Jan 04, 2016 When you install and activate a retail copy of Windows, the product key is stored in the registry. This can be helpful to be able to use a program like ShowKeyPlus to. Jul 05, 2011 The Windows 7 product key number is a sequence of 25 letters and numbers divided into 5 groups of 5 characters each (ex: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX) that is used to activate either the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 edition that you purchased and installed. Extracting DigitalProductId from registry. 7) Using arrow UP and DOWN keys on keyboard, go to Microsoft key and press ENTER: 8) Using arrow UP and DOWN keys on keyboard (and optionally PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN), go to Windows NT subkey and press ENTER: 9) Using arrow UP and DOWN keys on keyboard. Mar 15, 2014 Doesn’t matter, your product key is saved in Windows registry. But you cannot manually locate your Windows 8/7 product key in the Registry directly. Under such occasions, a professional Product Key finder program can do you a favor.
If your PC came with Windows 7 or earlier, then your product key will be printed on a COA sticker. This sticker verifies that the computer came with a genuine copy of Windows. You will need to examine your computer to find the sticker. On laptops, it's usually on the bottom side. On desktops, it could be on the back, sides, or top. It looks something like this:
Embedded in the PC's UEFI firmware
If you have a newer PC that came with Windows 8 or Windows 10, then your product key likely won't be on a sticker. Instead, computer manufacturers now embed the key right into the computer's UEFI firmware. Unlike the COA sticker, the embedded key can't be smudged off, stolen or erased (easily).
Find Windows 7 Product Key Registry
If you want to extract the UEFI key, the process is simple. Open the Start menu, type powershell and then run the program.
Next type the following command in the PowerShell window and hit Enter.
You will be presented with the key in the window.
Stored in the Windows Registry
If your product key isn't embedded in the firmware or you're missing your COA sticker, you're not out of luck as long as you haven't formatted your computer. You can still recover the key because Windows stores it in the registry. Here is how:
1. Open a new Notepad window
2. Copy and paste the following text into the window
3. Click File > Save As and save the file to your desktop as productkey.vbs. It's important to include the .vbs extension because this is a Windows Scripting Host file.
4. Close Notepad and double-click the file. Wait a few seconds, and then you will be presented with a popup displaying your product key: