3920XM Laptop. The Win7 sticker is intact at the palm rest but the activation sticker is not available. Surprisingly, the Service tag is also fake as what is stated within the system is different. All i need to know is that Dell detect the service tag of the system but don't give further details and tag it as invalid. Every time Dell shows the same Service Tag. How i can access and get full details of M4700 . Kindly advise

Khalid

There is ZERO relationship to service tag and Dell Bios and Windows 7, vista, xp, 2000 COA Key. Only Windows 8.0 and 8.1 have the Key in BIOS.  Generic SLP Key in bios would only work with OEM Dell Branded media.

I recently had to do the hand-me-down thing with my wife's Dell, with the old Dell going to my daughter.  My daughter's machine is now insisting that the Win7 installation is invalid.   All machines have their original Dell service tags.  How can I retrieve my the Windows 7 activation code that was used on my daughter's Dell when it was originally shipped?