Have you ever tried reinstalling Windows software but had no idea what the license keys and serial numbers were? Sure, they were probably on the package or in the email, but maybe they’re gone. Quick access to all license keys and serial numbers with key finder tools. Then you will have a copy of these important numbers when you need them. This way you can recover Windows product keys.
While there are many different tools available, two stand out. The former is completely free and the latter is a premium but more reliable tool. As a side note, be careful when downloading free product key lookup tools as many of them contain malware. Test sites and download linksusing VirusTotalto be sure.
In this article, Niketrainers.com.co will tell you:
Using a Belarc Advisor
A long-time favorite tool for quickly finding Windows product keys on your computer isBelarc Advisor. In fact, I used this tool in the early 2000s and it is still actively supported. If you only use it for personal use, it’s free. Companies have to buy a license.
The advantage of Belarc Advisor is that it not only helps you access your license keys and serial numbers. It also includes a detailed description of your computer’s specifications and installed components.
When downloading the tool, you will be asked to enter your email address, name, and organization. If you do not wish to provide this information, please use a temporary email address, any name and “personal” for your organization. It takes you directly to the download link.
Immediately after installing the program, it will ask you to scan your computer, including checking the security definitions.
The analysis may take several minutes, so be patient. The entire system is analyzed to give you a complete system overview including license keys.
When finished, the results will appear in your default browser. The results are also stored as a temporary file on the system.
On the left side, you can go to the different sections, including software licenses. You will also see a complete list of installed software.
Print this page or save it so that the keys are always available. Save them to a flash drive, external hard drive, or even a secure cloud service.
Whenever you install something new that requires a license key, please restart Belarc Advisor for an updated report.
Use recovery keys
As good as Belarc Advisor is, it doesn’t always find all your license keys. However, it works great with Windows software and the most popular tools. For a deeper scan, tryRecover Keys. The free trial only shows the first four digits of the product keys, but tells you that it has found the key for the software you want. The program costs $ 29.95 for one license. This is much cheaper than buying a new license for expensive software or Windows operating system.
While it doesn’t give you an overview of the entire system, it does a great job of scanning thousands of potential programs that may have a product key attached.
Once installed, choose what you want to scan.
Scanning the local computer works best for most users. Scanning only takes a minute or two. Then you will receive a complete list of product keys. As you can see, the demo or free trial only shows the start of the key.
You can even save keys to the product key database in the program. However, it’s better to save a copy to an external source. After all, if your system fails, you won’t be able to access the database. Above the results you will find options for printing and saving the results.
Common problems
Windows 10
If you are upgrading from a previous version of Windows, the product key will be “YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7”. This is the general key assigned to all upgraded systems. It is bound to the motherboard, so porting it to a new system is almost impossible. However, if you have a full retail copy of Windows 10, you should be able to transfer it without problem.
Microsoft Office 2013/2016
While these programs still use product keys, they are not fully stored in the registry. With the help of the key finder software, you will only be able to see the last five digits. The rest of the key is practically impossible to find unless you write it down somewhere. If you did not save the key, you must call Microsoft Support to resolve the problem.
Volume Licensing
Some Microsoft products, especially those that are wholesale to business, are activated under a “volume license”, meaning that no single copy has its own unique license. If you can’t find your key, or it’s on the “BBBB” list, you probably have a volume license and won’t be able to obtain the key without contacting Microsoft.
Ending
You never know when you’ll need these important numbers. Before it’s too late, use one of the tools above to create a file that will help you quickly access your license keys and serial numbers. It’s best to still create a recovery drive so you have a backup in case your computer crashes.