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Occidualis

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4 Posts

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January 9th, 2025 00:12

Windows Key

Computer died.  My repair disks became lost in a move.  The repair person said he could recover my hard drive info but only if I had the 24? digit hex key license that came with the windows program.   In all my records associated with purchasing the computer I could not find (nor remember) getting either a windows installation disk nor a record of the key.  If when I received the computer and was required to enter the key for security I would have kept the key in my paper files.  I have no such object.  I checked with dell support and they couldn't find any such key in my purchase records but then they didn't seem to understand exactly what a windows license key was.  After 30 plus years starting with the original Microsoft PC I'm guessing there is no way to access the old hard drive and retrieve files but I thought I'd ask the smarter people who visit here before I take a hammer to the old hard drive and take it all to the dump.  Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions.  

ejn63

10 Elder

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26K Posts

January 9th, 2025 00:49

That's the Windows product key and no, it's not needed unless they're trying to install a new copy of windows.  What version of Windows is on the system?  Everything from Windows 8 onward has the product key embedded into a chip on the mainboard.

As long as you have another system with the same or a newer version of Windows on it, simply remove the hard drive from the failed system and mount it in an external case (SATA or NVMe depending in what you have for a drive) and connect it to the working system by USB.  You can then copy your data filed over to the working system.

(edited)

ejn63

10 Elder

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26K Posts

January 9th, 2025 00:21

No license key is needed to recover data unless the drive is encrypted with bitlocker (if it is, it's a 48 character key, not 24).  

And if the drive is bitlocker encrypted and you have no backup of the data or the key, the data is lost.  It cannot be recovered.

If it is a Windows key you need, and the drive is not encrypted, mount it is an external case or adapter and connect it to a working system -- you can back up the data files that way.

Occidualis

1 Rookie

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4 Posts

January 9th, 2025 00:34

@ejn63​ Thank you.  I have never used bitlocker so it can't be that.  My memory from the old days of windows is that an installation disk came in a cardboard envelope from dell with all the paperwork and had a security key (XXXX XXXX XXXX etc) printed on it.  I thought it was 24 units but maybe it was more.  The person who was repairing my computer was one of those older (my age -- boomer) computer "experts" whom started their own computer repair business.  He says the "drive?" is asking for the key and says that when I received the computer either it was already entered as part of Windows security or I entered it as part of the Dell Setup process when I received the computer.  That is possible but I don't remember doing that.   I don't have the expertise to do as you suggest.  Should I take my computer to another service and see if they can retrieve  my data using your suggested method ?   Thanks again 

Occidualis

1 Rookie

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4 Posts

January 9th, 2025 00:39

The drive is encrypted at the opening windows screen with a simple alpha numeric 8 character password.  However, the repair person had that key and knew about it.  Does this affect the data recovery process?

Occidualis

1 Rookie

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4 Posts

January 9th, 2025 02:00

@ejn63​ Thank you.  I locate a new repair person and communicate what you have said and see it my data is recoverable.   Thanks again.   Steve

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