Cannot find my Windows Product Key for Activation (Windows 8)

Hi guys, really hope someone can help me here.

Something happened with my laptop, but suddenly a lot of programs stopped working, I get error when trying to open programs, etc.

But, I also get the message that I should activate Windows.

I have Windows 8, as it is an old laptop, still works perfectly fine, except these problems.

Anyway, I lost my Windows pack with the key on it, and have tried every trick to find/recover my Windows code to use again.

Powershell Error: Missing property name after reference operator.

+ CategoryInfo : ParserError: (:) [], ParentContainsErrorRecordException

+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : MissingPropertyName

Command Prompt shows nothing, or says "Not Found"

RegEdit: Product ID shows "none"

Please, does anyone have any other suggestions? I cannot open any MS Office programs or Windows programs at all, and most other programs give a WerFault Error. What does this mean?

Also cannot uninstall certain programs, because I cannot run an uninstall application.

Please help!

Thanks

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Replies (3)

Bill Smithers

Volunteer Moderator

Is it Retail, OEM or Volume License?

Run this Command to see what type of license you have; also applies to 8.1:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/49586-determine-if-windows-license-type-oem-retail-volume.html

Get help with Windows activation errors:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/10738/windows-10-get-help-with-activation-errors

Applies to: Windows 10 Windows 7 Windows 8.1

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With Windows 8/8.1 The Product Key on preinstalled Operating Systems (HP, Acer, etc) is embedded in the BIOS in the Motherboard, so that the lost and/or worn C.O.A. Sticker problem is no more.

This information may interest you if you do wish to keep a record of it:

"Windows 10 Embedded Product Key Tool"

https://neosmart.net/blog/2014/windows-10-embedded-product-key-tool/

"We’re proud to introduce the immediate release of our newest utility for Windows users: the NeoSmart Technologies Embedded Product Key Tool. Designed for users of Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, our embedded product key tool will retrieve and display the Windows setup product key embedded in the BIOS or EFI, allowing you to store it for safe-keeping or use it to reinstall Windows with an official Windows setup image."

You can also use:

"Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit (Version 8.5c)"

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Or:

"Product KeyFinder"

https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

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Bill Smithers - Microsoft MVP July 2013 - Dec 2020