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Thread ID: 111500 2010-07-30 02:56:00 Recover Vista product code from non booting drive. KiwiLinc (6595) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1123396 2010-07-30 02:56:00 Problem. Vista won't boot. Decided to re-install. (Memtest & Seatools say all OK)
The product ID on the bottom of the laptop is so worn only half the ID is visible.
How can I extract the licence so I can re-install?

I've slaved it to an XP machine through an esata dock & all seems normal.
KiwiLinc (6595)
1123397 2010-07-30 03:10:00 Try the Magical Jellybean Keyfinder. (sourceforge.net)

You might need to use the Load Hive function and navigate to the vista drive.
bob_doe_nz (92)
1123398 2010-07-30 03:17:00 Thanks, Navigated to Vista drive/Windows but no luck. Came up with Zone Alarm in the right panel but nothing else. KiwiLinc (6595)
1123399 2010-07-30 03:22:00 directedge.us Roger Hunt (13648)
1123400 2010-07-30 03:34:00 Umm, not really sure how ABR works. Drive currently slaved to XP. KiwiLinc (6595)
1123401 2010-07-30 04:19:00 Magic jelly Bean should find the Key as bob_doe_nz suggested.

BUT if its a factory install OS, Eg: Dell, Acer, HP/Compaq, then the key wont work on a fresh install Via a DVD. If its been reinstall before with the COA on the bottom it will work.

If Its a factory install it may accept it when you put it in, but it wont activate since its a default factory Key thats on thousands of PC's. You would have to ring MS and try to activate it, BUT they will more than likely say to use the COA on the Laptop.

Got the exact same problem here with a Acer laptop - AVG screwed the system, the HDD has damaged sectors & the COA is invisible through wear and tear -- have to use a recovery partition and "try" to extract the WIM file to reinstall it.
wainuitech (129)
1123402 2010-07-30 05:02:00 Whats the Make of laptop ??

IF by some chance its an Acer -- boot laptop, just as the Acer logo appears hit alt + F10 that will launch into the recovery partition, and reinstall Vista.
wainuitech (129)
1123403 2010-07-30 05:38:00 I guessed once.
Part of it was visible, 2 or 3 characters too faint, tried various combinations until voila, success. You could give it a go if it isn't too gone.
pctek (84)
1123404 2010-07-30 05:46:00 clean it up with some soap and water only a little bit in/on a cotton bud. when its clean gently wet it (only the area where then numbers were) and look at it at an angle under good light the numbers may show as the moisture moves away from the last of the number ink first.

also finger print talk when its dry may show them.

genuine oem disks for sp2 vista and serials arnt too hard to get, if you have to go that way.
angry (15305)
1123405 2010-07-30 09:08:00 ABR runs a small program that finds your code and security certificate and saves them to a file. Put the program and file on a usb stick and after you reinstall run the program again to restore your code. Roger Hunt (13648)
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