Short Bytes: If you are willing to reinstall your Windows operating system, it’s possible that you’ll be stuck at some point due to lost Windows key. However, using some simple methods that involve PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Windows Registry, you can easily find Windows product key. These methods are a lifesaver for every Windows user and they just need a couple of steps. In my previous tutorial on Windows operating system, I told you how to images if you need to reinstall your operating system, performing a clean installation. Very often we misplace the original installation media that came with our brand-new computer.

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In those times, such methods are very useful. While reinstalling your Windows operating system, you might also face the trouble of misplacing your Windows product key. Let me tell you, sometimes it could turn out to be a really frustrating affair. I, personally, find it hard to understand why Microsoft makes the process to find Windows key so difficult. It could only be explained with the assumption that Microsoft doesn’t want you to use Windows keys from older computers. After you install Windows operating system on your computer and activate it, Microsoft stores it in Windows Registry–something that’s impossible for humans to read. Nowadays, Microsoft has also stopped putting Certificate of Authority stickers on machines, which showed Windows keys.

Also Read: How to find Windows product key by just ‘looking around’? If you are familiar with a Windows product key, you might be knowing that it’s a 25-character alphanumeric code that’s used to activate Windows operating system. It looks something like this: PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX Sometimes, your Windows key could be just located or printed in plain sight.

Here are few ways to find Windows key by just looking around: 1. Windows key on sticker/label: When you buy a new PC, it comes pre-activated. It’s possible that you don’t need to open your command prompt or play with Windows Registry. Your Windows key could be there right in front of you on a Certificate of Authority (COA) sticker on your computer, or included in the original packaging.

If you bought the PC from an authorized Microsoft retailer, you need to find Windows key on a label inside the PC box. Windows key in PC’s UEFI firmware: These days, OEMs ship computers using a new Windows activation method. Instead of providing a physical Windows key, they store in your computer’s UEFI firmware or BIOS. So, if you know which version of Windows you are running, you can reinstall the same version and it’ll activate automatically–without the need to enter a key.

Similarly, if you wish to upgrade your legal and activated Windows 7 or 8.1 computer, you don’t need a key. Microsoft will activate your Windows copy on its own (before July 29, 2016) and you’ll receive a digital entitlement for Windows instead of a key. How to find Windows product key using — Windows Registry method To go ahead with this method, you need to boot your Windows computer without. Now, using a simple VBcript–some of you might have seen it on–you can read all the binary gibberish written in Windows Registry. This script translates the Registry values into a readable format. So, just copy and paste the following script in a Notepad window and save its as productkey.vbs by choosing the “All Files” option in “Save as type”.

Set WshShell = CreateObject('WScript.Shell') MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead('HKLM SOFTWARE Microsoft Windows NT CurrentVersion DigitalProductId')) Function ConvertToKey(Key) Const KeyOffset = 52 i = 28 Chars = 'BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789' Do Cur = 0 x = 14 Do Cur = Cur * 256 Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur 24) And 255 Cur = Cur Mod 24 x = x -1 Loop While x >= 0 i = i -1 KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i -1) Then i = i -1 KeyOutput = '-' & KeyOutput End If Loop While i >= 0 ConvertToKey = KeyOutput End Function. End Function After saving this file, just click on it and a new popup window will show your Windows product key. You can copy or note this down somewhere to use it later. How to recover Windows product key using Command Prompt? This method to recover Windows product key is very simple.